(b) Marathi Bibliography 1969 (Rashtriya Granth Suchi Marathi Vibhag 1969)

The following three schemes included in the Fifth Five-Year Plan were approved for implementation

(a) Compilation, printing and sale of the 'Indian National Bibliography'

(b) Compilation, printing, and sale of 'Index Indiana'

Delhi Public Library.-The Delhi Public Library was established in 1951 by the Government of India in collaboration with Unesco with a view to providing a public library service for the people of the Union Territory of Delhi and to act as a model for public library development in India and other countries. During the year, the Delhi Public Library celebrated its Silver Jubilee from 27th October to 2nd November, 1976. The highlights of the programme were the laying of the foundation stone of Regional Library Building by the President of India at Sarojini Nagar, a suburb of Delhi. The Library consists of a central library, 4 branch libraries, 17 sub-branches, 8 community libraries, 16 deposit stations and 5 mobile library vans serving 60 areas in Delhi once a week. The library is thus providing library service at 99 points in the Union Territory of Delhi.

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During the period under report, 32,890 volumes were added to the Library up to 31st December, 1976 raising the net stock to 5,40,504, out of which 2,98,273 are in Hindi, 1,40,179 in English, 65,814 in Urdu, 26,859 in Punjabi, 2,011 in Sindhi, 937 in Bengali and 6,431 in Braille.

The registered membership of the Library stood at 90,084 on 31st December, 1976. The total number of books issued during April- December, 1976 was 18,02,263. About 35,075 adults and 6,578 children participated in the cultural activities (e.g., lectures, discussions, dramas, film shows and television viewings, etc.) organised by the Library. The Library had 2,370 gramophone records which were borrowed about 32,952 times up to 31st December, 1976.

Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna.-The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna, is an institution of national importance containing precious manuscripts and important printed books in oriental languages especially in Arabic and Persian languages. It has a world-wide reputation for its unique collection of manuscripts in Arabic and Persian languages, specimens of calligraphy and paintings. Therefore, the library's main activities are to preserve and enlarge the rare collections and provide research facilities to scholars and institutions.

During the year, the Library acquired 100 manuscripts and 1000 printed books. The Library hoped to acquire another 100 manuscripts by March, 1977.

Rampur Raza Library, Rampur.-Rampur Raza Library has a most valuable collection of about 1,500 manuscripts in Arabic Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil and Turkish and about 30,000 printed books (including periodicals) in various languages. During the year, the Library acquired 2 manuscripts and 1325 printed books.

The Library has so far published 12 rare manuscripts and 5 volumes of the 'The Catalogues of Arabic Manuscripts' and one volume of 'The Catalogue of Urdu Manuscripts'.

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Central Library, Bombay.-This is one of the three libraries which are at present authorised to receive books and newspapers. published in the country under the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954, as amended in 1956. The Central Government is assisting this Library to the extent of twothirds of the non-recurring expenditure and half of the recurring expenditure on the DBA section of the Library. A committee was appointed jointly by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra to look into the needs and requirements of the Central Library and the Asiatic Society, Bombay. The report of the Joint Committee was under examination.

Central Secretariat Library, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.-The Central Secretariat Library and its branch at Ramakrishnapuram, New Delhi, continue to provide reference and lending facilities to the employees of the Ministries, Departments and attached and subordinate offices of the Government of India, employees of Delhi Administration, employees of autonomous organisations and the accredited correspondents. The Library has also been thrown open to the general public for consultation of the material on the premises. It has very much popularised the use of books with the general public.

During the period under report, 2800 new members were enrolled and 1,90,000 books were lent out for home-reading. 10,693 publications were added to the library including 8,414 books, 2,224 Indian official documents and 55 foreign official documents. The Library received 963 periodicals by way of purchase, gift and exchange.

The Regional Languages Library and the Central Hindi Library located in Bahawalpur House, New Delhi, are being further developed. During the year, 6092 books were added to the Regional Languages Library and 3652 books to the Central Hindi Library.

An exhibition of book on and by 'Nehrus-the Markers of India's Destiny' was organised in the main Library from 14th to 25th November, 1976.

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Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharmsala.-This Library was set up by the Council of Religious Affairs of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the approval of the Ministry of External Affairs. The main objects of the Library are to acquire and conserve Tibetan books and manuscripts, to provide intensive reference services and to compile and publish bibliographies, documentation lists, etc. This Department is paying grant for recurring and non-recurring expenditure on the basis of the report of the Review Committee which visited the Library in June, 1976.

T.M.S.S.M. Library, Thanjavur.-The Library has a rich collection of over 40,000 manuscripts in Sanskrit, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil and other languages which cover a wide range of subjects such as the Vedas and Vedantic philosophy, fine arts, music, sculpture and medicine. A committee was set up to assess its financial requirements during the Fifth Plan period. The report of the committee was awaited. Pending the committee's views ad hoc grants were given annually on the recommendation of the State Government.

