8 Public Libraries Acts Enacted between 1948 to 1960s

Dr P S G Kumar

 

TAMIL NADU

 

1.1.1 Early 20th Century

 

The 1919 Reforms Act transferred the power under diarchy and provided a chance to the local people to serve their nation directly in the fields of co-operation, education, public health, local government and so on. This resulted in the enactment of Madras Municipal Act in 1919. This Act provides for the establishment and maintenance of public libraries, reading rooms, museums, art galleries, or any other institutions connected with the diffusion of knowledge, physical culture, technical instruction, and training of the teachers.

 

This caused many municipalities in the composite Madras State to establish public libraries and reading rooms in the Municipal towns. In addition to it, with the efforts of Desabhakta Konda Venkatappaya, the Government of Madras sanctioned a grant of Rs. 20,000/- in the year 1920, to the libraries maintained by local bodies and voluntary organizations.

 

1.1.2  Benares Conference

 

During 26-30 December, 1930 First All Asia Educational Conference was organized at Benares. Dr S R Ranganathan and Mr D Subrahmanyam, Assistant Librarian, Benares Hindu University had an opportunity to discuss the Model Library Bill. The participants of the Conference were fully convinced over the advantages of library legislation and were one with the views of Dr Ranganathan.

 

1.1.3 Introduction of the Bill in Madras Legislature

 

At that time, the Andhra area was a part and parcel of the composite Madras State. At the persuasion of Dr Ranganathan and with the good offices of Madras Library Association, the Bill was introduced in the Madras Assembly by Janab Bhasheer Ahmed Sayeed on 10th November 1933. Without much discussion the Bill was referred to the Select Committee of 37 members. The Select Committee presented its report in 1934. Mr Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah presented another draft bill in 1938. Again, the Madras Library Association through Basheer Ahmed Sayeed gave notice of the modified draft in the Legislature during 1939. But the Governor, Lord Erskine was reluctant to introduce the Bill. When a deputation consisting of Thiru K V Swamy Iyyar, Dr S R Ranganathan, Basheer Ahmed Sayeed and C Rajagopalachari, met him, they were promised that the provisions of the Bill could be implemented with the executive orders. In practice, the whole affair was wetted in the Government Department.

 

1.1.4 Final Attempt

 

After Independence, the conditions were more favourable for the sprouting of the seed of library legislation. Dr Ranganathan lobbied with the Education Minister Thiru T N Avinasalingam Chettiar to have the Madras Public Libraries Bill. At that time Andhra Desa Library Association came forward and organized a special conference at Vijayawada on 18th January 1948 and discussed the provisions of the draft bill clause by clause. The Andhra Desa Library Association submitted its memorandum. The bill was introduced in the Legislature in the year 1948 and was again referred to the Select Committee. It made certain modifications. Madras Public Libraries Act was passed, got the assent of the Governor General on 29th January 1949. It was implemented from April 1950 onwards in the composite Madras State comprising of 27 Districts out of them Andhra Districts were 12, including Ballary. The Andhra Desa Library Association felt that legislation was sine qua non for the sound library movement, and supported the issue. At a late hour, they convened a conference at Vijayawada on 10.8.1952 to discuss the pros and cons of the implementation of the Act.

 

1.2 MADRAS PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT, 1948

 

(Currently known as The Tamil Nadu Public Libraries Act)

Tamil Nadu is the first state to pass library legislation In India. A Directorate of Public Libraries under the direct control of Education department is administrating the public library services in Tamil Nadu. Further, this Act provides for the appointment of the Director of Public Libraries to control over the affairs of the public libraries. Section 4 of the Act enumerates the duties of the Director of Public Libraries. The State Central Library is the Connemara Public Library and acts as the Copyright Library. State Library Committee has been created as per Section 3, of the Act.

 

It is Interesting to note that, besides the constitution of the State Library Committee, Local Library Authorities (LLAs) have been created in each of the Districts including the city of Madras (now Chennai). Section 9 of the Act empowers the Local Library Authorities. These Committees have to organize and administer public libraries in the State. Section 5 elaborately deals with the constitution of the Local Library Authorities. Further it is to be noted that the Act ensured the elected membership of the Committees substantially.

