Introduction to Public Library
Origin and Growth :- World, India
Definition of PL
Forerunner of modern PLs
Growth of PL as Social Institution
Important features of a PL
PL’s commitment to the society
Agencies in promotion & development of PLs in India
State’s PL Act
Types of PL Act
NAPLIS
Model PL Bills/Acts in India
Structure of PL & Information system
The management of PLs
PL Standards
Challenges and problems for future PL system
2. Overview of Presentation
Introduction
Origin and Growth :- World,India
Definition of PL
Forerunner of modern PLs
Growth of PL as Social Institution
Important features of a PL
PL’s commitment to the society
Agencies in promotion & development of PLs in India
State’s PL Act
Types of PL Act
NAPLIS
Model PL Bills/Acts in India
Structure of PL & Information system
The management of PLs
PL Standards
Challenges and problems for future PL system
Summary
References
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3. Introduction
Public library, the gateway to knowledge, provides a basic
condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making
and cultural development of the individuals and social group.
(IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto,1994)
PL is a living force for education, culture and information
According to Roanald Benge, Public Library concept consists
of four elements. These are as following :-
1. Available for the loan of materials and for the reference
purposes to all citizens
2. Mainly supported from public funds
3. Their services should be free
4. All material should be available as an integral part of right
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4. Origin and Growth (World level)
In Europe :-
Mid-6th century BC – large library of books Was opened
to the public in the city of Athens
39 BC – a national or a public library opened in Rome
End 4th century A.D. – 28-30 public libraries in the Rome
410 A.D. –Roman Monarchy demise, after that libraries
also declined
14th -17th century –Renaissance education emerged;
encouraged the study and imitation of Greek and Roman
literatures
19th century – mechanisation of printing
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5. Origin & Growth of PLs in India
• All 3 presidency (Bombay, Calcutta, Madras) had their PLs
• Indians starts their own subscription libraries
1st Phase
(1808-1900)
• Imperial Library (renaming of Calcutta PL after taken by Lord Curzon) –
1902
• Baroda Movement (1906-11)
• Library education started
2nd Phase
(1900-37)
• Began with INC* party came to power in many provinces
• 1937-42 : 13000 Village libraries established by the state government
• 1939-40 : Library development Committee, Bombay formed (Prof. A.A.A.
Fyze)
3rd Phase
(1937-47)
• Began with 15th august 1947
• 1st milestone – Madras Public Library Act, 1948 passed
• 2nd milestone – Establishment of Delhi Public Library ( UNESCO & GOI)
4th Phase
(1947-till)
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6. Growth of PL after Independence
1952-
53
• Min.of.Education, GOI started giving grants to the states for the establishment of PLs
1st FYP
• Later this scheme was incorporated in the 1st FYP
1952
• GOI launched Community Development Programme
• Which gave a fillip to rural libraries
1954
• GOI adopted the Delivery of Books Act under which a publisher is required to deposit
a copy of the book to each of the four Depository public libraries around the country
1956
• Delivery of books Act amended and renamed as Delivery of Books & Newspaper Act
1959
• GOI appointed Sinha Committee, to report on the status of PLs in the country
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7. Growth of PL after Independence
2nd FYP
• Laid down the structure of PL System for the country
• State central library, District central library, Block central library
• GOI contributed a Certain % of expenditure on these libraries
3rd FYP
• Sharing of expenditure shifted to Lump sum grants to states
• Sometimes that funds were diverted to other more pressing demands for
expenditure
1992
• Under 73rd constitutional amendments, “libraries”, which include public
libraries, have been assigned to the Panchayats as item No.20 in the 11th
schedule for the Panchayats
2016
• Presently ,only 19 states and 1 UT (Pondicherry) had legislated on Public
Libraries
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8. Definition of PL & PL System
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By S.R.Rangananthan :-
“PL is a library owned and maintained by the public of its area for the
socialization of its books and kindred materials for free service to the
people of the area.”
By IFLA :-
“A library established and financed by a local or in some cases, central
government body or by some other some other organisation authorised
to act on its behalf available without bias or discrimination to all who
wish to use it.”
Public Library System* may be defined as :- “An organisation of
service unit discharges its predetermined role as an integral part of the
system and the smaller units receive administrative, technical, financial
and personal support from central units(libraries) with common services
such, as selection, acquisition and processing of books, compilation of
bibliographies and reading lists, and indexing of articles of local
interest.”
