Chapter - 7 MODEL PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACTS AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEES APPOINTED BY GOVT. OF INDIA. In this chapter, the Model State and Union Library Acts so far framed and Reports under the initiative of the Govt, of India would be discussed and attempt would be made to show that how far the Acts and Recommendations of the Reports were successful in establishing a national network of Public Library Service. 1. MODEL PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT OF DR. S. R. RANGANATHAN : Any discussion to Library Legislation in India cannot be completed without reference to the pioneering personality Dr. S. R. Rangnathan. First All Asia Educational Conference held in December, 1930 at Banaras saw the Model State Library Act prepared by Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. The Act was revised in 1957 and again in 1972. The Model Act in its final shape (in 1972) will be considered here. The Act was full of compulsory provisions like Library Rate, Library Grant, Library Cess from Local Bodies. The main features of the Model Act of Dr. Ranganathan are : (a) Minister of Education shall be the State Library Authority. The duty of the State Library Authority has been stated in the Act. (b) The State Library Authority shall appoint State Librarian. He will be the Chief Executive Officer of the Library Service in the State and also matters relating to library personnel. The duties of the State Librarian also have been stated. (c) There shall be a State Library Committee of Advisory type to advise the State Library Authority. (d) There shall be Local Library Authorities for each District and for each City. The Local Library Authorities are body corporate. The structure of (103)
the Local Library Authority, its formation, function, power, duties of Chairman and Vice-Chairman etc. are vividly stated. (e) Provision is there for Library Committees of Branch Libraries and service stations. These Committees will be of Advisory type. (f) Provision has been there in the Act towards Library Development Plan prepared by the local Library Authority for all round development of Library Services in Cities or Districts. (g) There is provision of Department of Public Libraries with the State Librarian as its Head. Also, creation of State Library Service for all employees is a marked feature of the Model Act. (h) A system for State Central Library has been well defined in the Act. (i) Provision of Library Rules, Standards, Reports, Offences and punishment, compulsory Library Cess for the Local Library Authority, compulsory Govt, grants, State Library Fund, Power to make Rules etc. are there in the Model Act. Now, if. we go thoroughly into the Model Act of Ranganathan, following points will come up : The Model Act acts as a strong instrument to establish a Public Library System in a State. In this context, the necessity of Model Act may be discussed in short. It is not expected or rather desirable that each State would adopt the Model Act. But it is very much expected that all the States would frame their respective public Library Legislation following the outline of the Model Act and would also be inspired by it. In fact, with this expectation Ranganathan prepared the Model Act. In this Act, the attempt was to create a "Library System" for the State. Minister as the State Library Authority is the foremost factor in a State Library legislation which Ranganathan advocated throughout his life. (104)
According to him, Minister is directly responsible to the legislature and thereby to the people for implementation of the Legislation properly and therefore, he should be made the State Library Authority in the Library Act. The duty of the State Library Authority is four-fold. Namely : (i) Provision of adequate Library Service in the State, (ii) Progressive development of the institutions devoted to this purpose, (iii) To secure the effective execution of the national policy for providing adequate library service to the people in every locality. Ranganathan's option was towards selection of State Librarian as the Chief implementing Officer regarding the decisions of the State Library Authority and State Library Committee. He is also the Chief Officer respensible for management of Library service in the State, service conditions of the employees and all factors regarding establishment of Library System in the State. There shall be a State Library Committee for advising the State Library Authority. The Minister-in-charge of Library Services was made the Chairperson of the State Library Committee. Simultaneous position of the Minister as State Library Authority and Chairman of the State Library Committee evoked criticism among the Library experts. In the structure of the State Librrary Committee, there is enough possibiity of non-introduction of the Librarian category other than the State Librarian. Moreover, it appears that the Act should have explained the role of M.L.A.'s or M.L.C.'s and persons from Universities in the Act. Because, unless their roles, as members of S.L.C. are explained the main objective of their inclusion in the State Library Committee, that is, pursuance of the interest of academic institutions by the Public Library System, established by the Govt, remains ignored. Provision of separate department with the State Librarian as head of The Dept, is there in the Model Act. Ranganathan did this in order to avoid the predominancy of the evils of bureaucracy over the profession and library (105)