 

1.2.1 Public Library System in Tamil Nadu

 

1.2.1.1 Organization Structure

 

The public library movement in Tamil Nadu had been flourishing before enactment of the Act. Subsequently with the passing of the Library Legislation in 1948, the then Madras Government created a separate Department of Public Libraries with effect from 1st August 1972. A Library Reorganisation Committee headed by Thiru V.N. Subharayan had made some valuable recommendations for the improvement of Public Library system in October 1974. From December 1976, a separate professional District Library Officer for each Local Library Authority has been sanctioned to effectively administrate the public libraries in each District. In November 1978, an official committee headed by Thiru S. Srinivasan (I.A.S. retired) reviewed the recommendations of the Subharayan Committee and evolved certain norms for the number and category of technical and non-technical posts required for each library. From 1 April, 1982, the Government of Tamil Nadu has provincialised all the staff members of the Department of Public Libraries, and the salary, allowances, pension etc., of the library staff are directly paid by the Government from the Treasury. The structure of the public library system corresponds to the structure suggested by the Advisory Committee for the Libraries set-up by the Government of India.

 

 

 

1.3 HYDERABAD STATE

 

1.3.1 Formation of Hyderabad Library Association

 

The Andhra movement which started initially as a linguistic, literary and scientific movement gradually transformed into a political movement aiming at the achievement of responsible government. After the Kandi Conference (1946), the Andhra Maha Sabha merged with Hyderabad State Congress in 1946, to fight against the Nizam‟s government and to bring about the merger of Hyderabad State with the Indian Union.

 

Thus, the efforts of Andhra Jana Kendra Sangham and Andhra Maha Sabha for the spread of library movement in the Talangana region were significant. During the first phase of Andhra movement (1923-1930) as well as in the second phase i.e., from the first Andhra Maha Sabha Conference held at Sirisilla in 1930; to the 9th conference held at Nizamabad in 1937, library movement received active support and cooperation from the library workers and leaders alike. It was at the Nizamabad conference held in 1937 that K. Lakshmiranjanam, I. Sita Rama Rao and others started Nizam State Library Association. But the activities of this Association were short-lived and it did not make any significant impact on the library movement.

 

Madras Public Libraries Act proved successful in the Andhra area of composite Madras State. The Hyderabad Library Association started in the year 1951 took up the cause of library legislation. It organized the First All Hyderabad Library Conference at Hyderabad during 25-27 December, 1954, and invited Dr S.R. Ranganathan, to preside over the conference. Mr K.M. Ujlambkar, an enthusiastic library worker took a lead in this regard. Dr. Ranganathan, in his presidential address, stressed the need for a systematic growth of libraries in the State. The Hyderabad Public Libraries Bill was already introduced in the State Assembly in the August 1954 session. In the inaugural address to the conference Mr. Gopal Rao Ekbote, Minister for Education and Law, said that the Bill would be passed into Act in the next session. Accordingly the Hyderabad Public Libraries Act was passed in 1955, and received the Rajpramukh‟s assent on 4th April, 1955, and came into force. Perhaps this is the second Library Act in the independent India.

 

1.3.2 Salient Features of the Act

  1. Constitution of the state Library Authority, which shall promote the formulation of the Local Library Authorities and take suitable steps to establish public library system. The Minister for Education shall be the State Library Authority. (This essential ingredient is missing in most of the Acts).
  2. Constitution of a State Library Council to advise the Government on matters arising under the Act.
  3. Formation of Department of Public Libraries. The Director of Public Instruction will also act as Director of Public Libraries.
  4. Constitution of Local Library Authority one for Hyderabad, one for Secunderabad, and one for each district.
  5. Librarian, City Public Library, District Public Library is the ex-officio Secretary of the Local Library Authority.
  6. Library cess on property tax or house tax, at the rate of 6 pies (old) on every rupee.

