19 Governance of Public Libraries

1. INTRODUCTION

Library governance includes a Governing Body, which is empowered by rules, laws and acts to make policy for governing affairs of the library to achieve its target of delivering better library services. The library governing body holds the responsibility for building a strong institution. It must ensure that the institution operates legally and with sound financial practices.

Library governance is expected to maintain good governance of a library’s affairs, keep it free from corruption and maintain transparency. Members of the Governing Body look after the job of framing policies for smooth running of library services, demand and allocation of financial resources and their proper utilization. The librarian acts as the Member Secretary and is directly accountable to the Governing Body and the head of the institution for the good or bad library services and its reputation. The Governing Body acts as a watchdog for the achievement of aims and objectives of the library. Different nomenclature is used for the governing bodies of different types of libraries.

In the case of school library, it may not be a very organized system and usually the library policy matters are looked after directly by the principal. In colleges and universities, the library governance is done by the Library Committee or the Board of Management. Special Libraries of Private Sector Undertakings are governed by the Board of Managing Directors or Board of Management. In case of Private Sector, library is usually governed by the Board of Trustees. It may not follow uniform rules and policy of library services to its members and it may not have regular source of budget.

2. PUBLIC LIBRARY GOVERNANCE

Public Library governance is conducted by the Public Library Board. The Library Board is only a policy making and advisory authority. It is not expected to interfere with the day to day administration of the library. Bye laws of the Board provide clear framework of the Library Board and its responsibility in the transaction of its duty to make policies on collection development, circulation, children’s section, community information services, customer services, ICT services, appointing and hiring of library personnel, code of conduct of library users including provision of overdue fines and penalties. Public library provides reading materials to the citizen of the region, where it is located. Therefore, it is required to include representatives from different groups of library users. It includes members representing Municipal Corporation of local bodies, Members from Legislative Assembly, representatives from fund providing central or state government authority, expert members from the field of Library & Information Science and the Chairman of the Board nominated by the Head of the Central or State Government Ministry under which library affairs are allocated.

Many private public libraries such as Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library (Patna), Rampur Raza Library

(Rampur), Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Saraswathi Mahal Library (Tanjore) and Harekrushna Mahtab State

Library (Bhubaneshwar), started as private collection of individuals, are governed by private Board of Trustees. They provide indispensable library services to the local communities and research scholars. The Ministry of Culture and the respective state governments have taken over their governance to make their valuable public library service sustainable in future.

3. OBJECTIVES OF LIBRARY GOVERNING BODIES

It is only a policy making body and it does not aims to interfere in the day to day administration of the library. Membership of a Board Member including the Chairman ceases, if he/she (other than the Library Head) accepts a full-time/ day-to-day appointment in the Board.
The Governing Body acts between library authority and librarian in resolving many tough issues related to library services through discussion and justification.
It aims to initiate creative new ideas for library development and services through the application of modern IT applications.
It enforces directives for library to follow library standard and quality, and advocates for financial resources, manpower, space and infrastructure.
It helps librarian to take some tough decisions regarding library membership, discipline, over due fine/charges, etc. with the discussion and recommendation of the Governing Authority.
It ensures better understanding between different library users and help library to frame library rules and policy in the context of the advancement of electronic publishing.
Library Board also justifies the financial expenditure of library per annum and ratifies the Annual Report, when it is placed before the Board.
It holds accountable the librarian for the success and failure of library services.
It acts as a watchdog for the overall performance and reputation of the organization.
It frames long term plan for the development of the library.
Board is empowered by the Rules, Statutes and Acts to make regulations related to:

i. Strategic Planning

ii. Financial/ Legal issues

iii. Advocacy

iv. Staff retention and recruitment.

12. To achieve better library services through transparent and fair library governance.

4. DUTIES OF GOVERNING BODY

Governing Body holds the responsibility for building a strong institution. Board must ensure that the organization operates legally and within the framework of rules. It should follow sound and transparent financial practices. It is the responsibility of the Governing Body to see that the organization operates accountably, ethically and works to achieve its aims and mission. The library services are bound to be effective and successful, when the Board is clear in its role and holds the Chief Executive of the Library (Librarian) and senior staff responsible for the delivery of better library services. Good Governance requires developing good relations and coordination between library staff and library users.

5. RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE GOVERNING BODIES

Members of the governing body in a library are appointed as per the rules set out by the Statute, Bye Laws, and Acts of the library.
Number of members and their tenure, etc. are specified.
Minimum number of members to fulfill the quorum to conduct Governing Body Meeting for important policy making issues is also mentioned clearly.
Powers (Financial, Executive and Administrative) and duties of Governing Body Members are clearly defined.
Limitations of their power in not interfering in the day to day administration and transfer of staff, etc. are well mentioned in order to avoid any controversy.
It also defines voting power of each member in case of any difference of opinion among members.
It provides details of code of conduct of Governing Body Members.
The duty of Members is to act honestly and in good faith and in the best interest of the library.

6. STRUCTURE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM IN INDIA

Government of India appointed a Committee in 1957 on the Status of Public Library Development in the country. It is also known as the Sinha Committee after the name of its Chairman, Dr A P Sinha, who was the then Director of Public Instruction in Bihar. The Sinha Committee submitted its Report in 1959, which made landmark recommendations for the development of Public Libraries across the country. These are:

1. Library service should be made free for every citizen of India.

2. Public Library system across the country should follow following pattern of hierarchy as below:

3. Every State should set up an independent “Directorate of Social Education and Libraries”. It should appoint a fulltime Senior Class-I Officer equivalent to the rank of Deputy Director of Education to organize and administer state libraries.

4. Central Government and State Government should bear the responsibility of establishing the public libraries in the State.

5. An All India Advisory Council should be constituted to develop and maintain standard of Public Library System across the country.

6. A library cess (tax or fee) of six paisa for each rupee of property tax should be levied with the permission of local bodies.

6.1. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF INDIA

National Library started as the Calcutta Public Library in 1836. The Imperial Library was founded in 1891. Lord Curzon merged the collection of Calcutta Public Library with the collection of Imperial Library and the new library was opened for the use of general public on 30th January 1903 at the Metcalfe Hall, Kolkata. After independence, the Imperial Library was renamed as the National Library, with the enactment of the Imperial Library Act 1948 and the collection was shifted to the Belvedere Estate. It has been further elevated as an institute of National Importance under the Article 62 in the Seventh Schedule of the Union List of the Constitution of India. In 2004, the National Library was shifted to the new building Bhasha Bhawan in the Belvedere Estate.

The Director General is the head of the National Library Governance. He is supported by two Principal Library and Information Officers (PLIOs). The National Library has various sections including acquisition, bibliography, reader’s services, processing, serials, stock verification, map and print division, rare book, science and technology, conservation, foreign languages division and computer centre. It is fully funded and under the administrative control of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Transaction of policy matters of different sections are done through the appointment of various committees including members from the Ministry of Culture, Library Experts, renowned scholars, local government authorities, and representatives of different sections of the library users. It has the collection of over 2.5 million books, journals, reports, gazettes and other documents. It has treasure of very rare collection of manuscripts, books and maps. It subscribes over 7000 journals (print + electronic). It has perhaps the widest range of language document collection including Indian languages (17) and foreign languages (East Asian, Germanic, Roman, Slavonic, and West Asian & African languages).

6.2. STATE CENTRAL LIBRARIES AND OTHER SUBORDINATE BODIES

According to the Sinha Committee Report, every state should have the State Central Library as the apex body of the Public Library System of the State. They are expected to establish state wide linkage with all the District/Divisional, Block, Panchayat/Village libraries forming a strong base of State Public Library System. Development of State Public Library System is the responsibility of a State.

In India, there are twenty eight states and seven union territories. All the states and union territories have their own public library system, structure and pattern of financial assistance. State Governments are providing financial assistance for the public library services. Most of them are also following the hierarchical system of public libraries from State-to-District-to-Block-to-Village level as directed by the Sinha Committee Report. There are 28 State Central Libraries, 451 District and Divisional Libraries and 31155 Below District Level Libraries are functioning in the country.

