Need for revision of Karnataka Public Libraries Act

M S Sridhar

Pag

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Need for revision of Karnataka Public Libraries Act

M S Sridhar*

The Act in vogue for over last 45 years has already been subjected to several piece meal

amendments at different point of times to meet the changing needs. There is a need for integrated

look at these amendments. Public and experts have repeatedly aired their anguish at many lapses

of public library system and the act became scapegoat for such public debate. The act urgently

needs revision to accommodate changed environment, particularly the need to consider

implications of ICT, public-private partnership, fee-based services, redefining the role of public

libraries, providing enough tooth for implementation of certain objectives, clear guidelines for

evaluation and feedback, ensuring active participation of user community, creation of checks

and balances to ensure service quality, etc. Some few specific reasons for revision of act include:

1. No timely transfer of funds from library cess collected by local bodies. No time bound

automatic transfer of cess amount collected despite an amendment to allow 10% collection as

charges to local bodies. Sometimes the arrears were as much as 20 crores over years.

2. The collection created by the Bureau of copyright collection is nowhere near comprehensive.

The implementation of ‘Press and Registration of Book Act’ has miserably failed for lack of

machinery with responsibility as well as necessary incentives for those who comply and also lack

of penalty measures on defaulters. As a result, copies of very few books reach state central

library and the collection of even Kannada books is shamefully inferior to those found in foreign

libraries like British Library and Library of Congress.

3. Bibliographical Bureau created by the act totally lacks bibliographical control of books

published in the state. A comprehensive and up-to-date bibliography of even Kannada books

cannot be found. Even the annual production of books is left to guesstimates.

4. Various Library authorities/ Committees at different levels have become ritualistic without

consistent and effective participation of substantial part of members. In particular, the following

require urgent and serious reconsideration.

i. Committees are too large to be effective (with 20 or even more members)

Need for revision of Karnataka Public Libraries Act

M S Sridhar

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ii. With the increasing number of universities in the state, one syndicate member from each

of the University to State Library Authority will make it unwieldy. Other kinds of

institutions are not represented in the committee at all.

iii. © Too busy and preoccupied public personalities as ex-officio chairman/ president

without alternate chairman/ president coupled with only two meetings in a year and 20%

as minimum for chorum virtually have only one or two representatives participate in the

meetings (since chairman/ president and secretary/ convener count as two) and significant

decisions are taken.

iv. Dangerously, in case of branch library, librarian himself is chairman as well as secretary

of the committee.

v. In case of State Library authority, representation from outside Bangalore is negligible

vi. Two meetings per year is too less. Apart from increasing the number, possibilities of

special meeting if necessary in online/ video conferencing mode and creation of

subcommittees for selection, procurement, grievances, user support, etc. is necessary

vii. Village level committees should allow for local head maser, post master, bank manager

as well as education/ agriculture and health officials

viii. Representation of Library Association needs to be replaced when the Association is

defunct

ix. Removal of non-participating members should be made automatic and stringent (the

present provision of not attending three consecutive meetings is discretionary)

5. Matching (6%) grant from government is unusually based on cess generation capcity of the

geographical entity (city, district, village, etc.) and not on the size of population as done world

over. This leads to a situation where a rich area already having enough resources through cess

will become further rich with matching grant from government and encouraged to spend money

unscrupulously as compared to poor areas starving for fund to provide minimum/ basic library

services. Library service being a welfare activity, government grant should be based on

population (i.e., per capita based) with some standard like IFLA standard rather than revenue

generation capacity of the area.

6. There is a need for watch-dog committees at all levels involving users, media representatives

and NGOs.

Need for revision of Karnataka Public Libraries Act

M S Sridhar

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7. The bulk purchase activity being the frequent target of public and media, clear guidelines and

procedures with provision for checks and balances is required.

8. The provision for aided libraries is clearly not spelled out in terms of public-private

partnership and their status reviewed periodically as per guidelines of act.

9. Library fund meant for reading material has to be allowed to be used for building and/ or

accessing digital collection as well as ICT infra structure required by the library

10. Setting up of public libraries, particularly village libraries and the ‘Local library development

plans’ need to be based on accepted/ adopted standards.

11. The act need to provide for rules and guidelines about capturing and publishing usage

statistics as per standards and also have regular feedback and evaluation.

12. The minimum requirements of ‘Karnataka Library Service’ need to be spelled in the act is to

bring quality and trained human resources, particularly enumerating the roles of non-

professionals and part-time professionals.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Former Head, Library and Documentation, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore 560017.

Address: 1103, ‘Mirle House’, 19th B Main, J P Nagar 2nd Phase, Bangalore – 560078; Ph: 26593312;

Mobile: 9964063960; E-mail: mirlesridhar@gmail.com