service. But in this process, there is possivility of disbalance between the bureaucracy and profession which in turn may affect the latter, a great deal. Creation of 'State Library Service' is an important feature of the Model Act. In the construction of Local Library Authority no representation of the Librarian of the aided Libraries in the City or District is there. Also, the roles of members from different categories have not been defined. Provision of Advisory Library Committee for each Branch Library and each service station served by travelling library is there in the Act. Also, Branch Library Committee for the branch Library and Village Library Committee for the service station served by the Travelling Library is there in the Act. In the Model Act 'Library Development Plan' has occupied an importance place. Local Library Authorities prepare the plans and after passing through the upward hierarchy it comes out as local library order from the State Librarian. The Local Library Authority is to implement the Order. The Model Act of Ranganathan provides for (i) City Library, (ii) City Branch Library, (iii) City Travelling Library, (iv) City Service Station, (v) District Library, (vi) District Branch Library, (vii) District Travelling Library. A State Central Library System has been well defined in the Model Act. The System will comprise - (i) State Service Library, (ii) State Branch Service Liberary, (iii) State Copyright Library, (iv) State Library for the Blind, (v) State Bureau of Inter-Library Loan, (vi) State Bibliographical Bureau, (vii) State Bureau of Technical Service. The jurisdictions of the Bureaux have been stated. Joining into the schemes of the Bureaux by any Library or other institution is optional. The Model Act also provides regulations regarding use of Libraries, Standards and Reports. In the Model Act, there is also an important place of 'Reports' placed by different authorities which ultimately consolidated into Annual Report (106)
prepared by the State Librarian, This is vital for the development and evaluation of library services in the State. Provision of Compulsory Library Cess at the specified rate and compulsory Govt, grant is there in the Act. Provision for creation of City and District Library Funds are there in the Act. Provision for State Library Fund is also there in the Act which is comprised of State Govt. Grant, Central Govt. Grant and gifts. Provision for addition of possible sections is there in the Act which may came in the course of implementation of the Act. The compulsory provision for Cess and Govt. Grants have also raised criticism against the Model Act. However, a careful observance reveals that the Model Act has tried to establish a Public Library System in the State with a link with the similar Systems of the other States and to a little extent with inter-national systems. What appears to be lackings in the Model Act is a clear cut demonstration of Public Library Network, its connection with National Library System, Academic Libraries and Special Libraries. Although, attempt for establishment of a Public Library System within the State and its connection with the similar systems of other States is there in the Act under article 4. In the Model Act another important and note-worthy feature is formation of the plan for Library Development Activities from the Local Library Authority level. This has been manifested in a very scientific way. 2. MODEL PUBLIC LIBRARIES BILL, 1963 OF THE GOVT. OF INDIA : Under the recommendation of Advisory Committee on Libraries appointed by the Govt, of India (which placed its Report in 1958) and under pressures from Indian Library Association and other Association of different States, Govt, of India constituted a Committee to draft the Model Library Bills for the State. The Advisory Committee said above is popularly known as K. P. (107)
Sinha Committee Report and the Committee for drafting Model Library Bill was chairmaned by Dr. M. D. Sen. The bill was submitted to Govt, of India in 1963. Model public Library Bill has the folloing important features : (a) State Library Council as Advisory Committee for advising the Govt, regarding the development of Library Services in the State. (b) Appointment of State Library Directorate. (c) Treating the employees, of the Public Library System as Govt, employees. (d) Provision of fund by the Govt. (e) Mention of Library Cess is there and no mention of legal deposit provision for books and newspapers in there in the Bill. Different important features and lacunea of this Act are being mentioned here in short : Establishment of Public Library System as the prime objective of the Act got no emphasis in the Preamble. Definition of Public Library is very precise here. The prime instrument of the Public Library System, that is, books has been well-defined in the Act. Imparting of library Service in Govt. Departments, establishment of institution by the State Govt., connection of Pubilic Libraries with other cultural institutions etc. have got emphasis in this Act. There is no provision of aided libraries in the Act but the Act aims at sponsoring other libraries and institutions. There is 'State Library Authority (S.L.A.). Different categories of members are there in the State Library Authority; but their respective roles have not been defined.the S.L.A is not a corporate body,. Its nature is purely (108)