Government has taken many steps by establishing National Policy on Library and Information System (NAPLIS), Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), D P Chattopadhyay Committee Review Committee, National Knowledge Commission etc. to improve the service conditions of public libraries. Recently, the Central and State governments took initiative to modernize public libraries in the country by providing adequate funds to adopt new technologies, building and collection development through the coordination of these organizations. The Delhi Public Library started computerization and internet services in almost all the regional branches and sub-branches. The Tamil Nadu State Government started Dream Project of the former Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi to start the Anna Centenary Library at Chennai having state of art new building and collection of over 5,00,000 books and electronic resources. The Gujarat State Government recently started Kavi Narmad Public Library at Surat. The objective of the library is to provide educational resources in almost all subject fields through most modern ICT technology.

7. STATE LIBRARY COMMITTEE AND ITS SUBORDINATE BODIES

The Model Public Library Act 1930 (revised in 1957 and 1972), drafted by Dr. S R Ranganathan recommended to institute State Library Committee in every States and Union Territories. The Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), which is providing assistance to promote public library services in States and Union Territories, advised State Governments to set up State Library Committee (SLC) as an advisory body to look after their library services. The Foundation provides assistance to all categories of public libraries including State Central Library, Regional/Divisional, District, Tehsil, Taluka, Block, Rural, Panchayat and Village Libraries. The SLC is empowered to decide number and categories of libraries and its subordinate bodies required in the state. It may constitute Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Book Selection Committee, Advisory Library Committee and Village/Panchayat Library Committee as per the local need. It has been empowered by the RRRLF to conduct following functions to monitor proper utilization of Government fund and smooth running of public library services in a State/Union Territory:

To prepare Annual Plan of library services in the State as per the assistance programmes of the Foundation.
To ensure financial support from State Government/UT Administration and matching grant from the Foundation.
Selection of books as per the requirement of the library clients and purchase them as per the guidelines prescribed by the Foundation.
To frame other proposals for other schemes of assistance to the Foundation.
To ensure proper utilization of fund provided by the State/UT and the Foundation.
To perform any other activity for the development of library services in the State/UT.

The RRRLF has provided set guidelines for the composition of SLC and advised to include following members and conduct meeting at least twice a year.

1. Secretary/Director nominated by the Department controlling library services (Chairman).

2.Director or Officer-in-Charge of the Department (if he is not the Chairman).

3.Director of the Foundation or his representative.

4. Nominee of the Chairman of the Foundation.

5.President or Secretary of State Library Association.

6.A representative of the Education Department, if library is controlled by a separate department.

7. An academician or an author or a person representing the state level organization connected with book production to be nominated by the state government.

8.Librarian of the State Central Library or any other public library nominated by the state government shall be the convener of the State Library Committee. Where this is not feasible, then the state government will nominate a suitable official looking after library service as the convener.

8. NEED FOR HAVING STATE LIBRARY LEGISLATION

The Library Legislation provides a description of the plan of government for public library services in a country. It is a provision to grant of power from the legislature to the local government entity such as state, District, Division, City, Village etc. to authorize them to establish public library and its services for the benefit of the society. Library legislation is enacted and enforced by state for running & maintaining public library services within its territorial jurisdiction. It is an instrument for development of public library system in a planned manner. It streamlines flow of government fund to run the library service smoothly. It also makes library authorities accountable for expenditure it made for providing quality library service to public. The library Legislature provides guidelines and function of the library Authority. Usually law enumerates power and duties of the Authority. The UNESCO recommended that “Public libraries should be created under clear mandate of law for nation wide provision of Library services”.

In 1924, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan visited a number of public libraries during his stay in United Kingdom. These visits enabled him to study the system, functioning, funding and services of various libraries. He was the first person in India who realized the need for library legislation in 1925. The First All Asia Educational Conference was held in Banaras on 27-30 December 1930. The Conference was dedicated to discuss issues related to Library Legislation to establish standard public library system in the country. Dr. S. R. Ranganathan attended the Conference and took initiative to frame the Model Public Libraries Act 1930. This ‘Model Library Act’ was published by the Madras Library Association during the year 1936, which was subsequently revised in 1957 and 1972. This Model Library Act was introduced in the shape of Bill in the Madras Assembly in 1933, but it could not be passed twice and then the first Public Library Act was passed by the Madras Legislature in 1948 in its third attempt.