 

1.3.3    Structure of the System

 

 

By the end of 1955 there were City Public Libraries at Hyderabad and Secunderabad, and District Public Libraries at all district headquarters. They could not start the Branch Libraries for various reasons. On 1st November, 1956, Andhra Pradesh was formed as a linguistic State, with Andhra region of Madras State and Telangana region of Hyderabad State. Consequently Hyderabad Public Libraries Act was repealed by the Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries Act of VIII of 1960.

 

1.4 ANDHRA PRADESH PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT, 1960

 

Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956 in accordance with the recommendation of the States Re-organisation Commission. Eleven Districts in Andhra Region and nine districts in Telangana region were merged in the State.

 

1.4.1 Libraries Act

 

When Andhra Pradesh was formed, Madras Public Libraries Act was in force in Andhra area and the Hyderabad Public Libraries Act was in force in Telangana area. There were some administrative difficulties in operation of both Acts in one and the same State, on the same subject. So, both the Acts were amalgamated, modified, brought up to date and passed as an integrated act namely Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries Act in 1960, which came into force from 1 April, 1960, in the entire Andhra Pradesh, comprising of Andhra and Telangana areas. It was later amended in 1964, 1969, 1987 and 1989.

 

1.4.2  Salient Features of the Act

 

  1. Constitution of Andhra Pradesh Granthalaya Parishad, as apex body with statutory powers and functions.
  2. Constitution of a Directorate of Public Libraries to direct, supervise and control the public library system.
  3. Constitution of City/Zilla Granthalaya Samsthas through nomination of Chairmen and members by the Government.
  4. Librarians of City/District Central Libraries as ex-officio Secretaries of the City/Zilla Granthalaya Samsthas.
  5. Collection of eight paise as library cess on house tax and property tax collected by Local Bodies.
  6. Payment of salaries of the staff working in the City/Zilla Granthalaya Samsthas by Government.
  7. Grant-in-aid to private libraries by Government and City/Zilla Granthalaya Samsthas.

 

Even though, separate departments were formed in the States of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, “the failure to appoint a professional librarian as its Head has led to the development of rickets in the Public Library System”. It must be put an end to, by amending the Act on the lines of Maharashtra Public Libraries Act, in case of the Head of the Department.

 

1.4.3    Structure of the System

 

 

1.5 KARNATAKA STATE

 

Karnataka State, formerly known as Mysore State, comprises of Bombay-Karnataka area, old Mysore area, Hyderabad-Karnataka area, Madras-Karnataka area and Coorg area, with changed geographical boundaries. Karnataka has rich heritage of libraries for more than one hundred years. The recommendations of the Fyzee Committee were in operation in the Bombay-Karnataka area; i.e. in Dharwad, Bijapur, Belgaum and Karwar.

 

1.5.1 Efforts for Library Legislation

 

Karnataka was fortunate enough to have Dr S R Ranganathan, the doyen of library and information science, settled in Bangalore in connection with the establishment of Documentation Research and Training Centre. He initiated the establishment of Mysore Library Association. This association organized Karnataka Library Conference in 1958, and passed a resolution to have library legislation in the State, as suggested by Mr B V Baliga, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The Association followed up the action vigorously and got the Bill passed in the Legislative Assembly on 22nd April 1965. This is the fourth library act passed in the Independent India.

 

1.5.2 Salient Features of the Act

 

1.Provision for a State Library Authority in the form of a corporate body with Minister-in-charge of Education as Chairman. The members are drawn from different segments of the Society

 

2.Provision for creating an independent Department of Public Libraries with State Librarian as its head.

 

3.Provision for the establishment of State Central Library at the apex of Public Library System in the State.

 

4.Constitution of Local Library Authorities for the cities and districts.

 

5.Provision for setting-up Advisory Committees for Branch and Village Library Services.

 

6.Provision for centralized technical processing.

 

7.Provision for centralized units like:-

 

a)      Copyright collection of the State;

b)      State Library for the Blind;

c)      State Bibliographic Bureau; etc

 

8.Provision for the levy of library cess in the form of a surcharge on all possible taxable units of the State revenues. The District Library Authority gets the annual grant from the State Government (3% of the land revenue). There is also a provision to retain 10% of the amount collected towards the cost of collection by the local authority and the balance shall be paid to the Library Authority concerned.

