25 Activities of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation

 

1. Objectives

 

2.  Introduction

 

3. Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation 3.1 Genesis

 

4. Activities of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation 4.1 Assistance Programme

 

4.2Promotional Activities

4.3 Research Projects

    4.4 Publications

 

4.5  Modernization Programme

 

5. Achievements

 

6. Anniversary Celebrations

 

7. Financial Assistance for opening a section in libraries for Children, Women, Senior Citizen, Neo-literates and Career Guidance

 

8.  Summary

 

9. References

 

  1.  OBJECTIVES

After reading this module, you will be able to:

  •  To understand the genesis, organizational structure and objectives of Foundation.
  • know About the activities of RRRLF.
  • To enumerate various research projects and publications of Foundation.
  • To aware about the achievements of Foundation.

 

2. INTRODUCTION

 

Twentieth century witnessed various milestones in the development of public libraries in the world as well as in India. In India, various developmental activities have been undertaken to promote and strengthen the public library movement. Some states and Union territories are having good public library system while some states do not have strong public library system. India is a country of villages. There are nearly 6 lacks villages in India. These small towns and villages are in the dire need of library and information centres.

 

Information has been considered as important basic resource like natural resources. Information reduces uncertainty. It is a weapon to fight against illiteracy, poverty and exploitation. Public libraries are catalytic agent for information; they disseminate information to the needy people. Strong public library system is needed to serve the people residing at geographically dispersed areas. To spread library movement in small towns and villages it was felt to establish a nodal agency, which will support and strengthen the public library movement in India.

 

3. RAJA RAMMOHUN ROY LIBRARY FOUNDATION

Government, Non-government Organizations and corporate houses have taken various initiatives to promote public library system in India. The year 1972 has been an important landmark in the history of public libraries in India. In this year, India celebrated silver jubilee of independence. Same year was the bicentenary year of the birth of Raja Rammohun Roy (1772-1972), a great social and educational reformer who devoted his life to modernize India. International Book Year was also celebrated in 1972 with the slogan ‘Books for All’ as proclaimed by UNESCO.

 

3.1  Genesis

 

Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) was established in May, 1972 by the then Department of Culture, Government of India. This is an autonomous organization and financially supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. RRRLF is registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act 1961. This Foundation is devoted to public library development in India. It is working in the close and active cooperation with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Foundation has taken an initiative to develop District Youth Resource Centres (DYRCs) in collaboration with Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan.

 

3.2 Organizational Structure of Foundation

 

The below given diagram clarifies the organizational structure of the RRRLF. The Minister of Culture, Government of India or his nominee is the Chairman. Director is the executive head and ex-officio Member Secretary of RRRLF.

 

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/images/imageorgchart.htm)

 

RRRLF has various committees to perform the tasks. These are:

  • Foundation: It is a supreme policy-making body. It consists of 22 members. The members are nominated by the Government of India from the eminent educationists, administrators, librarians etc.
  • State Library Committee (SLC): Foundation functions in each state and union territories through State Library Committee.
  • Administrative Committee: This committee looks after the administrative and financial affairs of RRRLF. It has 11 members.
  • Book Selection Committee: This committee is responsible to select books from specimen copies. It consists of 16 members.
  • Grants Committee: This committee is responsible to approve the grants. Presently it consists of 8 members.
  • Research Committee: This committee advises the Foundation on issues of research activities. Presently it has seven members.
  • Headquarter: RRRLF has five storied building located at Saltlake in Kolkata on a 12 cottah plot allotted by the West Bengal Government.
  • Zonal Offices: RRRLF has four zonal offices. Namely Eastern Zonal Office attached with headquarters at Kolkata. Western Zonal Office at Mumbai, Northern Zonal Office at New Delhi and Southern Zonal Office at Chennai. These zonal offices started functioning from 1987 with four Assistant Field Officers.