In the Unesco Regional Seminar on Library Development in South Asia, Delhi, October 1960, Mr Sohan Singh, the then Deputy Educational Adviser, Ministry of Education, Government of India enumerated main purpose of library legislation as:

It should clearly define the government’s responsibility in the matter of public libraries.

2. It should lay down the constitution and functions of the library authority – that is to say, the body which should determine the library policy and which will also be responsible for the execution of that policy.

3. It should provide for access by the library authority to the resources of a public library service, the most important being finance.

4. It should lay down in outline, none the less in clear terms, the public library system.

5. It should provide for participation by the representatives of the public in the work of the public libraries.

It further explains that, out of the five objectives above, the S. No. 2. Library Authority and the S.No.3. Library Finance is the core concept of library legislation.

The Chronology of other Model Public Library Acts/Bills passed in India is given in the following table:

S. No	Library Act	Year	Framed by
1	Model Public Libraries Act	1930 revised in 1957 & 1972	Dr S R Ranganathan
2	Model Public Libraries Bill	1963	Review Committee on Public Library,Government of India under the Chairmanship of Mr A P Sinha, Former Director, Public Instructions, Bihar.
3	Model Public Libraries Act	1965	Planning Commission, Government of India, constituted a Working Group on Public Libraries.
4	Model Public Libraries Act	1989	Dr. V Venkatappaiah

Table 1: Chronological Table of Model Public Library Acts/Bills passed in India.

In India, there are twenty eight states and seven union territories. All the states and union territories have their own public library system, structure and pattern of financial assistance. Only nineteen of the states and union territories have enacted library legislation and the rest are providing public library service without any library legislation. State Governments are providing financial assistance for the public library services. But their governance including operating system and standard for financial resources and services are not the same as there is a lack of uniform library legislation across the country. T. Malleshappa made detail evaluation of “Impact of Library Legislation on Public Library Services”, and he found that the public library system in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are the most developed. In the absence of effective library legislation in many states, the condition of public libraries is in very poor financial and administrative condition. According to D.B.Eswara Reddy over 90% rural population below the district level do not have any access to reading material and reading rooms. A nation wide campaign is required to improve the condition of public libraries in the country. Uniform legislation/act is required to ensure sustainable financial and administrative support from the government to improve the condition.

1.	1948	Tamil Nadu	11.	2000	Gujarat
2.	1960	Andhra Pradesh	12.	2001	Odisha
3.	1965	Karnataka	13.	2005	Uttaranchal
4.	1967	Maharashtra	14.	2006	Rajasthan
5.	1979	West Bengal	15.	2006	Uttar Pradesh
6.	1988	Manipur	16.	2007	Lakshadweep
7.	1989	Kerala	17.	2008	Bihar
8.	1989	Haryana	18.	2009	Chattisgarh
9.	1993	Mizoram	19.	2009	Arunachal Pradesh
10.	1993	Goa

Table 2: List of 19 States and Union Territories, which passed Public Library Acts.

The Model Public Library Bills are passed for the consideration of the state governments; where there is no State Library Legislations are passed.

9. IFLA GUIDELINES FOR LEGAL AND FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK OF PUBLIC LIBRARY GOVERNANCE

According to the IFLA directives, there may be different relationship between public libraries and government in different countries. Laws governing their funding responsibility by the government are varied. As public libraries are a locally based service, local government is the most appropriate place for its authority of governance. A public library service is supported and funded by the community, either through local, regional or national government. The local authority is responsible for employees’ salary. Funding of library materials may be shared between the various levels of government and other fund providing organizations. Eventual aim should be to bring public library service under the formal government structure operating under national legislation and with appropriate levels of funding. IFLA has recommended for establishing relationship between public libraries and government for laws that govern the activities and funding arrangements. The local government should take up the responsibility to develop standard Law/Acts to govern their activities and develop a standard structure for Public Library System in the State. Public library should be closely related to and funded by local government. Public Library System should be based on legislation which assures their continuance and their place in the government structure. Public Library Legislation includes standard collection, stable fund resources and defined services for the public. Example of model public library legislation is available on the IFLA website (http://www.ifla.org/V/cdoc/acts.htm). According to IFLA, library legislation governing public libraries should state the level of government responsible for their provision and funding.