9. Personal libraries
Parish libraries
Mechanic’s institute libraries
Forerunners of modern PLs
Subscription Libraries
Mechanic’s
Institute
Libraries
Personal
libraries
Parish
libraries
Public
Libraries
Personal libraries •Confined to priestly class
Parish libraries •Open both to clerics and
Laymen
•Have Circulation units
Mechanic’s
Institute libraries
•Also called Apprentices’
libraries
•Libraries for workers
Subscription
libraries
•Also called Social Libraries
•Some provisions – Admission
fee, Annual subscription fee,
Cash deposit for safe return of
books
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10. Purposes of the public library
Education
Supporting both individual and self conducted education as well as
formal education at all levels
Information
The public library is the local centre of information making all kinds
of knowledge and information readily available to its users
Personal development
Providing opportunities for personal creative development
Children and young people
Creating and strengthening reading habits in children from an early
age
Public libraries and cultural development
The social role of the public library
11-03-2018Source : IFLA Manifesto
11. Growth of PL as Social Institution
PL is a social institution, which is created and
maintained by the society for its benefit and progress.
Following social factors influenced the growth of PL as a
social institution :-
Impact of Renaissance and Industrial revolution
Invention of printing
Spread of universal education
Spread of literacy
Role of enlightened philanthropic persons and institutions
Urge for knowledge and information
Recreation and use of leisure time
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12. Important features of a PL
Equality to access
Free services
PL is the responsibility of local or national authorities
Legal and financial basis of a PL
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13. PL’s commitment to the society
The Unesco Public Library Manifesto(1994) has suggested
the following missions of a PL. These are essentially the
PL’S commitment to the society:-
Self education centre of the society
Community Information Centre
Cultural centre for the society
Centre for recreation and healthy use of leisure time
Supporting role in literacy activities
Developing reading habits and creativity among them
Services to the disadvantaged sections of the society
Collection development and services adopted to meet the
society’s needs
As an Impartial democratic institution of the society
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14. Agencies in the P &D of PLS in India
Three diverse pattern in the development of PLs :-
i. Promoted exclusively by government initiative (no cess)
ii. Promoted by private efforts alone in which case user may pay for the service
iii. A mixture of the above two
All the three systems of PLs exist side by side.
No uniform strategy in PL development and promotion can be visualised
.And , for the same reason, the agencies involved in these efforts also will
be very diverse
Any entity connected with social or educational activities are also involved in
the P&D of PLs. It encompasses
Government at all levels (Central, State & Local)
Govt agencies
Voluntary organisations
Library associations
Rural schools
International organisations
individuals
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15. .. Agencies in P&D (State govt.)
Public library services under the Indian constitution is
exclusively a State subject so the main role in P&D of PL
System depends upon the particular state’s government
policy
As the vision and priorities on PL movement varied from
state to state, so also the strategies of each government
resulting in highly varying levels of growth and
development of PLs in India
From the organizational point of view, the state govts &
UT administrations may broadly be grouped into two
system :-
i. Statutory system
ii. Non-statutory system
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16. Statutory System (State govt.)
Under this system, the affairs of PLs are looked after
under the law enacted by the state
It makes regular provision in the budget and tries to
evolve the PL System in the state
At present, only 19 states & 1 UT of India have enacted
Library law. (see next slide)
An analysis of these Acts will show that they differ
between each other substantially in many aspects :-
Objectives
Definition
strategy
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17. State’s PL Act
Sr.
no.
Name of the Public Library Act Year
1 Tamil Nadu* Public Library Act (Madras PLA) 1948
2 Andhra Pradesh* Public Library Act (Amendment in 1986) 1960
3 Karnataka* Public Library Act 1965
4 Maharashtra Public Library Act 1967
5 West Bengal Public Library Act 1979
6 Manipur Public Library Act 1988
7 Haryana Public Library Act 1989
8 Kerala* Public Library Act 1989
9 Mizoram Public Library Act 1993
10 Goa * Public Library Act 1993
11 Gujarat Public Library Act 2001
12 Orissa Public Library Act 2001 11-03-2018
18. State’s PL Act
Sr.
no.
Name of the Public Library Act Year
13 Uttar Pradesh Public Library Act 2005
14 Uttarakhand Public Library Act 2005
15 Rajasthan Public Library Act 2006
16 Bihar Public Library Act 2007
17 Chattishgarh Public Library Act 2007
18 Pondicheery Public Library Act 2007
19 Arunachal Pradesh Public Library Act 2009
20 Madhya Pradesh Public Library Act 2013
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19. Types of PL Act
On the basis of main features, the acts may be
broadly classified into 4 types with still some minor
variation remaining:-
i. The Tamil Nadu Pattern
ii. The Maharashtra Pattern
iii. The West Bengal Pattern
iv. The Kerala Pattern
A comparison chart of these four PL Pattern of
India :- (..in next slide)
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20. Tamil Nadu
Pattern
Maharashtr
a
Pattern
West
Bengal
Pattern
Kerala
Pattern
May includes these states T.N.