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm)

 

3.3 Objectives

 

The main objective of RRRLF is to function “as a promotional agency, an advisory and consultancy organization, a funding body of public library development in India”. Other objectives are:

 

  • To promote library movement in the country;
  • To enunciate a national library policy and to help build up a national library system;
  • To provide financial and technical assistance to organizations – regional or national – engaged in promotion of library development;
  • To publish appropriate literature and to act as a clearing house of ideas and information on library development in India and abroad;
  • To promote research in problems of library development;
  • To advise the government on all matters pertaining to the library development in the country.”(Source: rrrlf.nic.in/objecfrm.htm –accessed on 14.11.2012)

 

4. Activities of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation

 

RRRLF is involved in various activities to promote the public libraries in India. Such as:

 

4.1  Assistance Programme

 

RRRLF promotes various public library services. It also provides financial assistance to the public libraries.

There are various schemes, such as:

 

4.1.1 Matching:

 

Under this scheme assistance is given to following purposes:

 

1.   Assistance towards building up of adequate stock of books and reading materials.

 

2.  Assistance towards development of Rural Book Deposit Centres and Mobile Library Services.

 

3. Assistance towards organization of seminars, workshops, training courses, book exhibitions and library awareness programmes.

 

4. Assistance towards purchase of storage materials, Reading Room furniture and library equipment.

 

5.   Assistance to Public Libraries towards increasing accommodation.

 

6.   Assistance to Public Libraries to acquire computer with accessories

( Source : http://rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm)

 

Matching schemes are implemented with the contribution made by the state governments and union territories with similar matching grant from RRRLF. For developed states the ratio is 50:50. For developing states it is 40: 60 i.e. forty per cent state contribution and 60 per cent matching share of RRRLF. For North-Eastern state it is 10: 90 i.e. 10 per cent state contribution and 90 percent matching share of RRRLF. During the Financial year 2010-11 assistance worth Rs. 4500 lakhs (approx) to 1300 libraries was given by the Foundation under matching and non- matching schemes. During financial year 2011-12, assistance worth of Rs. 4190 lakh (approx) to 1200 libraries was given under matching and non-matching schemes.

 

4.1.2 Non-matching

 

Under this scheme assistance is given to following purposes:

  1. Assistance towards building up adequate stock of books through central selection
  2. Assistance to voluntary organizations (NGOs) for providing public library services;
  3. Assistance to children’s libraries;
  4. Assistance to public libraries towards celebration of 50/60/75/100/125/150 years and the like;
  5. Assistance towards organization of seminar/ conference by professional organizations, local bodies, NGOs engaged in public library development/ library movement and development of library services;
  6. Assistance towards collection and compilation of library statistics through official and non-official agencies;
  7. Assistance to centrally sponsored libraries; and
  8. Assistance towards establishment of RRRLF children corner.

 

During financial period 2015-16, “RRRLF is likely to render assistance worth Rs.2440.66 lakh (approx) to 14848 libraries located all over the country under various matching and non-matching schemes.”

>http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/annual-reports/Culture%20Annual%20Report%202015-16%20ENG%20for%20Mail.pdf<

 

4.2 Promotional Activities

 

RRRLF has taken keen interest in development of library services and undertaken various activities, such as – organization of seminars, issuance of guidelines on public library systems and services. It conducts Raja Rammohun Roy Memorial Lecture, interacts with national and international professional associations. RRRLF also gives seven awards annually and “RRRLF Fellowship” to five eminent personalities in the field of library services.

