Post on 05-Jun-2018
Knowledge for all at their doorsteps
Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), Kolkata is the nodal agency of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India entrusted with the development of Public Library System and Services in India in collaboration with the State/ Union Territory Authorities.
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 ISSN 0971-1112
From the Editor’s desk :
Dear Colleagues,
We have already crossed the first half of the current financial year. Lot of encouraging developments has taken place both in RRRLF and NML. Many libraries have organized various types of innovative programmes to attract children, students and youths to the library. The Ministry of Culture has taken special initiatives for the effective implementation of various NML Projects. The prototype of National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) developed by the CDAC, Pune is currently being tested with sample data. It is encouraging to note that, many State Authorities have shown interest to participate both in RRRLF and NML programmes. It is observed that many libraries have started implementing facilities for Divyang readers with the Non-Matching Financial Assistance of RRRLF. Modernization of library services is also gaining momentum. I reiterate that Public Libraries have to be strengthened in order to create access to knowledge both in print and digital form with a view to extend the facility to the common masses. Our endeavour, both in RRRLF and NML, has been to develop India as a knowledge-based society with the objective to accomplish the mission of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”. Lot of interesting information have been included in this edition of the “Newsletter” with a view to present before you the good practices.
Kindly send your feedback for improvement of the Newsletter.
Dr. Arun Kumar Chakraborty, Director General, RRRLF and Additional Mission Director, NML
National Conference on Public Library Movement organized by the National Mission on Libraries on 27 May, 2016, at NMML, New Delhi.
अध्य,क्ष, आर.आर.आर.एल.एफ.य केय द्वाराय 27य मई,य 2016य कोयसाववजनिकय पसु्यषकाल,य आ्योोलिय कोय ावावाय ोेिेय केय ललएय राष्टयरी,यसम्यमेलियमदययो,ेये,ेययय,ाखय,ाियकायअ ।
एकयसाथय ाैठकरय ववचारोंयकायआोाि-प्रोाियकरिेयकीय हमारीयपर पराय प्राचीिय है।यवेयोकयकालयमदयसमजा,यस ेोष्टयठीाय दयोयससकेयललएयप्र,ु्यषयहोषयेथे।यगेवाियाु्यकेयपश्यचाष सयस ेीनषयकाय्लयलेख मयलमलषायहै।यषलमलिाडुयमदयस ेमय दयोयाहुषयपुरािायहै। प्रधाियम त्रीयजीयसाकायसाथयसाकायववकासयकायिाराययो,ायहै।य,हय्सीयपर परायकायगाेयहै।
वेोवाणीयहै स ेच्यीध्यव यस वोध्व यस वोयमिा लसयजािषाम सय। ोेवागा ेय,थापूवेयस जािािाय्पासषेय।। ससकेयपीीेयववचारय,हयहैयकक
वाोेयवाोेयजा,षेयषत्यवाोध: आजकलयषोयटी0यवी0यमदयजोयववचारयववनिम,यहोषायहैय्समदयववचारयकमय
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 2
Editorial Board
Shri Pankaj Rag, Joint Secretary (Lib), Ministry of Culture Dr. B.P. Barua Dr. R. Bhattacharjee Shri P. Jayarajan, MBE Prof. Narendra Lahkar Dr. Shyamal Roy Chowdhury Dr. Murari Tapaswi Dr. G Mahesh
Dr. Arun Kumar Chakraborty, Director General, RRRLF and Additional Mission Director, NML - Chief Editor
Shri Soumen Sarkar, Deputy Director (II&M), Coordinator News collection : Field Officers, Field Assistants, Statistical Assistant. Design & Compilation : Ms Papri Chakraborty, Mr R. N. Jha, Mr Saroj Kr. Kerketta, Ms Ankita Bose, Mr Surendra Kumar Mahato.
औरयचीख मयपुकारयअधधकयहोषीयहै।य्सकेयललएय,हयकहिाय्धचषयहैयकक
वाोेयवाोेयजा,षेयक ठ ुष्टयक: हमारेयवव0यवव0यषोयसससेयगीयआेेयहैययवहााँयषो
वाोेयवाोेयजा,षेयमुक््षलागय: हमाराय,हयसौगाग्य,यहैयककय,हा यसगीयका,वपाललकायकेयअधधकारीेणयएकत्रयहैं।यहमयस्यवगावष:यऔरयप्रल क्षणयसेयअपिीयााषय ालीिषायऔरयल ष्टयटषायसेयकहिायजािषयेहैं।
गारषयसरकारयऔरयराज्य,यसरकारयोोिोंयहीय पुस्यषकाल,यअलग,ाियकोयेनषय ोेिायचाहषेय हैं।य ससकाय ववस्यषारय करिाय चाहषेय हैं।य ससमदय मषगेोय िही य हैं। राज्य,ोंय केयअधधकारीयससयके्षत्रयमदयप्रत्य,क्षयका,वयकरषेयहैं।यका,वयकरषेयसम,यकुीयकयठिास,ा यआषीयहै।यकुीयअिुगवयहोषेयहैं।यराज्य,ोंयकीयके्येयसरकारयसेयकुीयअपेक्षाए यहोषीयहै।यआपयलोेयअपिेयअिुगव,यअपिीयकयठिास,ा ,यअपिीयआका क्षाए यऔरयअपेक्षाए यससयसत्रयमदयाषाए ।यहमयसायलमलकरय्िपरयववचारयकरदेे। पुस्यषकाल,यकायनिमावणयऔरयस चालियववद्,ाोाियकायहीयएकयरूपयहै।यससमदयसह,ोेयकरकेयहमयसायऋवियऋणयसेयमु्यषयहोयजाए ेे।
ोक्षक्षणय केय राज्य,य षलमलािाडु,य केरलय औरय किावटकय औरय पक्श्चमय ा ेालय मदयपुस्यषकाल,यअलग,ाियेनषमाियहै।यसिकायका,वयअिुकरणी,यहै।यअ्य,यराज्य,ोंयमदयगीयहमदयेनषयोेिेयकीयआवश्य,कषायहै। स स्यकृं नषयववगाेयकेयसधचवयरी ीयिरे्येयकुमारयलस्यहायऔरय्िकेयसह,ोेीयरी ीयप कजयराे,य औरय कु:य ोीवपकाय पोख मरणा,य आर.आर.आर.एल.एफ.य केय महानिोे कयपुस्यषकाल,यअलग,ाियमदय वव ेियरूधचयलेषये है।य वेयआपकीयााधा ंयकोयोरूयकरदेे,यआवश्य,कय ववत्यषयपोिणयकरियेकायप्र,ासयकरदेे। हमयसायकयटा्यहोकरयप्र,ासयकरदेेयषोय,हयअलग,ाियअवश्य,यसफलयहोेा।
सोधच,ेयमषयराहयमदयस्यपीडयरेेककरयहैयाहुषय
,ेयसगीयहटयजाए ेेयचलिाय ुरूयषोयकीक्जए।
Inside this issue RRRLF News 3
Events 4
Zonal News 4
Public Library Status Report 9
National Mission on Libraries 11
Library Success Story 13
World Library Review 17
Library Science Education 19
Literary News 20
A library is not a luxury but
one of the necessities of life.
