LIBRARIES
Under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, the work
pertaining to the Central Libraries of national importance, the Delivery of
Books Act and publication of rare manuscripts is assigned to the Department
of Culture. The Central Government, is not a law maker for a library system
of the country as a whole as the subject "Libraries" is included in the State
list. However, the Central Government takes initiative to secure the voluntary
cooperation of the State Governments and to promote coordinated develop-
ment of national, and State Library system. Though some beginning has been
made by a few, States by introducing Public Library Acts, it is still every far
from the target.
Apart from maintaining and developing the libraries of national import-
ance, the Central Government is giving financial assistance to libraries spon-
sored by voluntary organisations throughout the country. The Department
of Culture is taking keen interest in the country's public library movement
programme by providing full financial support. The Raja Rammohun Roy
Library Foundation, Indian Library Association, Indian Association of Special
Libraries and Information Centres, etc., are some of the pioneer professional
bodies where library movement programmes are given support and encourage-
ment.
National Library, Calcutta The National Library, Calcutta, as one of the recipient libraries in India,
receives one copy of the publications, documents published in India under
the provisions of the Delivery of Books Act, 1954. The newspapers, periodi-
cals are also received under the same Act which was amended in 1956.
The National Library as a depository Library, receives all publications ema-
nating from the United Nations and its various agencies. This Library also
keeps up 'Gift & Exchange' relations with 144 institutions in 50 countries
all over the world. The 'Gift & Exchange' programme is utilised in acquiring
material which are not readily available from normal book trade channels.
The National Library publishes bibliographies and catalogues of its holdings
with a view to disseminating information. The work relating to the cons-
truction of a 3-storeyed building i.e. the first phase of the Second Annexe
has been taken up on priority basis to accommodate the ever-increasing
collection of material in the Library. This will facilitate the stacking, main-
taining and servicing of the collections in a better manner.
The space available in the existing buildings has been utilised to the
maximum by providing additional shelvings to accommodate reading
material.
The Government of India constituted a Committee to appraise the present
security arrangements and to make recommendations for further tightening
of security measures. The Committee met at National Library, Calcutta in
June, 1983 and its recommendations are being implemented. Two expert
committees on acquisition and weeding out policies and on conservations
were set up and their meetings were also held during the period under report.
During the period under report, a large number of prominent persons
visited the library out of whom mention may be made of the visit of His Ex-
cellency the Governor of West Bengal the members of the Consultative Com-
mittee of Parliament attached to the Ministry of Education & Culture, Mr.
Vesselin Traikov of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria and Mrs. Maria
Yordonova, Director of Libraries, Sofia.
An up-to-date information highlighting the acquisitions of the Library
is given below :-
1. Total number of books in the Library 17,30,570
2. Total number of books in Indian Languages 3,61,480
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3. Total number of manuscripts 3,023
4. Total number of maps 75,666
5. Total number of current periodicals (Titles) 15,757
6. Total number of bound volumes of periodicals 1,02,618
7. Publications received as Gift & Exchange 3,89,484
8. Publications received under the Act 3,28,828
9. Indian Official Documents 4,18,943
10. Government Documents 3,85,829
Central Library, Bombay The library is one of the four recipient libraries authorised to receive
books, newspapers, etc. published in India under the Delivery of Books, and
newspapers (Public Library Act, 1954). The library is assisted by Central
Government and the Government of Maharashtra on a sharing basis is so far
as non-recurring, expenditure on maintenance of Delivery of Books Act sec-
tion of the Library is concerned. The Central Government contribution is
limited to the extent of 2/3rd of the non-recurring expenditure and 1/2 of the
recurring expenditure of the Delivery of Books Act section. Besides, the
Central Government has also been giving grants for the development of the
library. Grants are released to the recommendations of the State Gov-
ernment.
Central Reference Library, The Central Reference Library located in the National Library promises is
Calcutta mainly responsible for the implementation of the two schemes, viz. (1 ) Com-
pilation and publication of Indian National Bibliography (both in roman
script and in respective language script)-a bibliography of current Indian
publications published in Indian Languages including English and (2) Com-
pilation, and publication of Index Indiana (in roman script)-an Index to
articles appearing in current, Indian periodicals in major Indian Languages.
Indian National Bibliography The Indian National Bibliography was being published as monthly issues
up to 1977 with its annual Cumulations. In order to bring the Bibliography
up-to-date within the shortest possible time, it has been decided to publish
the Indian National Bibliography 1978 and onwards as Annual volume only
until, it is brought up-to-date. Annual volume of 1979 will be published
by the end of this year. Annual volume 1978 is in the press. Annual
volume of 1980 is ready for the press. The Photo-Composing Machine
imported from the U.S.A. in March, 1983, to, get the matter composed at
the Central Reference Library so that the Government of India Presses may
print each issue more expeditiously, has been commissioned and one post
of Operator of the machine and one post of Photo Assistant have been
created. Compilation of the language bibliographies in language scripts for
1983 will be completed by March, 1984. One volume each of Assamese
Bengali, Malayalam and Oriya bibliographies will be published during the year.
Index Indiana The first annual volume 1981 of the Index Indiana covering six lan-
guages viz. Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Malayalam and Tamil will be
published by the end of this year.