 

9.  Creation of a „State Level Service‟ bestowing upon its employees all the benefits and privileges as are available to the other State Government Servants.

 

1.5.3    Structure of the System

The structure of public library system as envisaged in the Act is given below:-

 

1.5.4     Special Features

 

The rich and cultured State of Karnataka has the following specialties in the public library system.

 

A separate Public Technical Library in Peenya, which is first of its kind in the country. The Act has a good source to levy library cess on land and buildings, entry of goods into local area for consumption, use or sale there in, vehicles, and on profession, trades, callings and on employments. Besides this, the State Government shall make annually a grant to every District Library Authority of an amount equal to 3% of land revenue collection of the district. There is provision to constitute Advisory Committees for the purpose of advisory on local requirements relating to library service at each Branch Library and each Service Station in a village served by travelling library service. This is really a democratic way of administration.

Mysore Public Libraries Act, 1965 changed its nomenclature in 1973 as Karnataka Public Libraries Act, 1965.

 

1.6 MAHARASHTRA

 

1.6.1     Library Legislation: Earlier Attempts

 

Before the present Act was passed in 1967, attempts were made in the former Bombay Province and the present Maharashtra State to have library legislation in the State. The first attempt was made as early as in 1936 when Rao Bahadur Bole, a nominated non-official member of the Legislative Council, gave notice of a Bill known as the Bombay Presidency Public Libraries Bill. It was however not considered by the legislature. Later, in 1939, the Government of Bombay appointed a Library Development Committee under the chairmanship of

 

A.A.A  Fyzee. The Committee made certain proposals for the promotion of public library service in the State. Further, in 1946, with the request from R.S. Parkhi, the veteran librarian of Poona and a student of Madras School, S.R. Ranganathan drafted a Bill for the composite state of Bombay. The Bill, when published in the form of a book, was presented to B.G. Kher, the then Chief Minister of Bombay. Though Kher appointed a committee to consider the Bill, its results were fruitless. Even the Maharashtra Library Association drafted a Bill in 1963 based on its counter-part in Karnataka; however, the bill was only discussed at their annual conference.

 

1.6.2    The Present Act

 

The Government of Maharashtra itself drafted a Public Libraries Bill in 1967 and the same was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 17th November, 1967. The Act, in the words of Frank M. Gardner, “has some of the features of the Mysore Act in that it creates a State Library Council, with a Director of Libraries who is a member of the Council, acts as its Secretary, and must be a qualified librarian, A Department of Libraries is established and a state library service with staff salaries to be paid from state funds.”

 

1.6.3     Structure

 

The structure of the public libraries in Maharashtra State is given below:-

1.6.4    Special Features of the Act

  1. Constitution of State Library Council by the Government. Minister for Education shall be the ex-officio President of the Council. The Council will advise the State Government “on all matters connected with the administration of this Act.”
  2. Constitution of separate Department of Public Libraries, and the appointment of a qualified Director.
  3. Establishment of Maharashtra State Library Service and to treat all members of such service as Government servants.
  4. Establishment of State Central Library and a Divisional Library for each Division. Recognition of the Asiatic Society of Bombay as State Library and provision of grant-in-aid to the Asiatic Society of Bombay.
  5. Appointment of a District Library Committee for every district. The Chairman of the Education Committee of the Zilla Parishad functioning in the district, as the ex-officio President of the Committee. In case of the Committee of the Greater Bombay, the Chairman of the Education Committee of the Municipal Corporation shall be the ex-officio President of the committee.
  6. There is no library cess. The Government shall contribute to the library fund every year, a sum not less than 25 lakhs of rupees. It may give special grants also.
  7. Grant-in-aid to public libraries organized by voluntary organisations.

 

REFERENCES

  1. Kumar, P S G. Students manual of library and information science, New Delhi : BRPC, 2000.
  2. Millat, R. L. Public Library Law : An international survey. Delhi : Metropolitan, 1972.
  3. Venkatappaiah, V. Indian Library Legislation. V2. Delhi : Daya, 1990.