Andhra Prad.
Karnataka
Manipur
Mizoram
Haryana
W.B. Kerala
Networking of libraries Yes No No No
State library fund Yes Yes Yes Yes
District library fund Yes - - -
Levying library cess Yes No No Yes
state Library Council Yes Yes Yes Yes
Directorate of PLs Yes Yes Yes No
Voluntary org. Lib. recognised No Yes Yes Yes
Local Library Authority Yes No Yes -
Uniqueness •Advisory
body –State
Lib. Council
•Implementati
on Body –
Directorate of
PLs
•M.o.Librari
es =
Chairman
of State LA
•More
democratic &
less bureaucratic
culture
•All LAs r run by
elected member
Description
Patterns
20 11-03-2018
21. Non-Statutory System (State govt.)
The state ,which have not enacted library legislation,
have adopted their own ways to develop libraries
Under this system two methods are used :-
Direct government effort – establishment of
libraries by the government itself. Generally
followed by small states.
Grant-in-aid-system – generally followed by bigger
states. Grants-in-aid are paid to selected existing
library run by voluntary organisations
Generally , most of the states combine both methods
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22. ..Agency in P&D (Central govt.)
In India, ‘Library’ is constitutionally a state subject. The
central govt has jurisdiction only over PLs established by
it and institutions of national importance declared so by
parliament
The state have exclusive jurisdiction over PLs and other
libraries established by them
Department of Culture
Under the GOI(Allocation of Business) Rules, the work
pertaining to Central libraries, Libraries of National
importance, and the delivery of Books and Newspapers
Act are assigned to the Dept of culture
The library section of the dept looks after the
development of libraries
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23. ...Dept. Of Culture(Central govt.)
It is in-charge of the
National library, Kolkata
Central Reference Library, Kolkata (both subordinate offices)
Central secretariat Library, New Delhi
Following libraries and library promotional agency are autonomous body of
GOI, which receiving full financial assistance from GOI :-
The Delhi Public Library(DPL), Delhi
The Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library*, Patna(Bihar)
The Rampur Raza Library* , Rampur(U.P)
Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation(RRRLF), Kolkata
- RRRLF is not a library but a promotional and financing body
Following libraries also receiving grants from time to time from GOI
TMSSM Library, Thanjavur (TN)
Connemara Public Library, Chennai
Central Library, Mumbai
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24. NAPLIS
NAPLIS = National Policy on Library and Information
System
Library policy is formulated for the development,
effective and efficient library services at state or national
level
In 1985, the M.o.HRD, GOI with the persuasion of the
RRRLF and the ILA, constituted a committee on NAPLIS
under chairman D.P.Chattopadhyay (NAPLIS,1986)
After surveying the situation of libraries in the country,
this committee made recommendation on all aspects of
Library and Information System, in which the Public
library system form, one chapter
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25. Recommendation of NAPLIS on PLS
Though the govt has not adopted it as the official policy, but it
serves as suggestive model for development .
These recommendations are as followings :-
Establish, maintain and strengthen the free PLs in the country
systematically
Main thrust should go to the Rural PL
An important link should be established between the Village’s
Community library and primary school
Community library should provide – Children section, adult
education and A-V aids to illiterate villagers
District Library(DL) should serve as an apex body for each
district’s PLs
DL also arrange mobile & circulating library services within its
area
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26. ...contd.
PLs for special groups(tribal, minority) should be built to develop
their distinctive cultures
DL will take the leadership in establishing linkage between all other
PLs of the district
PLs should be adequately equipped to serve as chief sustaining
agencies of distance education
State network of PLs should be made which eventually connect with
the national level
State central library’s role is crucial in ..
networking
establishment of uniform library procedure
acting as coordinating agency for PLs
For development of PLs each state enacts its own library legislation
The central govt should assist the state in the development of PLs
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27. Model Public Library Bills/acts in India
In India, we have 5 model Acts/Bill, with revisions,
whenever necessary at the state level. They are :-
Sr.
No.
Year Revisi
ons
Name of Bills/acts Prepared By
1 1930 1972 Modern PLs Act Dr. S.R.Ranganathan
2 1963 - Model PL Bill Dr. M.D.Sen
Committee,M.o.Education(GoI)
3 1964 Model PL Bill Working group of Planning
Commission(GoI)
4 1989 1995,
2000
Model PLs Act ILA(Indian Library Association)
5 1948 1959,
1972
Model Union PL Act GoI Committee (Dr. S.R.R. as a member)
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28. State Govt.
