9 Public Libraries Acts Enacted between 1990s and 2000s

Dr P S G Kumar

1. MAIN CONTENT

1.1 MIZORAM

The Mizoram Public Library Act came into existence in 1993. However the Act was not been implemented till date.

1.1.1 Salient Features

1. Entire funding of Public Library Service has to be met form state budget.

2.State Library Council is endowed with the task of establishing and promoting public library system.

3.Council is chaired by the Minister for Education and Human Resource.

4.One library association recognized by the Council shall represent the profession on the Council.

5.Grants are given to recognized public libraries.

6.Village libraries are managed by Young Mizoram Association.

1.2 GOA

1.2.1 Expert Committee

The Government of Goa, Daman and Diu had appointed an “Expert committee on the problems and prospects of the Central Library with a plan for the public library structure.” The Chairman of the Committee was Professor K.S. Deshpande, the Head of Department of Library Science, Karnataka University. The Committee submitted its report to the Government in January 1980.

1.2.2 Library Board

Prior to this committee, the Government had constituted the State Library Advisory Board for the Central Library, which is now dissolved and replaced by a new State Library Advisory Board in June 1982, under the Chairmanship of the Lt. Governor of Goa.

1.2.3 Salient Features

1.Goa Public Libraries Act was passed in 1993 and got the assent of the governor on 29 July 1995

2.Under the Act there shall be: i) The State Library Council; ii) The State Library Development Call; iii) The State (Public) Library; and iv) Cooperating institutions.

3.State Library shall have books acquired by copyright as well as those acquired otherwise. It should have audio, video as well as A V material in variant forms.

4.State Library shall have at least two sections: i) State Reference Library; and ii) State Lending Library.

5.State Librarian shall be officer-in-charge of the State Library.

6.There shall be District Libraries, Municipal Libraries, Taluk Libraries; and Panchayat Libraries in addition to State Library. There should be Local Library Committee at all these levels.

7.A library cess shall be levied in the form of a surcharge on the Excise Duty on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) as well as bulk litre of bear at the rate of 0.50p

8.The Government shall create a library fund to support library services.

1.3 GUJARAT

Gujarat Model Public Library Bill, 1964

In Gujarat Model Public Library Bill was prepared by a Committee appointed by the Government for this purpose in the year 1964. Draft bill was submitted to the Government for consideration. Government did not consider the draft bill. On 4.11.1969, the first non-official Public Library Bill was introduced in Gujarat Legislative Assembly by Shri Manoharsinhji Jadeja and Shri Sanatbhai Mehta. It could not be taken for discussion as the Gujarat Legislative Assembly as it was dissolved with the introduction of President’s rule in the State.

1.3.1 Non-Official Bill, 1973 (Maneklal Gandhi)

Thereafter on 27th February 1973, another non-official Bill was moved by Shri Maneklal Gandhi, the then Leader of the Opposition Party, providing for the establishment, maintenance and development of Public Libraries and the organisation of comprehensive rural and urban library service in the State of Gujarat. This Bill was rejected by the House by a voice vote.

1.3.2 Bill by the State Library Advisory Committee (1977) (Manoharsinhji Jadeja)

Shri Manoharsinhji Jadeja, the then Chairman of the ‘State Library Advisory Committee’ had submitted to the Government a comprehensive Public Library Bill, providing for the establishment, maintenance and development of public libraries and the organization of the comprehensive rural and urban library service in the State of Gujarat.

1.3.3 Passing of Library Act

Finally Gujarat state passed the Public Library Bill in 2001 and was published as ‘Gujarat Public Libraries Act No. 25 of 2001 on 1st September 2001 after receiving the assent of the Governor in Gujarat Government Gazette.

1.3.4 Salient Features

1. Gujarat State Development Council is the apex body of the Library System.

2.The Director of Public Libraries shall be responsible for the administration of the Act.

3. One or more State Central Libraries, District Libraries and Taluka Libraries Constitute the Public Library System in the state.

4.There shall be District and Taluka Advisory Committees.

5. There shall be a fund called the ‘State Library Development Fund. Grants, contributions, gifts constitute the fund.

6. Recognizes Public Libraries and public library association.

7. The Director or an officer authorized by him shall have powers to inspect public libraries.

8. Members of the Council to be public servants

Structure

1.4 ORISSA

Several efforts were made since 1974 for the promulgation of Library Act in Orissa. These included: State Conference on Public Library Planning organized at Bolangir on 27 January 1974, where a Draft library Bill and a Development Plan prepared by B B Shukla was discussed and approved. This Bill was submitted to the Government in March 1974.

National Council of Indian Library Associations (NACILA) held in Bhubaneswar discussed the need for library legislation in Orissa.

In 1979, Mr B B Shukla submitted a revised bill to the then Chief Minister.