10. CONTRIBUTION OF RAJA RAMMOHAN ROY LIBRARY FOUNDATION IN PUBLIC LIBRARY GOVERNANCE

The Sinha Committee recommended in its Report, 1959 to constitute an All-India Library Council as a Central Agency to coordinate between the Central Government and the State Governments for the development of uniform library system across the country. Central Government established the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) at Kolkata on 22nd May 1972 as a coordinating agency with the objectives to develop public libraries especially in rural and remote areas. It works in close association and active cooperation with the Central Government and State Governments through the machinery of State Library Committee. It provides financial assistance to public libraries in the form of grant, reading resources and technical support in the form of ICT infrastructure and manpower training, etc. It assists through State Central Libraries and District Libraries to improve and develop public library system across the country. RRRLF started with following aims and objectives (http: //rrrlf.nic.in/Current Public Library System):

1. To promote library movement in India.

2. To adopt and follow National Library Policy by the Central and State governments.

3. To develop National Library System through the integration of service of the National Library, all State Central Libraries, District Libraries and other types of libraries.

4.Propagation and adoption of library legislation in the country.

5.Provision of financial and technical assistance to public libraries.

6.Financial assistance to voluntary organizations, associations and NGOs for the promotion of library profession.

7.To bring out periodic publication of reports on library development.

8.To advice Government of India on library and its professionals.

9. It also aims to provide modern infrastructure and facilities to transform library service from print mode to electronic mode.

10. To promote collection development in public libraries.

11. To provide assistance for rural and mobile library services in remote areas.

12.Financial assistance for public library building.

13. To assist in developing children’s library or children’s section in public libraries.

RRRLF has been providing financial and technical support to following state level public libraries through its

different programmes:

1.State Central Libraries 28

2.Divisional andDistrict Libraries 451

3. Below District Libraries 31155

4. Nehru Yuvak Kendra 594

6. Jawahar Bal Bhawan 49

7. Others 128

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Total 32405

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Table 3: Financial and technical support provided by the RRRLF to different state level public libraries.

11. ROLE OF NAPLIS IN PUBLIC LIBRARY GOVERNANCE

In 1985, a Committee to Formulate National Policy on Library and Information System (NAPLIS) was set under

the Chairmanship of Prof. D P Chattopadhyay. The Committee submitted its report in May 1986 and made the following recommendations:

Proposals for public library maintenance and development should come from state legislative enactment. Funds for library development should come from each state, either from general revenue or from local taxes. Central government may revise Model Public Library Bill from time to time and provide funds under Plan Expenditure.
Effort should be made to develop village/community/rural libraries, which should act as information centres for public health, adult education, etc.
The RRLF should act as the national agency for coordination and assisting development of public libraries in states.
National standard and guidelines for library services should be created.
National Commission on Libraries and Information System and National Commission on Informatics and Documentation may be constituted by an Act of Parliament to act under the Ministry of Human Resources and Development for the implementation of NAPLIS programmes.
Four National Depository Libraries (Cannemara Public Library (Chennai), Asiatic Society (Bombay), Delhi Public Library (Delhi) and National Library (Kolkata) should conduct the job of preservation of literature published in India under Delivery of Books Act 1954.
Indian National Bibliography should be compiled and updated regularly by the National Library.
Link between libraries, archives and museums should be established for the purpose of national preservation.
The Ministry of Rural Development should plan to develop one community centre in every Panchayat Centre. Department of Culture should coordinate to provide library services to these Panchayat Community Centres.
Links should be established between rural community centre libraries and nearby schools, if schools do not have libraries of their own.
Public Library System should expand facility of special library services for disabled, low income groups, children and mobile library services for remote areas. Special effort should be made for Braille literature production, preservation and dissemination.
All public libraries with in the state should form a part of the State Library Network.

