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।

Published by the Director General, Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation

Block-DD - 34 , Sector - I , Salt Lake City,

Kolkata -700 064.

Ph: (033) 2337-3463/ 64

Fax: 2337-3465

E-mail : rrrlf-wb@nic.in

Website : rrrlf.gov.in