Advisory. Provision for creation of Standing Advisory Committee and adhoc Committee out of the S.L.A. are there in the Act. A separate Directorate and Director as head of the Directorate and Secretary of the S.L.A. are provided in the Act. State Librarian is there to look after the State Central Library; to advise the S.L.A. on all technical matters; to organise, conduct and supervise semi-professional Librarians. It is clearly stated in the Act that the State Librarian should be subordinate to the Director. This is in sharp contradiction of Ranganathan's Model Act. The Director is the Chief Officer responsible for maintaining and controlling the Public Library System and implementing the decision of the S.L.A. Matters relating to the State Central Library is clearly stated in the Act. There is no mention of Network of Public Libraries. The District Library System is more prominantly expressed in the Act. Functions of a District Library have been specified. Besides the maintenance and rendering of services with respect to a District Library an attempt was made to connect Block Libraries with District Libraries and different institutions, especially Social Education Institution with District Libraries. Functions of District Library Committee, as specified in the Act also provides for the jurisdiction and control of District Library Committee over the District Library and other Libraries in the District. Yet, no attempt for creation of network of services is manifested in the Act. Moreover, the functions of City and Town Libraries, Block Libraries, anchal/panchayat Libraries have not been stated. Provision of City and Town Library Committee, Block Library Committee, Anchal / Panchayat Library Committee are there in the Act. Provision for creation of State Library Fund and District Library Fund are there in the Act. Provision for collection of 'Library Cess' is there which is to be collected by local bodies in the District and to be credited in the District Library Fund. There are two important responsibilities of District Library Committee. These are : (109)
(i) To operate the District Library fund and another is (ii) To employ staff for the district Library. Apprehending cases of disputes, there is an important provision that "if any question arises whether a particular matter is or is not within the purview of District or any other Library Committee, the decision of the S.L.A. thereon shall be final". No Govt, officer has been made the controlling officer with respect to the District Library System. Probably it has been left to the decisions of State authority. Provision for creation of Rules by the Govt, and by the Director is there in this Act. One of the possible cases of dispute in the Act is confliction between the Govt, and the State Library Authority (S.L.A.) (which is merely an Advisory Body) regarding implementation of decisions or application of powers. Similarly confliction may arise between the District Library Committee (D.L.C.) and the State Govt, or between the District Library Committee and the State Library Authority etc. regarding implementation of several decisions. The areas of control of the L.L.A. over the D.L.C. or of the Govt, over the S.L.A. and D.L.C. have not been mentioned specifically the growth of library development plan from the district level which was clearly stated in Ranganathan's model Act is conspicuously absent in this Act. 3. MODEL PUBLIC LIBRARIES BILL, 1965 OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION : The salient features (other than the common ones) of the Model Public Libraries Bill, 1965 of the Planning Commission are given below : (a) Creation of a Committee of Experts for framing Library Standards; (b) Establishment of Public Library System; (c) Creation of State Cadre for employees in the System; (d) No provision of Cess is there. The Govt, shall maintain the Public Library System in the State; (e) Preparation of perspective plan by the State Library Council.. (110)
Govt, of India, Planning Commission constituted a "Working Group on Libraries1' to advise on the development of libraries during to Fourth Five Year Plan. This Act is the part of the Report. No mention of Public Library System has been stated in the Preamble of the Act. It is clearly stated in the Act that the State Government "shall establish, maintain and develop an integrated and adequate public library service in the State". An important provision of the Act is appointment of a Committee of experts to prescribe the standard of service at different levels and to recommend the steps that may be necessary to ensure the maintenance of the standard so prescribed. There is provision for creation of State Library Council in this Act with minister-incharge of Education as Chairman and Director of the State Library Directorate as Secretary. The Council is purely Advisory in nature. No specific mention is there in this Act about delivery of books published by State Govt. Departments and by State Ligislative Assembly. It is not clearly mentioned that what departments a State Central Library should have. The role of State Central Library as the apex body of the Library System in the State has also not clearly envisaged in this Act. Provision for District Library System is there in the Act and attempt has been made to make prominant the Role of District Library at the apex of the District Library System. It is very peculiar that the functions of District Library Committee which is to manage and control the District Library System is not stated specifically. It is prudently stated in the Act the creation of the Cadre of State Library employees by the State Govt, on advice of the State Library Council. An important feature of this Act is the declaration of a perspective plan to cover the entire state with a public library system for a period of 25 years (ill)