12. ROLE OF NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE COMMISSION TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE IN THE COUNTRY

The Prime Minister of India instituted a high level advisory commission the “National Knowledge Commission” (NKC) to transform India in to a knowledge based society. Due importance has been given to education and public libraries to achieve the aims and objectives of the NKC. The two are considered complementary to each other as without modern library services; enhancement of education, knowledge and cultural progress of citizen can not be achieved. The NKC in its “Report to the Nation (2006-2009)” made following 10 recommendations for the nationwide development of libraries:

1.Set up National Commission/Mission on Libraries (NMLIS).

2.Prepare National Census of all libraries.

3.Revamp LIS education, training and research facilities.

4.Re-assess staffing of libraries.

5.Set up Central Library Fund.

6.Modernize library management.

7.Encourage greater community participation in library management.

8.Promote Information Communication Technology (ICT) applications in all libraries.

9.Facilitate donation and maintenance of private collection.

10.Encourage Public Private Partnerships in LIS development.

The National Mission on Library and Information Services (NMLIS) aims to advice government on libraries and information sector in the country. It will interact with state governments to develop library network across the country. It has planned to develop network of over 9000 libraries in India in three phases.

The NKC has provided details of staff requirement in various types of libraries. It has ensured modern information services in the changing scenario and to provide matching staff to perform the duties of libraries to act as Knowledge Centres. It enumerated following duties and staff structure for different category of public libraries as:

State Central Library

i. Duties: It is expected to provide information service, e-learning, knowledge management, knowledge centre activities, content creation and management, subject gateways, content analysis, collaborative publishing, e-governance and training.

ii.Staff structure: State Central Library (Category III)

a). Managerial Staff (Group A):

State Librarian

Deputy Library Director

Assistant Library Director (presently designated as Information Officer)

b). Professional/ Technical Staff (Group B)

Information Assistant

Junior Information Assistant

Data Entry Operator

c). Para-Professional/ Support Staff (Group C)

Library Attendant

d). Administrative Staff

Administrative Officer

Stenographer

Cashier

Administrative Support Staff

Night Watchman, Cleaner, Gardener, Driver, Book Binder, Sweeper etc.

2. District Library:

i. Duties: It is expected to provide information service, e-governance, content development, coordination of rural knowledge centres.

ii. Staff Structure: District Library (Category II)

a). Managerial Staff (Group A):

District Librarian

b). Professional/ Technical Staff (Group B)

Information Assistant

Data Entry Operator

c). Para-Professional/ Support Staff (Group C)

Library Attendant

d). Administrative Staff

Night Watchman, Cleaner, Mali, Driver, Book Binder, Sweeper etc.

3. Sub-divisional/ Town Library:

i. Duties: It is expected to provide lending of books, reference service, inter-library loan, web-based service such as e-learning, community information, content and database creation.

ii. Staff Structure: Sub-divisional/ Town Library (Category I)

a). Managerial Staff (Group A):

Town Librarian

b).Professional/ Technical Staff (Group B)

Data Entry Operator

c). Para-Professional/ Support Staff (Group C)

Library Attendant

d). Administrative Staff

Night Watchman, Cleaner, Mali, Driver, Book Binder, Sweeper etc.

4. Rural Knowledge Centre/ Community Information Centre:

i. Duties: It is expected to provide lending of books, web-based service such as e-learning, panchayat level information, e-governance, community information, content and database creation.

ii. Staff Structure: Rural Knowledge Centre/ Community Information Centre (Block Level)

a). Professional/ Technical Staff (Group B)

Information Assistant

b). Para-Professional/ Support Staff (Group C)

Library Attendant

c). Administrative Staff

Village Level Volunteers

The NKC also provided guidelines for the public library collection development. It enumerated following points to ensure cost effective collection development in different levels of public libraries:

1. The size and nature of the collection should reflect the local requirements.

2. Locally relevant language material should be available.

3. Book purchase should be a continuous process and at least 10% of the book collection should be less than five years old.

4. At least 60% of the library’s budget should be spent on collection development.

NKC focused on the development of National Repository of Bibliographic Records with the contribution of bibliographic records from different level of libraries across the country. Modernization of existing libraries is important initiative taken by it. Initiative to provide software, hardware, and infrastructure development for public, academic and special libraries has been started.