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in)

 

During 2010-11, following conferences, seminars and workshops were organized:

 

  • 13th Convener’s Conference was organized at India International Centre, New Delhi on May 21, 2010. It was followed by a National Seminar on the theme ‘Future of Books in the Twenty-First Century` on May 22, 2010.
  • An International Conference on Digital Library Management (ICDLM 2011) was organized at Science City, Kolkata during January 11-13, 2011.
  • The Foundation also financially supported organization of seminars by various professional organizations, such as: ILA, Professor Kaula Endowment for Library and Information Science, IASLIC, DELNET, North Eastern Hill University, Mizoram University, West Bengal Public Library Association and Tamil Nadu Public Library Association.
  • The Foundation also extended its financial support to organize the Librarian’s Day on August 12.
  • During 2011-12, following conferences seminars and workshops were organized:
  • Organized an International conference on Tagore’s Universalism: Individual and Universe, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi during May 7-8, 2011.
  • Two workshops were organized on “Public Library of the Future: Strategic planning” in New Delhi and at Hyderabad during 2012.
  • During 2014-15, following conferences seminars and workshops were organized :
  • An international conference-cum-workshop on public libraries was organised by RRRLF . India Public libraries Conference (IPLC) 2015 as held at India International Centre (IIC), Lodi Estate in New Delhi during March 17-19, 2015.

 

4.3 Research Projects

 

A research cell has been established with special library on library and information science. It is engaged in research projects on public libraries .This cell also provides advisory and consultancy services.

 

4.4 Publications

 

RRRLF has brought out various publications for diffusion of library and information science related contents. These are:

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm)

  • Indian Libraries: Trends and Perspectives
  • Raja Rammohun Roy and the New Learning
  • Directory of Indian Public Libraries
  • Granthana – Indian Journal of Library studies (bi-annual)
  • RRRLF Newsletter (bi-monthly)
  • Annual Reports
  • Books
  • Books for the millions at their doorsteps (Information Manual). Ed 4. Calcutta: RRRLF, 1988.p.86.
  • National Policy on Library and Information system: A draft policy statement. Calcutta: RRRLF, 1986.
  •   Web bibliography on and by Tagore. It is an initiative taken by RRRLF commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). This bibliography lists 9000 books published in 42 languages. This can be accessed on www.rrrlf.gov.in. A book can be searched by its title, author, editor, language and keyword. It also provides the location of a particular publication. The portal is a ready- rackoner for scholars on Tagore.
  • Catalogue –in-Publication Project

 

4.5  Modernization Programmes and digitization

 

Computerization programme is going on in the Foundation. RRRLF is going to digitize rare books of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. In this programme nearly five lakh pages will be digitized.

 

Under this programme RRRLF focused on the following activities :

  •  “The integrated MIS software developed by M/s C-DAC, Kolkata has been implemented.
  • The Central Book Selection system has been re-designed to accommodate the provisions of the new guidelines.
  • RRRLF website has been re-designed and data pertaining to grants disbursed under various matching and non-matching schemes can be searched.” (Report 2015-16).
  • Foundation has created a database of Public Libraries in India. This database can be accessed on RRRLF website and searched by State, District, Library name etc.

 

5. Achievements

 

The Foundation has covered more than thirty one thousand libraries at different levels

 

Level of Libraries No. of
Libraries
State Central Libraries 28
Divisional and District Libraries 451
Sub-Divisional /Taluka /Tehsil Libraries 504
Town and Rural Libraries 30134
Nehru Yuvak Kendras 272
Jawahar Bal Bhavans 49
Others 128
Total 31563

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/achivfrm.htm)

 

During financial year 2011-12 a sum of Rs. 55 lakhs was released for the establishing of physically challenged corner to several libraries.

 

Plan Total Plan Grant Annual Plan Grant State contribution
8 th Five Year Plan 1175.70 lakh 646.60 lakh 645.97lakh
9 th Five Year Plan 3233.00 lakh 701.20 lakh 1977.00

 

 

Achievements during 2014-15

 

As we are aware RRRLF is providing financial assistance to public libraries in India under its Matching and Non-Matching schemes to promote and strengthen the public library system in India. Following achievements are remarkable in the period :

  • RRRLF received Rs.39.86 crore as plan grant from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India
  • RRRLF also received Rs.18.34 Crore as State contribution from various State Government/UT Administration.
  • 28 States/ UT participated in RRRLF Matching assistance programme .
  • RRRLF provided assistance of Rs.48.71 crore to 19712 libraries under Matching Schemes.
  • Assistance of Rs.8.44 crore to 555 libraries under Non-Matching schemes.(> http://rrrlf.nic.in/pdf/Newsletter_April-September_2015.pdf<)
  •  RRRLF celebrated “Librarians Day” on the 9th August, 2015.