– Henry Ward Beecher
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 3
RRRLF News
Foundation Meeting
The 93rd meeting of the Foundation was held on the 21st June, 2016 at the Conference Hall of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. The Foundation, inter alia,
decided to make suitable amendment in the Memorandum of Association of the RRRLF. The Foundation also decided to publish the project report of Prof. P. B. Mangla, Tagore National Fellow, namely “Public Library Service in Delhi: Present Status and Development Plan 2010-2020”.
Administrative Committee The 99th meeting of the Administrative Committee was held on the 20th June, 2016 at the Conference Hall of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. The Administrative Committee, inter alia, decided that cost of freight, insurance, installation of equipment, other ancillary and incidental expenses and annual maintenance contracts may be covered under the Matching Assistance Schemes. The Administrative Committee authorized Chairman to make suitable amendments in the rules of Matching and Non-Matching Schemes. In accordance with this decision, the rules and extent of assistance of the schemes are being amended.
RRRLF Memorial Lecture 2016
RRRLF Memorial Lecture was delivered by Prof
Swapan Kumar Chakravorty, Distinguished
Professor in the Humanities, Presidency University,
Kolkata and former Professor of English, Jadavpur
University on the 23rd May, 2016 at the Conference
Hall of RRRLF. He spoke on the Changing Reading
Habits in India.
World Environment Day observed on 5th
June, 2016 at RRRLF
RRRLF celebrated the World Environment Day on
the 5th June, 2016 at its office, Kolkata. Lectures on
“Conservation of Environment” were delivered by
Shri Brij Kishore Sharma, Chairman, RRRLF, Shri
Baldeo Bhai Sharma, Chairman, NBT, Dr. J. K. Bajaj
and Dr. Avani Jesh Awasthi, Members, Book
Selection Committee, RRRLF.
International Yoga Day observed on 21st
June, 2016 at RRRLF
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 4
A yoga camp was organized on the occasion of the International Yoga Day at RRRLF in collaboration with the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIS), Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Hindi Day celebrated at RRRLF
का,ावल,ीि का,ों मद यह्ोी के प्र,ोे के ललए जाेरूकषा लािे की दृक्ष्टटयसे आर.आर.आर.एल.एफ. के का,ावल, मद 16 लसषम्ार, 2016 को ''यह्ोी योवस'' समारोह मिा,ा े,ा। सस अवसर पर यह्ोी का,व ाला एव अ्, का,वक्रमों का गी आ,ोजि कक,ाkे,ा।
Swachh Bharat Initiative
As part of Swachh Bharat Initiative, special cleaning drive and awareness programmes were organized at RRRLF Office, Kolkata.
Events
IPLM Conference 2016 : The Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM) as a multi-stakeholder initiative aims to support the efforts of the Government of India in transforming public libraries to address the knowledge needs of the communities. Through this movement, NASSCOM Foundation seeks to revitalise and transform public libraries into Inclusive Knowledge and Information Centres and make the benefits of
digital technology available to millions of Indians who do not have access to computers and internet.
IPLM would reach out to millions of users through 100 district libraries by providing them community need-based services, such as computer classes, access to online information on agriculture and health, a safe place for students to study and learning opportunities to the people of all ages. IPLM Secretariat, hosted by the NASSCOM Foundation, organized a One-day Conference on 29 September 2016 in New Delhi to release the Report of the IPLM Conference held on 7-8 March 2016. The Conference was attended by Shri N.K Sinha, Secretary, Shri Pankaj Rag, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Director General, RRRLF and other dignitaries.
Zonal News
Eastern Zone :
Restoration of rare documents of Bangiya Sahitya Parisad The Ministry of Culture has sanctioned a special fund to the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad for restoration of manuscripts, rare books and punthis preserved by the library. Hon’ble President inaugurated the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of the literary society. In 1893, The Bengal Academy of Literature was started on the sprawling campus of the
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 5
Sovabazar Rajbari, which was later renamed as Bangiya Sahitya Parisad, at 243/1, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata-700009. The first president and vice president of the Parisad were Romesh Chunder Dutt and Rabindranath Tagore respectively. Among the members were luminaries like Satyendranath Tagore and Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar. The library has large number of original manuscripts and rare books including one of the oldest surviving Bengali punthi and several original Tibetan and Persian manuscripts.