Indian Council of World Affairs Library, Sapru House, New Delhi.- As a result of the division of the Library housed in the Sapru House between the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Indian Council of World Affairs and considering the importance and the need of continuing and developing a library at the Sapru House, it was decided to give assistance to this library during the Fifth Plan period. An expert committee was set up to assess its financial requirements. The committee submitted its report which was under consideration. Pending decision on the report of the committee, this Department sanctioned ad hoc grant of Rs. 1 lakh annually.

C. CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY

To have advanced facilities for research and training in con- servation, the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property was set up as a Plan scheme. The main aims and objectives of the Laboratory are conducting and coordinating

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research in all aspects of conservation problems, rendering technical help to the cultural organisations and agencies, providing training facilities in the field, documentation and promotion of international collaboration. With the appointment oil the Project Officer in March, 1976, the Laboratory embarked on its various programmes, an account of which follow.

Administrative Steps.-Preliminary steps for the recruitment of staff, acquisition of special equipment needed for research, like emmission spectrograph, flame photometer, electrolytic analyser, trinocular microscope, etc., and technical books and reprints of technical articles and preparation of a comprehensive bibliography on conservation of stone, were successfully taken.

Technical Programmes-Complete synopses of research programmes with details of technical work to be undertaken were prepared. Detailed reports after on-the-spot study of the problems were prepared for setting up the conservation laboratories of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, Salar jung Museum, Hyderabad, and the State Museum, Lucknow, Wall paintings in the Cabinet Room of Rashtrapati Bhavan were examined and a report prepared for their conservation. On the request of the All India Handicrafts Board, wall paintings in the Akhand Chandi Palace, Chamba, were examined and a report prepared.

In discharging its responsibility of rendering technical advice, assistance was provided to many institutions including Central and State museums and archaeological departments and libraries.

Publications.-A manual entitled, Care and Preservation of Museum Objects' was ready for publication.

Training.-A Regional Conservation Workshop for South and Southeast Asia was held at New Delhi on January 3-11, 1977 in collaboration with the International Centre for Conservation, Rome. Delegates from Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka and representatives of various States in India attended it. A six-month course for conservators and scientists in the field of conservation of cultural property was

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prepared. The course will start from 1st August, 1977. Programmes were prepared for training curators in the methods of maintenance of objects.

Promotion of International Collaboration.-A one-week conservation workshop was arranged at Manila on July 19-24, 1976. Participants from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines attended it. There were 120 persons present.

On a request of the International Centre for Conservation, Rome, laboratories in Tehran, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore were visited for rendering advice.

The Laboratory also participated in an International meeting sponsored by UNESCO for formulating a Conservation Training Course in April, 1976.

Shri O. P. Agarwal, Project Officer, was nominated by the Council of the International Centre for Conservation, Rome, to be the President of the General Assembly of the Centre to be held in May, 1977. He was elected President of the Indian Association for the Study of Conservation, New Delhi, for 1976-77 and Editor of the Journal of Indian Museums, published by the Museums Association of India, for 1977-78.

D : DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARIES

Financial Assistance for Reorganisation and Development of Other Museums.-This is a continuing Plan scheme. , Under it, ad hoc grants to private museums used to be given till 1975-76, for equipment, bringing out publications, minor extensions and repairs to the existing buildings. Its scope was widened to accommodate museums maintained by universities and colleges in the country and also requests for setting up new museums, i.e., towards cost of constructing new buildings and purchasing art objects. The grants are given on the basis of applications received through the State Governments, Union Territory Administrations and the University Grants Commission. The scheme also provides for financial assistance to a few scholars in the field of museology. Besides grants to museums, it also provides for assistance

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towards a better coordination of the museum movement by way of holding museum camps, meetings of the Central Advisory Board of Museums, and similar activities.

Grants to Voluntary Educational Organisations conducting Public Libraries/Manuscript Libraries.-This scheme provides for financial assistance to voluntary educational organisations for the development of libraries run by them. The assistance is given for purchase of books, furniture, equipment and construction of library buildings on the recommendations of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The grants under the scheme are given on a sharing basis. The Central Government's share is 60 per cent of the expenditure on the purchase of books, furniture and equipment and 40 per cent of the expenditure on the construction of buildings for libraries subject to a maximum of Rs. 50,000.

Cultural Exchange Programmes relating to Museums and Libraries.- This scheme envisages exchange of roughly 2 librarians, 2 archivists and 2 museologists with their counterparts in foreign countries every year. It also covers exchanges of books, manuscripts, photo copies, microfilm copies of manuscripts, records, etc., under the cultural exchange programmes entered into by the Government of India with foreign countries.

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