Mr R K Rout prepared a draft bill in 1983.

In November 1987 a fifteen member delegation met the Chief Minister.

A Seminar on Library Movement and Library Development in Orissa held at Cuttack in 1992 again stressed the need for library legislation.

Government constituted a High Power Committee in 1992 to finalize the draft bill.

An Expert committee with Dr P Padhi was constituted in 1997 to draft a fresh Bill.

Finally the Orissa Assembly passed the ‘Orissa Public Libraries Act’ in 2000, and got the assent of the governor on 28 February 2002.

1.4.1 Salient Features of the Act

1. Orissa Public Library Council consisting of 19 members is the apex body of the library system in the state.

2.Orissa Public Library Authority administers the Act and try to achieve the objectives laid there in.

3.The Directorate of Public Library Services looks after the functioning of the system.

4.The Director of Public Library Services shall be one with professional qualifications.

5.The State Central Library (named after Hare Krishna Mahatab); City Library System (with libraries in each city and the Bhubaneswar Public Library); District Libraries; and other libraries declared as libraries in the system constitute the public libraries.

6. All members of the library service shall be employees of the State government.

7. No Provision for cess.

1.4.2 Structre:

1.5 UTTARANCHAL (Now Called Uttarakhand)

The public Library system in Uttarakhand is basically the structure that was existing as part of Uttar Pradesh.

However, the government of Uttarakhand has taken some quick and positive steps to evolve a structure and gave in the public library system of the state. The important steps in this direction are:

Enacting “The Uttaranchal Public Library Act” (Act No. 19 of 2005); and
Supporting the formation of “Doon library and Research Centre” in December 2006.

1.5.1 Salient Features

The Act provides for establishment of a State Library Committee. The Minister –in- charge of Education is ex-officio Chairman; and The Principal Secretary/Secretary to the Government in the Education Department shall be ex-officio Vice – Chairman. Director, School Education shall be Member- Secretary.
Department of Public Libraries is a ‘Cell’ in the Education Department.
District Library Authority administers the public libraries in the District. A District Library Authority can appoint Executive Committees and Sub-committees.
Provision for imposing a ‘Library Fee’ (= cess).
The Director or his nominee can inspect any Public Library.

1.5.2 Structure:

1.6 RAJASATHAN

Dr Sampurnanand, the then Governor of Rajasthan while inaugurating the Rajasthan Library Association (RLA) on 13 August 1962 stressed the need for library legislation.

Rajasthan Library Association made several attempts for having library legislation in the state. It prepared a bill in 1965. A fresh attempt was made in 1969. A memorandum was submitted to the Government in 1969. A Seminar on ‘Libraries in Rajasthan, organized by RLA in February 1970 discussed a Model Public Library Bill prepared for the State. The draft bill was submitted to the Government which was sent by the Government to the Law Department. The observations of the law Department were discussed at a meeting called by the Deputy Director of Primary and Secondary Education

The State Library Advisory Committee at its Meeting held on 18 September 1992 modified the draft bill and submitted the same in the Law Department on 15 January 1993.

Finally, it was in 2006 the Government of Rajasthan passed the Bill and got the assent of the Governor on 20 April 2006.

1.6.1 Salient Features

1. State Library Council is headed by the Minister-in-charge of libraries.

2. The State Library Council also decides the quantum of grant-in-aid by the Government.

3. The Director of Language and Libraries shall be the Director of Public Libraries.

4. State Library System constitutes State Central Library, Divisional Libraries, District Libraries, Panchayat Samiti Libraries, and Village Libraries.

5. Library Advisory Committees for all Public Libraries.

6. No provision for cess.

7.Members of the Council are public servants.

1.6.2 Structure

1.7 UTTAR PRADESH

Library Bill for the State of United Provinces (now called Uttar Pradesh) was prepared by

Dr. Ranganathan in 1946. He was in Banaras during those days. He had met Dr Sampurnanandji who had been then out of office. Dr Ranganthan who had also prepared a 20-year programme for the development of the public Library System of UP on his asking and incorporated in the above publication brought out in 1949. Dr Sampurnanandji promised to Dr Ranganathan that he would take steps to implement the Plan and the Draft Library Bill as soon as would enter office after the General Election which was held in 1946. But failed to act. Ranganathan met him again in 1949.

UP Library Association came into being in 1956. It was inaugurated by Dr. Sampurnanandji, the then Chief Minister of U.P. The Association lost no time in recommending the Draft Library Bill to the State Government. In 1958, Dr. Ranganathan was in Lucknow at the Invitation of the USIS Library. He had prepared a revised Draft Public Library Bill which was presented to Dr. V V Giri who had invited him. At the request of Dr. Giri, Dr. Ranganathan presented the Draft Bill to Dr. Sampurnanandji who had then become the Chief Minister of the State conveying the wish of the Governor to him. He received it and expressed his warm desire to put it through the Legislature. But this not was done.