The Parisad is a rare resource where some of the greatest tomes in Bengali literature were published. The library is a treasure trove of thousands of research publications, manuscripts and original punthis that remain the rarest heritage material. RRRLF has already started digitization of rare documents and development of a digital repository at Bangiya Sahitya Parisad Library.
Bandipur Palli Pathagar – Centenary Celebration
Bandipur Palli Pathagar, a Rural Library located in Haripal, Hooghly, West Bengal observed Centenary Celebration during 1-4 September, 2016 to commemorate the completion of 100 years of public library services with the financial assistance of RRRLF. Various programmes were organized during four days of the celebration. The programme was inaugurated by the Honb’le Minister of Mass Education and Library Services, Govt. of West
Bengal. Shri Soumen Sarkar, Deputy Director, RRRLF was also present at the occasion.
Computerization in Friend’s Club Library, Howrah
Friend’s Club Library, Howrah, HN Nag Road, G.I.P
Colony, Jagacha, Santragachi, West Bengal - 711112
has done a commendable job of retro conversion
work with the financial assistance from RRRLF. The
library has automated its catalogue data using
KOHA software. The library has also established
RRRLF Children’s Corner, Career Guidance, Women
and Senior Citizen Section.
[Comp. by: Shri S. Chakrabarti, FA, EZO]
North East Zone :
Celebration of Librarians’ Day
A two days’ programme for the celebration of
Librarians’ Day was organized by the Directorate of
Library Services, Assam in collaboration with RRRLF
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 6
on 10 and 12 August in 2016. Shri Preetam Saikai,
IAS, Commissioner & Secretary to the Govt. of
Assam, Cultural Affairs Department was the Chief
Guest. He released the Annual Newsletter published
by the Directorate of Library Services, Assam. Prof.
Naren Sharma, retired Head of the Department of
Library and Information Science of Guwahati
University was the Guest of Honour. On the first
day, story-telling, recitation and essay competitions
were held among school students. A seminar on the
theme “Digitization of Rare Books” was also
organised.
[Comp. by: Shri R. K. Shaw, FA, NEZO]
Establishment of Differently Abled Section in District Libraries of Assam
Dedicated sections for specially-abled readers have
been established in District Library Tinsukia, District
Library Jorhat, District Library Barpeta, District
Library Karimgunj and Dispur Branch Library with
the financial assistance of RRRLF.
[Comp. by: Shri R. K. Shaw, FA, NEZO]
Northern Zone:
Allahabad Public Library Allahabad Public Library also known as Thornhill Mayne Memorial Library is situated at Alfred Park in Allahabad. Established in 1864, it is one of the biggest libraries in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The library currently has a collection of over 1.25 lakh books, including a rich collection of manuscripts and books in different languages including Hindi, Urdu, English and Bangla. The library subscribes to 40 periodicals and 28 newspapers. It has a collection of old government publications, parliamentary papers, gazettes and blue books of the 19th century, old manuscripts, journals etc. The prized possession of the library is the manuscripts of Shahnama in Persian written by Firdausi, Upanishada translated by Dara Shikoh, son of Mughal Empreror Shajahan and Raghuvansh Tika written in Sanskrit. It has 21 Arbaic manuscripts, including Harkat-ul-Lughat complied by Habibullah, Alqtubun Nahri. Many eminent personalities like Motilal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malviya, CY Chintamani, Jawaharlal Nehru, GB Pant were members of the library. Website : www.allahabadpublib.org
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 7
Southern Zone :
Branch Library, Thanjai Nagaram Thanjai Nagaram Branch Library in Thanjavur District,Tamil Nadu was established in 1967. It has its own building with a space of 1617 sqft. The library has 4737 members. There are 43,234 books in its collection. This library is used by 90-100 readers every day and about 50-60 books are issued per day. The library during its Annual Function organises various programmes for the children such
as Speech competition, Competition
of memory on
“Thirukkural” by Children,
Chess competition,
drawing competition, Storytelling and quiz Competition. Members of the library organised Plantation programme to create environmental awareness among the citizens. Children’s Corner has been established in the library with the financial assistance of RRRLF. The children’s corner is well equipped with LCD TV, Computer sets, children books and furniture specially designed for the children.
[Comp. by: Shri A. K. Sen, FA, SZO]
District Central Library, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Thanjavur District Central Library is situated in the
heart of the ancient city of Thanjavur. Thanjavur,
formerly Tanjore, is an important centre of South
Indian religion, art, and architecture made by the
Cholas of south India in the state of Tamil Nadu. The
library was established in 1951 and the library
building is spread over 15,590 sqft area. The library
has 33,709 members and a collection of 1,91,041
books. Reference section is the main attraction of
this library. About 60-80 students use this section
every day
for
different
competitive
exams like
Bank PO,
Bank
Clerical, TNPSC, IAS etc. This reference section itself
has a stock of about 45,000 books. Every year 6-8
students get through different competitive exams
using this reference library.
[Comp. by: Shri A. K. Sen, FA, SZO]
Western Zone :
Saraswat Sabha Library : Not only a library but also a union of Bengalis in Nagpur
Bengali Culture is
preserved in Nagpur
by Saraswat Sabha
Library, located at
Dhantoli, Nagpur.
The library was
established in 1917.