and not more than this stipulated period. "The State Government shall frame the annual budgets of the Directorate of Libraries and the Public Library System in the State within the broad frame work of this plan". No mention is there for different types of Library Funds namely State Library Fund, District Library Fund etc. No provision of Library Cess is there. The expenditure for the Public Library Service has been stated to be met out of the State exchequer. Also, no provision for borrowing power of any Committee is there. Provision of making Rules for the Act by the State Govt, is there and also there is mention of the matters which may have to be included in the Rules. The working group as stated previously, considered it better to leave the matter of Library Cess upon the State Govt, as there is considerable differences of opinions as to the imposition of Library Cess. The working group also recommended the govt, of India share financial burden of the states generously and that the annual expenditure on public libraries must be not less than 1.5% of the annual expenditure on education. The features of the Model Act prepared by the Planning Commission stated above are the points of dissimilarities with the features of the Model Act prepared by the Govt, of India in 1963. The others features of the Act of Planning Commission are same as those of the Act of Govt, of India, 1963 stated in section 2 in this Chapter. Closer observations reveal that the Model Acts prepared on the part of the Central Government have not aimed at making any compulsory provisions in any aspect. Rather, they have left those provisions on the State Governments. They attempted to set up a library system; but the network of Library services in the State apexing the State Central Library is not prominant in the Acts. 4. Since independence Govt, of India adopted several steps towards establishment of Library System in States. During the First Five Year Plan (1951-56) the Central Govt, initiated a remarkable effort by adopting the (112)
scheme for establishment of State Cenral Libraries and District Libraries in each State. A pilot project of integrated libarary service was taken up. Library service was linked-up with the then Community Development Project. But at that time no attempt was made from the part of the Union Govt, to initiate introduction of library legislation if the States. The library development programme of the Second Five Year Plan stressed on three objectives. Firstly, setting up of State and District Libraries, secondly introduction of library legislation and thirdly establishment of a network of Public Library services by linking District Libraries to village libraries downwards and to the State Central Library and the National Library upwards in the hierarchy. During the Second Plan Period, Ministry of Education, Govt, of India appointed an Advisory Committee for Libraries in 1957 under the Chairmanship of Shri K. P. Sinha, the then Director of Public Instruction of Bihar. The Sinha Committee analysed the existing position of Library Services in India and recommended a system in States based on library legislation. They examined the then statutory system in Madras and non-statutory systems in different States. Emphasizing the place of Public Libraries in the society, the Committee prescribed a system that would be suitable for the States. Chapter IV of the Sinha Committee Report recommends a structure or pattern of libraries and library services for India. In fact, the recommendations stated in this Chapter are components of Public Library Legislation and can easily be taken as recommended components of the Committee for library legislation. These components are stated below in short A. Library service should be free to every citizen of India. B. Separate Directorate of Social Services and Libraries. C. Important functions of the State Library Department have been specified. (113)
D. State Librarian will act as Chief Technical Adviser to the Library Department. E. State Library wii! have two wings viz., the State Central Library and the State Lending Library. The State Central Library has been prescribed to do certain sets of functions and State Lending Library is to lend books and other materials to individuals and District Libraries. F. Separate Children wing in every big library. G. Separate recommendation of works to be done by the State Library with respect to children's library service. H. Council for the State Library to advise all matters relating to Public Libraries. I. Provision for District Library System based on urban centres having responsibility for their surrounding rural areas. J. The District Headquarter Library should have two wings viz., District Central Library and District Lending Library. K. District Library Committee for the whole District Library Service. L. Representation of District Library in "District Development Board". M. Role of District Librarian to occupy a key-position in the District has been strongly recommended. N. Block Libraries, information centres in BLocks, Block Library Committee. O. Panchayat Library, Panchayat or Village Library Committee. P. National Central Library and National Book Deposit Centres. Q. All India Library Advisory Committee for the whole country. The functions of the Committee has also been stated clearly. (H4)
In Chapter V the social entity of Public Libraries and its connection with other libraries have been stated. In Chapter IX, the financial and administrative parts of a Library System have been stated. A good portion of the recommendations of these two chapters may also be considered as parts or components of a Public Library Legislation. Chapter VI and VIII deal with Library Personnel. Some recommendations of these chapters may also be considerd as parts of Public Library Legislation. It can easily be said that although the Sinha Committee Report does not describe a Model Act for the states, it describes the components of Library Legislation in its Report and attempts to recommend a network of Public Library Service with manifestation of its social entity and thereby linking it with other types of libraries within the State and also outside the State. Moreover, it was recommended to connect the Public Library Service in the State with National Library