 

Achievements during 2015-16

RRRLF provided assistance of Rs.37.75 lakh to nine Public Libraries for establishment of physically challenged corner (2015-16).

 

6. Anniversary Celebrations

 

RRRLF organized a function in the auditorium of National Library, Kolkata on October 18, 1982 to celebrate its 10th anniversary. In the function Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Vice-Chairman, CSIR delivered a lecture on the theme ‘the Islamic Background of Raja Rammohun Roy’s thoughts’.

 

On completion of two decades of the Foundation, the celebration was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister Mr. Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, and Government of India on 12 March 1993 at Kolkata. The function was presided over by Mr. S.S. Chakravarty, Minister of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal. Chairman of Foundation Prof. Namvar Singh gave the introductory speech and B.P. Barua; Director of Foundation gave a vote of thanks.

 

RRRLF celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1997-98. The celebration commenced with a yearlong programme on 22 May (the birth date of Raja Rammohun Roy) 1997.

 

 

7.  Financial Assistance for opening a section in libraries for Children, Women, Senior Citizen, Neo-literates and Career Guidance

 

Public libraries are catering various services to the all sections of society, without considering cast, creed, gender, digital divide etc. Foundation is providing financial assistance for opening of different sections for Children, Women, Senior Citizen, Neo- literates and Career Guidance to cater special needs of such sections. The aim of libraries to satisfy the needs of the users, Foundation has given financial assistance to 49 public libraries to serve the purpose. (Report 2015-16)

 

8. SUMMARY

 

RRRLF with its various activities has promoted the concept of public libraries and made efforts to reach the library services to the larger number of people. In India, there is an urgent need to strengthen the public library system in more cooperative way. The states have low priority in this regard. RRRLF in its journey of 40 years has done a little in making real public libraries in India. The Foundation can play a vital role in the establishment and development of public libraries in India. Its schemes should focus on the communities residing at distant places. Programmes and activities should pay attention on inclusive development and upliftment of information poor areas. Monitoring and social auditing should be done of programmes/ activities of the Foundation. New programmes and activities should be incorporated to attract the new generation.

  1. REFERENCES
  • http://indiaculture.nic.in/indiaculture/pdf/MOC_Annual%20Report_2011-12%20(Eng).pdf
  • http://rrrlf.nic.in/achivfrm.htm
  • http://rrrlf.nic.in/images/imageorgchart.htm
  • http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/annual-reports
  • Kumar, PSG, comp.Indian Library Chronology.New Delhi :Allied Publishers,2000.
  • rrrlf.nic.in/
  • rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm
  • Unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000782/07827eo.pdf
  • www.nyks.org

 

Web links

 

 

Interesting Facts

 

  • Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation is the nodal agency of Government of India for promoting public library services in India.
  • It has assisted more than 31,274 libraries in India under various schemes.
  • Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and was setup in the year 1987-88.
  • “RRRLF has been declared as the nodal agency for the “National Mission on Libraries” for administrative, logistic, planning and budgeting purposes”.>
  • http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/annual-reports/Culture%20Annual%20Report%202015-16%20ENG%20for%20Mail.pdf<

 

Did You Know :

  • RRRLF has assisted more than 34,000 Public Libraries in India for various purposes.
  • RRRLF can be contacted at: Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation
  • DD 34, Sector-1, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700 064 Phone : 033-2337-3463/2337-3464

 

Fax No. : 033-2337-3465

Website: www.rrrlf.gov.in

E-Mail : rrrlf-wb@nic.in