There are more than 15000 books in Bengali,
English, Hindi and Maratha. The building of the
library is three-storied having floor area of about
3000 sq. feet in each floor. It remains open every
day from 08 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 06:30 p.m. to 09:30
p.m. except Sunday.
This library is a daily attendance spot for the Bengali
Community of Nagpur, not only for reading Bengali
books, periodicals, newspapers, but also to
participate in different socio cultural activity
conducted by the library authority. The library
receives various types of assistance from the RRRLF.
[Comp. by: Shri D. Chatterjee, FA, WZO]
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 8
Workshop Organized by Thirty Five (35) districts of Maharashtra
Workshop was organized in 35 districts of
Maharashtra to aware the librarians regarding
implementation of schemes of RRRLF for
development of Public Libraries by the Directorate
of Libraries, Government of Maharashtra with the
assistance of RRRLF, Kolkata, during August –
October, 2016. The librarians and library activists of
the respective districts attended the workshop.
Information booklets in Marathi regarding the
Schemes of RRRLF were distributed among the
participants.
Sri Kiran Dhandore, Director of Libraries,
Maharashtra was present in most of the workshops.
Dr. Arun Kumar Chakraborty, Director General,
RRRLF, who was present at the workshop of
Osmanabad, explained the audience how a public
library could enrich a society. Sri Soumen Sarkar,
Deputy Director, RRRLF inaugurated the workshops
of Nagpur and Nashik. Sri Anant Wagh, Field Officer
(West Zone) and Sri Dipanjan Chatterjee, Field
Assistant (West Zone) also attended the workshops
and made presentation on various schemes of
RRRLF. Representatives from the District Library
Associations also attended the workshops.
Sri P.M. Takte, Deputy Secretary, Higher & Technical
Education, Govt. of Maharashtra welcomed the
initiatives taken by RRRLF to uplift the public
libraries.
[Comp. by: Shri D. Chatterjee, FA, WZO]
State Central Library, Mumbai celebrated the tree plantation drive for greener Maharashtra
Tree plantation programme was celebrated in the
State Central Library, Town Hall, Mumbai along with
its four (04) sub-centres on 1st July, 2016 with great
enthusiasm. The “Green Maharashtra” drive was
launched in the presence of the Devendra Fadnavis,
Hon’ble Chief Minister and Prakash Jawdekar,
Union Minister of State for Environment in the State
Central Library.
All the staff of the SCL, Mumbai joined the programme.
[Comp. by Shri W. A. Vishnu, FO, WZO]
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 9
Public Library Status Report
Public Library System in Maharashtra
Public libraries in Maharashtra function under the
Department of Higher and Technical Education.
Public Library Services of Maharashtra is headed by
the Director of Library Services, Maharashtra.
As per provisions in the Maharashtra Public
Libraries Act, 1967, Directorate came into existence
on 2nd May, 1968. There are forty three (43)
Government libraries; comprising of, one (01) State
Central Library at Mumbai, six (06) divisional
libraries one (01) at each division i.e. Pune, Nagpur,
Aurangabad, Amravati, Ratnagiri and Nashik, thirty
five (35) Government District Libraries, one (01) at
each district and one (01) special reference library
at Ratnagiri. Besides these, there are nearly 12,000
N.G.O. run public libraries in Maharashtra.
These libraries are paid Grant-in-Aid by the
Directorate of Libraries according to the
Maharashtra Public Libraries (Recognition for Grant-
in-Aid and Building and Equipment Grants) Rules,
1970 framed by the State Government under the
provisions of Maharashtra Public Libraries Act.
These libraries are categorized as “A”, “B”, “C” and
“D” Grade according to the books, periodicals,
newspapers and members. Furthermore, “A”, “B”
and “C” category libraries are sub – categorized into
different sections.
An Assistant Director of Libraries (A.D.L.) is posted
at each of the six (06) divisions to look after the
administrative work of all public libraries. Generally
District Librarians of Government District Libraries
function as the District Library Officer (DLO). The
functioning of the Public Libraries is looked after by
the DLOs.
Grant-in-Aid given to the various categories of
NGO Libraries:
Every year, Government offers two awards namely
Dr. S.R. Ranganathan “Grantha Mitra Award” to the
best library staff, library activist and “Dr. Babasaheb
Ambedkar Utkrushta Sarvajanik Granthalaya
Puraskar” to the libraries, which provide
satisfactory services, for each category.
Public Library System in Tamilnadu
Public Libraries were established in Tamil Nadu
under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Public
Libraries Act, 1948. The Directorate of Public
Libraries was established in 1972 to improve the
library services in the state. There are 4,370
Public Libraries of different categories in the
state consisting of Connemara Public Library
(State Central Library), 32 District Central
Libraries, 1,925 Branch Libraries, 1,821 Village
Libraries, 10 Mobile Libraries, 581 Part Time
Libraries. Apart from these, Government aided
libraries are also functioning in Tamil Nadu.
Many Public Libraries have been computerized.
Category of Library No. of
Libraries
Annual Grant
(In Rs.)
District ‘A’ Grade 34 7,20,000
Taluka ‘A’ Grade 133 3,84,000
Other ‘A’ Grade 162 2,88,000
District ‘B’ Grade --- 3,84,000
Taluka ‘B’ Grade 109 2,88,000
Other ‘B’ Grade 1955 1,92,000
Taluka ‘C’ Grade 30 1,44,000
Other ‘C’ Grade 4053 96,000
‘D’ Grade 5514 30,000
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 10
Local Library Authority (LLA):
Local Library Authorities are functioning in each
district. Collection of library cess from the local
bodies has been entrusted to the LLA.