System and overaall control of the system in the State by a Central Advisory Body. 5. MODEL STATE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT OF DR. V. VENKATAPPAIAH : The Indian Library Association in collaboration with the Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation organised a National seminar on Model Public Libraries Act in 1990. In this seminar, a Model Public Libraries Bill was presented by Dr. V. Venkatappaiah. The bill was widely appreciated. Main features of the bill is presented below i) Constitution of State Library Authority which is body corporate and Minister of Libraries shall be the Head of the State Library Authority. ii) There will be State Library Council which is an advisory body. The Chairman of the Council shall be an elected member. iii) Separate Department of Public Libraries with a qualified Director. iv) Chain of link from village level upto the state level and co-ordination between academic and public libraries. (115)
v) Statement of functions of the State, Regional and District Public Libraries. vi) Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of City/District Library Authorities (LA) from among the non-official members. vii City Libraian and District Librarian of the City Public Library and District Public Library respectively shall be the member secretaries of the City Library and District Library. viii) Advisory Committees for Public Libraries at all levels. ix) State Planning Authority. x) State Book Development Council. xii) State Welfare Board. Xiii) All staff-members of the Library Authority treated as government employees. xiv) Systematic release of grants to aided libraries, as in the case of aided schools and college. xv) Special place of aided libraries and release of grants to them. xvi) Mobile library service in each revenue division, through mobile van. xvii) More autonomous power to Library Authorities. xviii)cess collection on Sales Tax, Vehicle Tax and Land Revenue besides House Tax, Property Tax etc. Deduction of Cess at source and remittance to the Local Authorities. xix) Separate State and District Funds. xx) Preserving one copy of the book published in the District in the District Public Library for reference. (116)
Model Library Legislation of Venkatappaiah is a very comprehensive legislation, all pervasive in nature and attempts to cover almost all aspects of a Public Library System. It has dignified the status of professionals. The definition part is very explicit. Like Ranganathan s Model Act, he made the Minister as sole authority with the power of implementation of the Act. Besides other functions the Minister shall make Rules under the Act, develop infrastructural facilities, lay down standards of library services, provide proper protective measures for saving the interests of the authors, shall appoint and control staff etc. Minister has been declared as the State Library Authority which is a body corporate. Besides this there is a State Library Council which is a combination of persons associated with implementation of the Act from the top to the bottom level. This is a purely advisory body, the Chairman of which is an elected person from amongst the non-official members of the Council. It is note-worthy that a non-professional who is not attached with library activities has not made a member of the Council. It is not understood how a State Library Authority, in the model Act can be a body-corporate. Moreover, functions of the Department of Public Libraries and functions of the State Library Authority are to some extent, overlapping. In fact, functions of the Minister of Libraries, (who is the State Library Authority) as stated in the Act is very much natural as per our Constitution and relation between the Department and the Authority (that is the Minister) has been specified by "Rules of Business" published by the Govt. So declaration of functions of the State Library Authority appears to be superfluous. The Pyramidical structure of Libraries has been clearly stated. But "Maintenance of the Link" part is almost philosophical. No concrete statement of Public Library network is stated. The functions of the State Central Library have been stated. The State Librarian has get due importance. But relation between the Dept, of Libraries and State Central Library and also between the Director of Public Libraries and State Librarian have not been stated. Also, the link between (117)
Regional Libraries and State Library; Regional Libraries and District Libraries have not been stated precisely. At the District level, and at the City level, District Librarian and City Librarian have get full importance both in technical matters and also administratively. Thus a District Librarian and a City Librarian, according to this model Act, deserves capability of functioning as the administrative and technical head in relation to the libraries below the status of the District Library in a particular District. Functions of the City Library and District Library have been stated in the Act. The Chapter relating to "State Planning Board" is well-described. State Planning Board is there for advising and guiding the library system in preparing the plans and schemes. Library Plan from the grass-root level should have to be submitted before the State Planning Board. There is also a State Planning Council for drawing up a plan for library planning of the State and submit it to the Govt, for consideration and integration into the general economic plan of the State. The relation between the "State Planning Board" and the "State Planning Council" stated above has not been described. Also, the relation between State Library Council (which is also and advisory body) and the State Planning Board or State Planning Council has not been stated. In fact, creation of too many authorities or bodies with non-description of their relationship has left this model to some extent unrealistic. Board of Library Education is a very important feature of the Act. The Act recognises Staff Associations. It includes Staff Welfare Board, the status of which has not been stated. Creation of 'Block Development Council1 is another feature of the Act which any State Govt, is hardly to accept. Regarding Adult Education, State Librarian has been empowered to do the work of supervision regarding carrying out of Adult Education Activities "all (118)