Progressive use of Hindi for An official Language implementation committee has been set up for
Official Purpose of Me Union of implementation of the Government Orders relating to progressive use of
India Hindi in the Central Reference Library. In all, four meetings were held
during the, year. One Hindi Assistant has been appointed for the progressive
use of Hindi in the Library.
Setting up of a Review Committee Government of India have constituted a Review Committee to review
the working of the Library for the re-organisation of the Central Reference
Library into a national bibliographical centre. Two meetings of the com-
mittee have already been held.
Visit of Expert Mrs. J. C. Dowing, a British Bibliographical Expert (Former Deputy
Chief Editor, British National Bibliography) who visited the Library at
the invitation of the Government of India at the end of 1982 has submitted
a report on the working of the Indian National Bibliography Project.
Raja Rammohun Roy Library 'Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation is an autonomous organisa-
Foundation, Calcutta tion sponsored the Government of India, Department of Culture. It was
established in May. 1972 to support and promote public library services in
the country with a view to developing reading habit among the people. It
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renders assistance to public libraries in various States and Union Territories
under the schemes mentioned below :-
(1) Assistance towards building-up of adequate stock of books and
reading and visual materials;
(2) Assistance towards development of rural book deposit centres
and mobile library services;
(3) Assistance towards binding and preservation for rare books,
journals and manuscripts;
(4) Assistance towards organisation of library workshops, seminars
and book exhibitions;
(5) Assistance, towards storage of books.
During 1982-83, the Foundation rendered assistance worth Rs. 49.12
lakhs approximately to 2,000 public libraries all over the country. From
1972-73 to 1982-83 the value of assistance amounted to Rs. 326.12 lakhs
covering 17084 libraries at different levels.
The Foundation is not merely a grant giving body; it promotes library
services in many other ways. During 1982-83 the Foundation compiled
with the help of computer a list of about 17,000 libraries so far assisted by
it. The Foundation also organised in collaboration with the National Library
a reorientation. seminar for State/Central Librarians on Library Cooperation
with Special Reference to Inter Library Loan from March 4-7, 1983. It
also organises lectures on different aspects of librarianship and is preparing
a draft of national library policy for consideration of Government of India.
Indian Council of World Affairs This Library is meant to provide research facilities on international
Library, New Delhi relations and area studies. It has the richest collection of books, documents,
periodicals and press clippings on international relations. It has also a good
collection of microfilms and maps. The Central Government provides on
annual grant of Rs. 2.00 lakhs to the Council to meet its deficit.
Delhi Public Library, Delhi The Delhi Public Library established in 1951 by the Ministry of Edu-
cation, Government of India with financial and technical assistance from
UNESCO has been providing free library service to the citizens of Delhi.
Starting as a small, unitary library in Old Delhi it has since developed into
a metropolitan Public Library system consisting of Central Library, 24
Branches and Sub-branches, a Braille Department for the Blind and a net
work of Mobile Service Stations serving 52 areas and 11 Deposit Stations
spread all over the Union Territory of Delhi. The Library which was
declared is the fourth Recipient Public Library under the Delivery of
Books & Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act last year has started receiving
copies of books. etc. published in India in different languages and is going
to establish a Legal Deposit Division for the processing and use of reading
materials received by it as a Recipient Library under the aforesaid Act.
The Library Building at Sarojini Nagar, designed and constructed on
functional lines, is going to house the Zonal Library (South Zone), the
projected Legal Deposit Division and the offices of the Delhi Public Library
and Delhi Library Board. The Library Building at Bawana is nearing
completion.
The Library had a net collection of 705606 volumes and 86155
registered borrowers as on 31st March, 1983. It issued 24,88,641 volumes
during the year 1982-83.
Central Secretariat Library. New The Central Secretariat Library, including the Hindi and Regional
Delhi Languages Wing at Bahawalpur House and a branch library at Ramakrishna
puram, New Delhi, has been engaged in providing research and reference
services to government organisations, members of the library, research
scholars and others. A small collection of materials for lending in English,
Hindi and other Indian languages are maintained for the members only.
The library added over 10,300 new books in Hindi, English and other
regional languages to it-, main collection of over 600,000 volumes. In addi-
tion, 15,539 items of Central and State Government publications includ-
ing Gazettes, legal documents, proceedings of the legislative bodies, etc.
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were received by the library. Official publications received from international
agencies, such as, UNESCO, United Nations, ILO., etc., and other foreign
governments exceeded over 4800 during this period. From this year, the
library has started receiving the US Government publications in microfiche
form instead of printed volumes. Nine hundred and fifty periodicals and 70
daily newspapers of various languages are being regularly received in the
library.
The library enrolled 3730 new members and lent out about 201,700
volumes during 1983. In addition, 275 volumes were borrowed on inter-
library loan basis by various Government organisations in Delhi and about
4500 photocopies were supplied to institutions and individual readers.
A very successful book exhibition of a selected 275 volumes, out of
a very large collection of Indian Official Publications upto 1900 AD was
organised during 14-16 December, 1983. The Exhibition was inaugurated
by the Education Secretary. Two eminent historians, who have specialised
on this period, made fruitful comments on their value as research materials.