Financial Resources:
Library cess is the only source of income for
the Libraries. As per section 12 (1)(a) of the
Tamil Nadu Public Libraries Act, 1948, 10 paise
per rupee is collected from the property tax
levied by the local bodies such as corporation,
municipalities, town panchayats, and village
panchayats and the collected fund is given to the
Local Library Authority. This fund is utilized for
the development activities of the libraries and
pay allowances of the employees.
Connemara Public Library (State Central Library,
Tamilnadu):
Connemara Public Library, the State Central
Library of Tamil Nadu was established in 1896. It
is one of the four national depository libraries in
India. Under the Delivery of Books (Newspapers
and Periodicals) Act, 1954, it receives a copy of all
books, newspapers and periodicals published in
India, free of cost. The library has 7.70 lakh books
and 3,500 periodicals. This library has various
sections, such as, rare books section, micro film
section, text book section, reference section,
periodical section, Civil Service Study Centre,
Indian languages section and children section.
About 4 lakh users are served annually by this
library. This library also has a collection of
digitized rare Tamil books.
All the activities of the Connemara Public
Library have been computerized and library
catalogue have been made available online
through the library website
www.connemarapubliclibrarychennai.com.
District Central Libraries (DCL):
Each and every Revenue District of Tamil Nadu
has a District Central Library which functions as
the apex library in the District. District Central
Libraries remain open during 8.00 a.m. to 8.00
p.m.
Full Time Libraries:
The creation and establishment of full time
libraries in all taluka headquarters in Tamil Nadu
is a new initiative of the DPL. At present there are
284 full time libraries in Tamil Nadu. The Full
Time Libraries remain open during 8.00 a.m. to
8.00 p.m.
Branch Libraries:
As per Tamil Nadu Public Libraries Act, 1948,
Branch Libraries have been opened in areas
having a population of more than 5000. The
Branch Libraries are functioning under the
guidance of the District Library Officer. The
Branch Libraries remain open from 8.00 a.m. to
11.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 11
Mobile Libraries:
It is a library on wheels moving from one place to
the other where there is no library, particularly
small hamlet, hill stations and places where
people do not have access to the libraries. At
present Mobile library service is being offered in
Chennai, Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Erode,
Madurai, Salem, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli and
Tirunelveli Districts. Moreover, action is being
taken to extend the Mobile Library service to
Dharmapuri, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Namakkal,
Tiruppur and Villupuram districts.
Village Libraries:
These Libraries are functioning in Villages having
a population of more than 5,000 where there is
no Branch Library. There are 1,821 Village
Libraries currently functioning in Tamil Nadu.
The Village Libraries remain open from 9.00 a.m.
to 12.00 noon and 4.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Part — Time Libraries:
Part-time Libraries are being established in
villages having a population of more than 1,000.
These libraries remain open during 8.00 a.m. to
11.00 a.m. These libraries are attached to the
nearby Branch Libraries. There are 581 Part-Time
libraries currently functioning in Tamil Nadu.
Civil Services Study Centre:
Civil Services Study Centres have been
established in 258 libraries, including
Connemara Public Library, District Central
Libraries, libraries located in municipalities and
small cities.
Reader's Forum:
Reader's forum is functioning in all the public
libraries to associate citizens in library
movement. This forum comprises members
from the readers of the library, educationist and
local residents.
National Mission on Libraries
National Conference to Promote Public
Library Movement in India
National Mission on Libraries (NML) organized a
National Conference on 27 May, 2016 at the Nehru
Memorial Museum & Library, Teen Murti Bhawan,
New Delhi to promote public library movement in
the country. About 60 participants from 24
States/U.T, Officials from the Central Libraries and
Senior Officers of the Ministry of Culture
participated in the programme.
Inaugural Session :
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 12
Dr Arun Kumar Chakraborty, Director General,
RRRLF and Addl. Mission Director, NML in his
welcome address pointed out that the Conference
was participatory in nature and the primary
objective was to discuss and iron out issues causing
constraints in development of public library services
in the country.
Shri Pankaj Rag, Joint Secretary (MoC) and Mission
Director, NML with lucidity gave an overview of the
National Mission on Libraries through a
presentation and spelt out the objective of the
Ministry of Culture for organizing the Conference.
Shri Brij Kishore Sharma, Chairman, RRRLF lauded
the attempts of interactions towards arriving at a
collective wisdom relating to the library movement
in India. He stated that both the central and the
state governments were taking active roles in
library development. He commented that like the
Bhakti Movement, library movement also
originated in the South and it will soon spread to
the northern states of India with the patronage
from the Central Government, State Government
and will ably be implemented by the RRRLF.
Shri Narendra Kumar Sinha, Secretary (Culture),
Ministry of Culture, G.O.I, observed that there was
a distinct downward trend of visit to libraries. He
said that a library-visit was previously considered as
a source of personal satisfaction. He emphasised
that there is an urgent need to change the business
strategy of managing libraries and its collections
especially after the advent of the Internet. He
questioned whether we will be able to protect all
the investments made so far in Government and
Non-Government libraries. If we cannot rejuvenate
them and restore them on the pedestal, they
rightfully belong to, it will be a sad commentary.
He opined that everyone was searching the Google
and the Internet has started offering books in
virtual form. However IPR restrictions do not allow
access to most of the e-Books free of cost. Methods
are being designed to make available such e-books
to individuals against payment. However what
happens to those who cannot pay? Will they be
deprived of such sources of knowledge? The NVLI is
being planned so that such payments can be made
by the Government in order to offer free level
playing fields for those who intend to acquire
knowledge. Facilitating acquisition of knowledge is
tantamount to service to the nation. The NVLI is
envisaged to become the ‘Google of India’ and it
will be offered without any charge.