over the State". The City and District Librarians have been entrusted with considerable power and responsibility in their respective regions. In fact, exercise of such power by State Librarian, District Librarian or City Librarian wholly depend upon the policy taken up by the Central Govt, towards eradiction of illiteracy. Therefore, implementation of this section depends on whether the Govt, will put the State Librarian, District Librarian or City Librarian as the Heads of adult-education-programme-implementingauthority of the State, District or City respectively. The chapter dealing with "Co-ordination and Integration" attempts to give a guideline about the co-ordination programme and activities. Here also, like in many sections/chapters an officer not below the rank of an Assistant Director as the Co-ordinator has been recommended. Creation of "State Library Service" is a very important feature of the Act. Provision of recognition of aided libraries has got due importance in the Act. Privisions have been made in such a way that these libraries may keep their own independence as well as may be included into the Public Library System of the State. Provision is their for inclusion of them in the development schemes and five year plans. There is considerable scope of Govt, interference into the administrative management of these libraries which may be matter of debate. All attempts have been made in the model act to make an ideal system of "Finance and Accounts". Provision for collection of Cess as well as provision for Govt, grant are there. Regarding govt, grant, provisions are there for collection of grant from the State Govt., the Central Govt, and the local governments. Methods of collection of Cess, creation of City/District Library Fund, State Library Fund and all the nitty-gritty of the Finance and Accounts have been dealt with. However, it is not clear, how the State Library Authority (i.e., the Minister) will maintain the State Library Fund. Chapters 20 and 21 deal with "Reports, Returns, Inspection" and "Rules and Bye-Laws" respectively. A good system of hierarchical method of inspection has been depicted in the Model Act, All aspects of control of the government over the Library Authorities has been stated in Chapter 21. (119)
Members of State Library council and Local Library Authority and employees under them have been declared as public servant. It is not clear how members of State Library Council (S.L.C.) or Local Library Authority can act as Public servant whence S.L.C. is an advisory body and Local Library Authority, a body corporate. Chapter 22, 23, 24, 25 deal with penalty and procedure, appeals,. Press & Registration of Books Act and Repeal and Savings respectively, all attempts have been adopted for implementation of Press & Registration of Books Act in a perfect manner. With too many good attributes, this Model Act intends to play an ideal Act for a State. In fact, it intends to act like a panacea attaining of which appears to be next to impossible. The author wants to incorporate all the ideal items which result into creation of an Act, applicatiojn of which presupposes ideal changes in the Planning System, in the Penal Code, Plicy of the State and Central governments, outlook of the Govt, and even changes in the Constitution. No relation among the higher authorities, that is between Planning Board and State Library council or Department and Planning Board or Planning Council and Planning Board or Department and State Library Authority - have been stated. V. Venkatappaiah also framed Model Public Libraries Rules. These Rules include i) ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES : that is all aspects of State Library Council and Local Library Authorities. ii) DATE AND PLANNING : that is maintenance of statistics by Directorate, Planning process from the District levels and Publication of Annual Report by the Library Authorities. iii) DEVELOPMENT OF ASSETS : that is creation of new libraries and taking over of old libraries, acquisition of property by the Local Library Authorities etc. iv) PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT : that is Rules relating to Constitution of State Library Service by the Govt., creation of posts, control over staff, conduct rules of employees. (120)
v) FINANCE AND AUDIT : that is details of maintenance of Fund by Library Authorities, Payment of Advance from the Fund, Rules relating to Pension-cum-Gratuity Fund, preparation of Annual Budget by the Library Authorities. vi) GRANT-IN-AID : which includes Rules relating to all aspects of grantin-aid to library Authorities which "are not financially sound due to meagre library Cess collection". Rules relating to recognition of Library Associations also included in this section. The inherent purpose of the Rules are no doubt ideal and based on the linkage of voluntary enterprises and Govt, machineries. Non Govt, persons have been supposed to parsue Govt. Laws and Rules, which in practive may not be possible. 6. MODEL UNION LIBRARY ACT PREPARED BY DR. S. R. RANGANATHAN: In 1948, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan prepared a Model Union Library Act as a part of "Library Development Plan - Thirty Year Programme". This attempt was the part of recommendation for establishing a National Central Library on request of the Central Govt. Salient features of the Acts are given below :- A. The purpose of the Act is to establish a system of National Central Libraries. B. Constitution of a National Library Authority. Union Minister for Education was recommended the national Library Authority (NLA). C. By the side of establishment, maintenance and management of a system of National Central Libraries, the NLA will also promote and stimulate : "State grid of Public Library System, Hospital Library Service and Prison Library Services". D. Establishment of a system of National Central Libraries which includes: (121)