13. PUBLIC LIBRARY GOVERNANCE IN DELHI

The Delhi Public library (DPL) started as a Pilot Project of UNESCO “For the development of public library services in adult and fundamental education throughout India and in other countries of South East Asia”. UNESCO floated the proposal to start Public Library Pilot Project in Asia and India was the First to respond and express its desire to implement it. Therefore, India was selected for Public Library Pilot Project to carry out the policy of UNESCO’s Public Library Manifesto. It started as a model of UNESCO’s Public Library Manifesto in Asia. An agreement between the UNESCO and the Government of India was made in May 1951; the Terms of Reference for the project were set as:

“It shall provide public library service for the people of the city of Delhi and shall be a model for all public library development in India, and in all countries where similar development of public libraries can be undertaken. The library shall be designed to carry out the policy of the UNESCO’s Public Library Manifesto and to serve the needs of popular education”.

13.1 THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE DELHI PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM INCLUDES FOLLOWING MEMBERS

1. Chairman selected from the head of the organization.

2. Vice-Chairman nominated by the Board from amongst its members.

3. Two representatives of government at least one from the concerned ministry.

4.One member to be nominated from UNESCO.

5.One member to be nominated by the Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly.

6. Two members to be nominated by the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, from amongst the members of the Corporation.

7. One member to be nominated by the President, New Delhi Municipal Committee.

8.Two representative of the NCT government Delhi. At least one of whom shall be representative of the Directorate of Education.

9. Not more than four persons whose qualifications or experience are likely to be useful to the Board in its work to be co-opted by the Board. Director General, who will be ex-officio Member Secretary.

13.2 NETWORK OF THE DELHI PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

In Delhi, the system of State Central Library and its subsequent sub ordinates such as District-Block-Village/Panchayat libraries are not followed as per the Sinha Committee guidelines in 1959. Instead, DPL started as a model public library system of Unesco in 1951. The DPL System consists of a wide spread library network including Central Library, 4 Zonal Libraries (4 Branch Libraries) 24 Sub-Branch Libraries, 3 Community Libraries, 11 Resettlement Colony Libraries, One Braille Library, Tihar Jail Library, 60 Mobile Service Points and 22 Deposit Stations in the Union Territory of Delhi.

14. SUMMARY

Public library authorities are accountable to their governing bodies and local citizen. Highest professional standards in carrying out their duties and in advising governing body needs to be maintained. They should involve local citizen and potential library users to make library services more effective. Good governance of public library aims to achieve efficient, transparent and quality service to public. Government has taken many steps to improve service condition of public libraries, but all these initiatives face challenges at the implementation level because of various reasons. Public Library Service is a state matter. There are twenty eight states and seven union territories in the country. But only nineteen of the states and union territories have enacted library legislation and the rest are providing public library service without any library legislation. All the states and union territories have their own public library system, structure and pattern of financial assistance. But their governance including operating system and standard for financial resources and services are not the same as there is a lack of uniform library legislation across the country. A nation wide campaign is required to improve the condition of public libraries in the country. Uniform legislation/act is required to ensure sustainable financial and administrative support from the government.

The primary purpose of the public library is to provide resources and service to satisfy the needs of individuals and groups for education, information and personal development including recreation and leisure. It has important role in a democratic society to empower citizen by providing wide range of knowledge and creative ideas to inculcate right opinion for the development of the nation.

15. REFERENCES

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Chakravorty, Swapan. (2013). A Storehouse of Knowledge: The National Library, Kolkata. Railbandhu. January, 2(9). p 87-91.
Chattopadhyay, Anjana. (2001) Haryana. In: Mangla, P.B., etc. eds. Library and Information Services in India: States and Union Territories. New Delhi: Shipra Publications. p 11-20.
Chattopadhyay, Anjana. (2001) Bihar and Jharkhand. In: Mangla, P.B., etc. eds. Library and Information Services in India: States and Union Territories. New Delhi: Shipra Publications. p 83-94.
Chattopadhyay, D.P. (1998). Chattopadhyay Committee on NAPLIS. CLIS Observer. 15 (1-2). p12.
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