He conveyed that NML is taking great efforts but in
most of the states few know about its activities and
objectives and as yet it is far from being popular. He
urged the senior representatives in charge of the
library systems in various states who had come to
participate at the Conference to realize that this is a
great opportunity-multiplier. For a contribution of
25% towards the project proposals for setting up of
NML Model Libraries the Central government has
decided to contribute 75%. In the north-eastern
states it is 10:90. He spoke about the value of
‘personalized knowledge service to the users’
instead of allowing some of the State Central
Libraries to exist more as a storehouse and less as a
library. He warned that if the funds are not utilized,
the scheme might ultimately be discontinued and
the chance of taking our libraries into the digital age
will be lost.
Dr Arun Kumar Chakraborty, Director General,
RRRLF and Addl. Mission Director, NML elaborated
the functioning of the NML. He touched on the
issues like implementation; objectives; maximum
extent of assistance; components of up-gradation;
model libraries; proposals approved for libraries;
qualitative and quantitative survey of libraries taken
up by IMRB among other things. He urged that time
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 13
has come for the libraries to be transformed into
hybrid libraries with increasing amount of e-
resources in their collection. He reiterated that NVLI
has the potential of becoming a Google Plus in
matters relating to India; He assured all that all the
state libraries will be provided with KOHA software
with support facility if asked for; He opined that
reading habits of users are changing and this
necessitates the change of attitude of librarians.
Business Session :
The business part of the Conference was designed
as interactive sessions which dealt in part with the
technicalities of release of payments, deposit of
matching contributions etc. Additionally discussions
were allowed and the participants made
observations on the functioning of the NML which
included suggestions, reservations and seeking
clarifications, etc.
Technical Session :
In Technical Session, Prof S Sunther, IIT Bombay,
Prof Uma Kanjilal, IGNOU and Prof Partha Sarathi
Mukhopadhyay, Kalyani University made lucid
presentations about the creation of a union
catalogue and metadata harvesting.
Library Success Story
Empowering the needs for special children- the role of State Resource Centre, Chennai
The State Resource Center at Santhome, Chennai
was established in 2013 to empower the children
with disabilities. The Centre provides quality
training, awareness, assessment, intervention,
therapy programmes and education to children
with specific Learning disabilities in coordination
with other Central and State departments like
NIPMED, NIVH, ALIMCO, Directorate of Public
Libraries and Directorate of Medical Services.
A specially designed library has been setup with
the financial assistance of RRRLF in the State
Resource Centre at a cost of Rs.17 lakhs. This
facilitates the educational and learning needs of
children with disabilities. The library is equipped
with accessible reading resources like Braille, large
print, tactile graphics and printed books. Assistive
technology like accessible computers installed with
screen readers, onscreen key boards, track balls,
and adaptive input devices like keyboards, mouse,
alternative communication devices and learning
tools are provided for the use of children.
Accessible Book Racks, Reading Tables and Chairs
have been setup for easy use of children in wheel
chairs and other intellectual disorders.
Writing and Learning through play equipment
are provided for children with visual
impairments like Braille slates, word builders,
dominoes checkers, braille blocks.
Adaptive reading stands and magnifiers for
children with Low vision are provided to improve
their reading experience and create interest in
learning.
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 14
Digital Magnifiers with various ranges of
magnification facilities, colour contrasts are
provided for children with visual and learning
impairments.
Talking Kits like Watch, Clock, Thermometer,
Calculator, Typing tutors on computers are
provided to create an inclusive learning and
adaptive environment.
To encourage reading for children with visual
impairments and learning disabilities, a Scan and
Read (LexCam) facility has been installed for
reading printed books.
Braille Note Taker (Seika Mini Braille Display) is
provided for children to learn Braille, typing and
note taking in Braille. The system when connected
to computers reads the contents in Braille giving
chi ldren with v isual and hearing
impairments an enhanced learning
environment.
Accessible Computers technology has been
installed with updated Windows Operating
System and other software aided learning tools
for the children.
NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access), a screen
reading software for visually challenged
children has been installed in computers
which generates voice from text. It reads out
English as well as Indian Language like Tamil
text. It also helps to navigate and work on
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 15
applications like MS Word, Excel, Internet
Browsers etc.
Adaptive Keyboards (Clevy) and Trackball
Mouse enhance the learning abilities of
children with locomotor challenges. Different
color codes and bigger keys with spaces help
children easy to spot the keys and type with
confidence.
Kathamala is a picture and voice output
communication aid for the children with severe
speech and learning disorders. It is a
standalone device with multiple channels to
record a sequence of lesson plan with their
relevant pictures.
Speech Therapy augmented with Vagmi software in
the therapy section is supplemented for continuous
practices and learning with picture reading and
repeating aids in the Library.
AVAZ is an Alternative Augmentative
Communication (AAC) Device for Children
having difficulties in verbal communication.
This has built-in Picture as well as word libraries
that can be used for self-learning by children.
Numerous Learning resources in the form of
Picture Education and Communication (PEC) boards,
adaptive play and learn puzzles, maps, charts and
tools are provided for children with learning
disabilities to encourage them to play, use
and learn the basic concepts in language,
mathematics, daily life sequences, habits,
science and social environmental factors.
SLATE software is a teaching tool for special
educators to prepare their Lesson plans
flexible according to specific requirements and
challenges of the Children they are entrusted
to educate. This system has the largest
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 16
collection of picture libraries for objects,
daily life sequences, and environment
samples and has the facility to record sound
and associate with the picture shown.