State Library Authority
Directorate of PL & Information Services
State PL & IC
Administration Wing
Legal Deposit Wing
State library for Blind
State Bureau of Inter-Library Loan
Bureau of Technical Services
state Institute of Library education
Regional PLs & ICs
1. Administration
2. Library services
3. Measuring
Performance
4. Finance & Audit
5.Extension Wing
City LA
City PL & ICs
City Branches
Mobile Libraries
Aided Libraries
District LA
District PL & ICs
District Branches
Mobile Libraries
Block PLs
Village PLs
Aided LibrariesStructure of PL & Information System ( suggested by ILA Model Act)
29. The management of PLs
A clear policy must be formulated defining
objectives, priorities and services in relation to the
local community needs. The PL has to be organised
effectively and professional standards of operation
must be maintained
PL plan should work in tandem with other
development plan
While preparing the library management system, the
activities of the library have to be spelt out in details
for a viable economic decision making process
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30. Financial resources mgmt. issues
In India, different forms and styles of PL
development are in operation hence no uniform
pattern of financing can be expected
Sources of fund raising for PL in India :-
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Central Govt
• F.Y.P.
• RRRLF
• Dept. of
Culture
State Govt
• State Edu.
budget
• Direct govt.
Efforts
• Grant-in-aid
Local Govt
• Library cess
Voluntary
Organisations
• Rajiv Gandhi
Foundation
New Delhi
• NGOs
• International
org
31. Education budget & expenditure on
PL
Various Committees on public libraries recommended
minimum expenditure criteria for PLs
Working Group on strategic Approach
to PL Planning
5% of education budget
Committee on NAPLIS 6-10 % of education budget
8th Plan Working Group on Library
and Informatics
Rs.1 per capita during 8th FYP
Kerala PL Act Not more than 1% of education
budget
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32. Human resource mgmt. issues
The staffing pattern of most PLs is extremely stereotype & ordinary
at present juncture
The prerequisite qualities of staff are varying according to the types
of libraries.
The goal of PLs must be considered as the main criteria for the
selection of the right kind of staff
Qualification for the staff among PLs also varying Like in a Rural
PLS, the qualification need not be technical expertise only, but the
ability to communicate to different types of rural users
Suitable staffing for PLS should be broad-based, not be limited to
one source only. Since PLs have to play different roles within
development process in India
Provision of training facilities and exposure to new techniques for
different level of staff is the need of hour
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33. Public Library standards
1933 -The 1st attempt to formulate standards for PLs
was made by ALA. It has been revised many time
subsequently to meet the needs of the changing time
International organizations, like Unesco and IFLA,
have played a significant role in formulation of PL
guidelines and standards
1973 – IFLA published Standards for PLs(UR*)
1986 –IFLA published Guidelines for PLs(Not UR*)
Since 1986 IFLA have offered advice, not rules
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34. Indian Public Library standards
In India, reports starting from the Advisory Committee by
K.P.Sinha(1958) to the latest NAPLIS(1986),have
stipulated various norms/standards, goals and guidelines
for PLs
The comprehensive document on this topic has been the
one published by the RRRLF in 1991 entitled Guidelines
for Public Library System and Services
These Guidelines are generally based on Unesco PL
Manifesto and IFLA Standards for PLs, but some novel
features to suit Indian situations have been included
This document doesn’t list the standards separately, but
gives in appropriate places in the Guidelines
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35. Challenges & Problems for future PLS
The physical resources of the PL System of the future will not only
traditional resources of a library, but will comprise multi-media
resources information technology components
The PLs may have to change its traditional book-based static library
system setup into a dynamic, social and cultural institution for the
community itself
To enhance the usefulness of future PLs, it is the need of hour to
shift in the nature and type of physical resources in tune with the
changing aims, objectives and functions of the PL System
4 most important problems present PL facing is :
i. Increasing cost of books & reading materials
ii. Increasing availability of information through new IT
iii. Increasing needs of public
iv. Stagnant or declining revenue of public fund
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36. Conclusions
PL is the establishment which is established and
financed by a local govt in general but in some cases
it may be financed by central govt or private organisation
PL System history is very old but modern PL System is
started from Europe, it started in India from 1808. After
that it is growing day by day
Presently 19 states and 1 U.T has their own PL Act
PL financing system also varies between diff state
In India total 5 model PL Bills/Acts is prevalent
PL staffing should be broad-based and must consider the
goal of particular PL System
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37. References
IGNOU(2017).MLIE-106.Public Library System and
services in Public Library : Basic concept, New Delhi
: IGNOU
IFLA.(2017,august30).www.ifla.org/libraries-
development.Retrived from www.ifla.org
UNESCO.(2017,august30).www.unesco.org/webworl
d/libraries/manifestos/libraman.html.retrived from
www.unesco.org
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