a) National Copyright Library : which collects all materials from the publishers under Law and does not permit to use the material until the expiry of ten years of its receipt in the library. b) Nation Dormitory Library : which is made of one copy of each of the weeded out reading material from any library and intended to serve the researchers. c) National Service Library : which collects reading materials of current value established and controlled by National Department of Libraries. The system of National Service Libraries shall include National Service Library for the - i) Natural Sciences and their applications other than those mentioned in categories (ii) & (iii). ii) Agricultural Sciences. iii) Medical Sciences. iv) Humanities and generalia. v) social Sciences. vi) Other subject fields as may be determined by the Minister from time to time. d) National Seafarers Library : This system includes : i) National Seafarers Library in each of the ports;. ii) National Seafarers Library on board each Indian Ship; iii) National Seafarers Library in each of such foreign ports as may be determined by the Govt, where an Indian ship may have to stay for a long time for any reason or other. (122)
e) National Contact Library : This system included a National Central Library in foreign countries for promotion of cultural relation between India and that Country. E. Constitution of National Department of Libraries. All the Libraries described above will be under this Department, F. Appointment (by the Minister) on the basis of the principle of rotation, the librarian of one of the National Service Libraries as the National Librarian for a period five years. G. Duties of National Librarian have been stated. The duties may be broadly divided into two parts the first part describes the functions as Head of the National Department of Libraries and the Second part describes the relation of the National Librarian with State Library Systems. H. Constitution of National Library Committee. I. Admission to national Central Libraries should be free. Provision is there for framing Rules and bye-laws for the use of national Central Libraries. J. Provision for creation of National Library Fund. A Closer observation reveals that the Model Union Library Act is mainly meant for creation of system of National Central Libraries. Barring two or three sub-clauses, it has no connection with State Library System. Moreover the sub-clauses are only at the co-operational level. For example, helping the State Librarian in centralised classification, cataloguing etc. on the basis of mutual agreement, co-operation in respect of standardisation, periodical conferences etc. It also appears that the positions of National Central Libraries have not been depicted in a National Network of Library services. (123)
7. NATIONAL POLICY : It has been accepted by all concerned related with Library Movement and with implementation of Govt, policy that a National Policy on Library and Information System is very much required for the Country. Report of the working group of Art and Culture constituted by Planning Commission for the Sixth Five Year Plan Period advocated for a network of libraries at all levels from villages to metropolitan cities. Again the document, "Report of the working group on Modernisation of Library Services and Informatics" presented many ideas which may be regarded as different components of a National Policy. Yet, no concrete National Policy was declared by the Working group. The department of Culture, Govt, of India set up a committee of Natiional Policy of Library and Information System (CONPOLIS) in 1985 under the Chairmanship of Prof. D. P. Chattapadhyay, the then Chairman of Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation. CONPOLIS, going through a good number of procedures submitted an interim report on March, 1986 and final report on May, 1986. CONPOLIS Report has stated the National Policy in very clear terms. Specially, the National Policy on Public Library System, as stated in CONPOLIS Report advocates Library Legislation in the States and also on the part of the Union Government. 8. NATIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM : Several recommendations for establishing a National Library System in the Country with linkage to State Central Librares have been made, the Govt, of India in its several Reports stressed on its importance. The National Library of India Act, 1976 has been passed. But so far as the linkage between State Library Systems and the Ntional Library System is concerned, the National Library of India Act does not uphold any mention-worthy clause. Also, barring few instances, all other Recommendations regarding National'Library System casually remarked on the linkage mentioned above. An attempt would be made in chapter 8 to make more detailed study of the existing library legislations, old legislations which are not in vogue, Recommendations of different reports so far as the elements of Library Legislation are concerned and the Model Acts. (124)