Inspiring videos, adaptive learning methods,
tutors, occupational therapies, webinars,
presentations from Internet and other
online resources are made available for the
parents, special educators and children with
special needs through a high speed internet
connection and networked computers.
The library and sections setup with the
assistance of RRRLF works in coordination with
the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) to enable and
empower the Children with Special Needs
(CWSN) in their educational career. The Center
serves as the role model to other states in
enhancing the learning capabilities and serves
the educational needs of differently abled
children.
State Central Library- Bangalore
The State Central Library (SCL), Bangalore is a
reader's paradise with a collection of 2,40,093
books and periodicals and is one of the landmarks
of Bangalore. The library attracts passers-by with its
imposing structure in Pompeian red amid the
greenery of Cubbon Park. A beautiful rose garden in
front of it enhances its beauty.
SCL has a copy of every book published in the State
after 1970. SCL also has a children's library named
as Indira Priyadarshini Children's Library which was
opened in the 1990s. The library also has books in
other languages like Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, and
Malayalam in its collection. Apart from the Kannada
and English dailies, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Malayalam
and Hindi newspapers are also available for
reference. There is a separate periodical section.
A brief history of SCL
This building was built in memory of Diwan Sir
Seshadri Iyer, Diwan of Mysore. The British Resident
of Mysore State, Donald Robertson laid the
foundation stone for the building on October 1,
1903. A statue of Seshadri Iyer was unveiled in front
of the building by Viceroy Lord Hardings of
Penshurst on November 20, 1913. In 1914, Diwan
Sir M Visveswaraiah donated the building to State
Public Library and accordingly on May 1st, 1915 the
public library was opened. It was converted into an
aided library in 1920. By 1943, it started receiving
grants from the government and municipality.
In November 1966, the library was taken over by
Government of Karnataka as the SCL under the
provisions of the Karnataka Public Library Act. On
April 1st 1986, the library was changed into a
reference library. The reference library attracts
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 17
more than 1,500 visitors every day. Average
number of books referred to per day here is 2,000.
Average number of children using the library per
day is 50.
The Children's Library has 6,804 books and 127
charts and maps. The library has 212 playing
equipment as well. The SCL subscribes a total of 227
periodicals including dailies in English, Hindi, Urdu
and other South Indian languages. 28 staff members
are working in SCL, headed by a Chief Librarian. The
library is being computerized using e-Granthalaya
Software. Computerisation of all the books in the
library is in progress. The library building
accommodates 250 seats in its total area of 300 sq.
meters.
Sections of SCL
State Bureau of Copyright Collection
State Library for the Blind
State Library for Technical Service
State Library for Bibliographical Bureau
State Library for Career Information
State Library for Inter Library Loan
State Library for Periodical Publications
State Library for Reference and Information
State Library for Children (Indira
Priyadarshini Children's Library)
Computer Services
World Library Review
Public Library Services in France :
French Public Library system has a long history and
it is closely associated with the cultural activities of
the French society. French public libraries divide up
into several categories according to their specific
missions and the authorities they depend upon.
Most of the Public Libraries in France are run by the
local authorities covering both rural and urban
areas.
Bibliothe`que nationale de France (BnF) :
The Bibliothe`que nationale de France (BnF)
functions as the National Library of France. It holds
more than 14 million books and almost 20 million
other documents of all kinds. Created by a decree in
January 1994, BnF has the following primary
missions:
To collect, catalogue, conserve and enrich
knowledge of the national heritage of which
it is guardian, in all areas. In this respect,
the BnF fulfils its task as legal repository
(established in 1537) specified by the
heritage code.
To ensure access to the majority of its
collections. To this end, the BnF carries out
research and cooperation programs,
especially with other French libraries.
The creation of a Digital Reference Library
(Gallica).
Documentation and providing services to
the citizens.
The BnF is spread across a number of sites. The
historic site on rue de Richelieu, Paris houses the
special collections like manuscripts, coins and
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 18
medals, engravings and photographs, maps and
plans.
The BnF has created a digital reference library
named as “Gallica”. Gallica is one of the largest and
most remarkable digital repositories in the world
with more than 1 million digitized documents.
Through its SPAR (Syste`me de Pre´servation et
d’Archivage Re´parti) Distributed Preservation and
Archiving System infrastructure, the BnF is now
positioned as a service provider in the field of digital
archiving.
Public Libraries in France :
Public libraries in France are run by local
authorities. France has 54 ‘‘classified public
libraries’’, which are municipal or inter-municipal
libraries owning historical archives and early printed
books. They are run by state-employed curators.
There are 7,100 “Libraries” and 9,200 “Reading
Stations” run by volunteers, mostly in rural areas.
Online Catalogues are offered by about 37% of
French libraries. Digitization of rare books of
libraries is being undertaken through the Digital
Reference Library Program.
More than 80 percent of French public libraries
organise events of all sorts – conferences, concerts,
readings, exhibitions, film screenings, and
workshops – often in partnership with other
cultural institutions or associations.
The BPI (Bibliothe`que publique d’information –
Public Information Library) offers free access to
current collections, extended opening hours and
innovative services within the framework of its co-
operation activities with French and foreign
libraries. The BPI also provides tools for the
development of collections, free access to
information, professional training and research in
the field of library science.
Departmental Libraries:
Various administrative departments of France run a
library. The departmental libraries provide books
and other documents including E-Resources to local
public libraries and reading stations in rural areas.