1.7.1 Submission of the Revised Bill

In December 1960, An All-U P Library Conference was held in Varanasi at the invitation of Prof Kaula who had just then migrated to U.P from Delhi. At this conference, the Draft Library Bill was discussed and approved. This bill was subsequently submitted to the Government by the U P Library Association.

Public Libraries Enquiry Committee

A silver lining became visible among the dark clouds. Prof Vasudav Singh, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly suggested the setting up of a Public Libraries Enquiry Committee in 1970. This was accepted by the Education Minister and accordingly on 1 April 1972, a seven-member Committee was set up with the Minister of State for Education as the Chairman for suggesting to the Government the setting up of a Directorate of Library Services and the Draft Library Bill for the State. The Committee had Deputy Director of Education as Secretary.

1.7.2 Other Efforts

1973 Uttar Pradesh Public Libraries Bill–by Goswami Committee. Shri Radhakrishna Goswami was made the Chairman of the Library Committee during the Fourth Five Year Plan to consider the possibilities of developing library system in the State. The Committee submitted its report along with a draft bill for Public Libraries. Further efforts were:

1983 Uttar Pradesh Public Libraries Bill-by Venkatappaiah

1983 Uttar Pradesh Public Libraries Bill-by Vishwanathan Committee

1992 Uttar Pradesh Public Libraries bill-by Venkatappaiah

1.7.3 The Act

Finally, UP Legislature adopted the Library Act in 2006

Salient Features

1. A State Library Council which is of advisory in nature.

2. State sanding Committee to ensure proper implementation of the decisions of the Council.

3. Director of Secondary Education as Director of Public Libraries.

4. There shall be a State Central Library, State Reference Library.

5. District Libraries and District Library Committees.

6. No provision for cess.

1.7.4 Structure

1.8 BIHAR

Bihar Library Association was started in the year 1936. This Association organized Bihar Library Conference in 1937. Draft scheme for the development of libraries in Bihar prepared by the Association was discussed and passed in the conference. In principle the Government accepted this scheme, but it could not implement it owing to heavy financial commitment to the State exchequer.

At the request of the Government, a Draft Bill was prepared and submitted to the Government in the year 1973. Unfortunately this draft was lost in the floods in 1975. With revision, it was resubmitted to the Government for consideration in 1979.

The draft bill was revised on several occasions later, ie, in 1989, 1999 and in 2003.

Finally Bihar Legislature enacted the Bihar State Public Library and Information Centre Act in

2008.

1.8.1 Salient Features

1. There shall be a ‘State Library and Information Centre Authority’.

2. State Government nominates the Chairman, Vice-chairman and other members of the ‘Authority’

3. There shall be a separate Directorate. The Director will perform the role of a ‘Superintendent of Libraries’

4.No provision for cess.

1.8.2 Structure

1.91 CHHATTISGARH

The Chhattisgarh Public Libraries Act was passed by the Government of Chhattisgarh in 2008.

Unlike other states, here the initiative came from the government.

1.91.1 Salient Features

1.The State Library Council is headed by the Minister of School Education Department and the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department shall be Vice-chairman.

2.The officer on Special Duty (Library Cell) in the School Education Department shall be Member Secretary.

3.The Standing Committee shall be headed by the Principal Secretary, School Education.

4.There shall be District Libraries guided by District Library Committees.

5.The Director of Secondary Education, Chhattisgarh shall be the Director of Public Libraries.

1.91.2 Structure

1.92 ARUNACHAL PRADESH

The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Arunachal Pradesh Public Libraries Act (Act No. 6 of 2009) which received the assent of the Governor on 31 August 2009 and came into existence.

1.92.1 Salient Features

1. There shall be a ‘Library Planning Committee’ with Minister in-charge as Chairman.

2. Envisages Library Service to all Government Departments.

3. Promote reading and library habit among public.

4. Promote production of useful literature.

5. Make compulsory enrolment of every student in the public libraries on reaching standard eight.

6. Creation of the Department of Public Libraries with a full-time Director.

7. The Public Library System consist of a State Central Library, Sub-Divisional Libraries, District

Libraries, Circle Libraries, Branch Libraries, Mobile Libraries, Children’s Libraries.

8. No provision for cess.

1.92.2 Structure

REFERENCES

Kumar, P S G. Library movement and library development. (Library in India Series):

V 2	:	Maharashtra and Goa
V 7	:	Rajasthan
V 10	:	Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
V 11	:	Orissa
V 13	:	North-East India (Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram)
V 14	:	Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand
V 15	:	Bihar

New Delhi : B R Publishing Corporation, 2007-9.