Implementation of Digital technology:
The development of digital practices in French
society has led public libraries to upgrade their
services and the training of librarians and to hire
people with digital skills. Libraries have started to
offer wifi access, allowing users to use their own
connection devices. E-services have grown
significantly, beginning with on-line catalogues,
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 19
which have undergone numerous evolutions:
renewal of loan periods, reservations of documents,
enhancement of catalogue entries by means of
images, users’ comments and criticisms. Web
portals also allow access to various resources and
interactivity with users. Facebook and Twitter have
become communication tools in libraries. Public
libraries offer on-line streaming and downloading of
music, self-training books, newspapers etc. with the
stipulation of chrono-degradability (i.e. cannot read
the E-Book after a specified time) and DRM (Digital
Rights Management).
Some municipal libraries have significant rare book
collections, whose digitization is being carried out in
partnership with the BnF with the support of the
French state. The French Ministry of Culture and
Communication has launched a program called
Reference Digital Libraries, which is helping libraries
to digitize their rare book collections.
Library Science Education
South Asia gears up to develop public library leadership through INELI Programme
Recognising the unprecedented challenges facing
public libraries and the constraints within which
most of these librarians operate, the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation has conceived a global leadership
program for young and energetic librarians around
the world. The first two cohorts of this program
that identified and supported honing leadership
qualities among almost 50 librarians from about 40
nations around the world became a stunning
success. Encouraged by the 50 library innovators
who have become champions in their own right in
their nations in more than one way, the INELI
(International Network of Emerging Library
Innovators) program, as it has been known, now has
been institutionalized in seven different regions of
the world. The South Asian program is managed by
the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation. The
INELI South Asia has identified some emerging
library professionals from 18 states of India in its
first regional cohort.
The leadership and innovation skills among the 24
librarians in the first cohorts are being discovered
and honed in the South Asian INELI program in five
distinct ways:
First, they network among themselves in three
specific face-to-face convenings designed for them.
These networking sessions enable them to indulge
in peer-learning and knowledge sharing. They have
been chosen to go to Melbourne, Australia for their
second of the three face- to- face convening;
Second, they are paired with a mentor who offers
support constantly in their innovative activities, a
mandate they have undertaken to fulfil during the
eighteen months of the INELI program. Each
librarian or the emerging innovator is required to
design an innovative service to reach out to their
clientele;
Third, they participate in an online learning
program that has seven distinct modules covering
topics such as leadership, time management,
change management, community needs
assessment, customer care and partnership
development;
Fourth, each of the innovators is encouraged to
select an innovative project that she/he could carry
out individually or collectively during the eighteen
months of their participation in the INELI program.
The mentors and advisors of the South Asian
regional INELI are at hand to support them;
RRRLF Newsletter
Number 3, April – September 2016 Page 20
Finally, each of the INELI innovators is expected to
advocate for certain policy changes leading to
enhanced support to the public library system from
both public and private sector entities.
[Comp. by Shri Partha Sarathi Das, ALIO, National
Library of India, Kolkata]
Literary News
Mahasweta Devi : The Author and the Activist (1926-2016)
Arguably the most significant personality in the field
of socially committed literature in post-
Independence India, Mahasweta Devi passed away
on 28 July 2016, at the age of ninety. With her
passing, the role of the author as a public
intellectual has also lost much of its force and
vitality in the Indian scenario.
“A Stamp is Born” authored by C.R. Pakrashi
In this book on stamp
making, the author, who
has designed 56
commemorative stamps,
has described his first-hand
experiences with all stages
of production of the
stamp, right from
conception to final execution and printing. He has
focussed on designing which plays the most vital
and important role in the entire process. The book
gives a graphic account of history and evolution of
postage stamps. The book is published by Niyogi
Books, New Delhi.
संस्कृ e ति वक षयक ृक लिक ृक न्दक ी क स्स्कवृक खन कस्रस्कृ ा रक ना ा
स स्यकृं नषय म त्राल,य द्वाराय यह्योीय मदय स स्यकृं नषय ववि,कयमौललकय यह्योीय पसु्यषकय लेख मिय परुस्यकारय ,ोजिाय केयअ षेवषय01.01.2015यसेय31.12.2015य,ानियकैलदडरयविवय 2015य केय ोौरािय गारषी,य स स्यकृं नष,य ्सकीयप्राचीिय धरोहर,य धमव,य ो वि,य कलायआयोय ककसीय एकयववि,य परय प्रकाल षय पसु्यषकोंय कीय प्रववक्ष्टट,ा य 31यअेस्यष,य 2016य षकय आम त्रत्रषय कीय ेईय थी।य अायसक्षमय प्राधधकारीय केय अिमुोोिय सेय प्रववक्ष्टटय प्राप्यषयकरिेयकीयअ नषमयनषधथयकोयावाकरय31यमाचव,य2017यकक,ायजायरहायहै।
साथयमदय,हयगीय्लयलेख मिी,यहैयककयकैलदडरयविवय2016य,ानिय 01.01.2016य सेय 31.12.2016य केय ोौराियप्रकाल षयस स्यकृं नषयववि,कयपसु्यषकोंयकीयप्रववक्ष्टट,ा यगीयससीय,ोजिायकेयषहषय31यमाचव,य2017यषकयआम त्रत्रषयकीय जाषीय हैं।य ,ोजिाय सये स ा धधषय पात्रषायऔरय षेंयपहलेय सेय हीय स स्यकृं नषय म त्राल,य कीय वेासासटयwww.indiaculture.nic.in परय्पलदयधयहैं।
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Kolkata -700 064.
Ph: (033) 2337-3463/ 64
Fax: 2337-3465
E-mail : rrrlf-wb@nic.in
Website : rrrlf.gov.in