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Model Union Library Act
Foundation of Library Science (C101)
Sikkim University
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Model Union Library Act
The Government of India appointed a Committee in the year 1948 to suggest the possibilities of establishing a National Central Library at New Delhi. Dr. S. R. Ranganathan as a Member of the Committee drafted "The Library Development Plan-Thirty Year Programme For India With Draft Library Bills For Union And Constituent States", Which contains Union Library Bill. The salient features of the Model Union Libraries Act are given below: i. Constitution of a National Library Authority. ii. Establishment of a system of national central libraries i.; National Copy Right Library. iii. Constitution of National, Library Committee for the purpose of advising the National Library Authority on all matters arising under this Act referring to it. iv. Constitution of a National Library Fund; v. Amendment to the delivery of Books and News Papers Act, 1954. Later, the Union Government did not take much interest either for opening a National Central Library at New Delhi or to pass a Union Library Act. As per the constitution, it may not be possible to pass a Union Library Bill without
amending the Constitution of India because in the Constitution the subject libraries and education were originally included in the State List. Through the
42nd Amendment (1976), education was omitted from the State List and was added in the concurrent list. Libraries remained in the State List. If the Union
Government wants to have a library legislation at national level, it has to amend the Constitution by shifting the item of libraries from state list to
union of concurrent list: Till such time, it may not be possible to think about Union Library Legislation on libraries.
Model Act of Dr. Ranganathan
Dr. S. Ranganathan initiated the Model Library Act as a conference paper during All Asia Educational Conference held at Banaras in 1930 and later he
revised it as Model Public Libraries Act. Attempts were made to introduce this Model Act in West Bengal in 1931 and Madras in 1933. But, it could not be
enacted due to some compulsory clauses. The salient features of this Model Act are mentioned below:
i. Model Libraries Act will provide a system of Public Libraries for the city, rural and other areas. ii. Minister of Education shall be the State Library Authority (S L A). It shall be the duty of the State Library Authority to provide for adequate library service in the State. iii. Constitution of a State Library Committee for the purpose of advising the State Library Authority on all matters arising under the Act. iv. Constitution of a Local Library Authority (L L A) for each city and one for each district. v. The State Library Authority and Government, and a Local Library Authority may raise the library rate in such a manner and at such cess as may be determined from time to time.
Model Bill of Ministry of Education
Based on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee for Libraries (1958), the Ministry of Education, Government of India appointed a Committee with Dr. M. D. Sen, as Chairman. This committee prepared the Model Public Library Bill in 1963. The salient features of this Bill are given below: .
- Constitution of State Library Authority, the appex body, to advise the Government in the matter of developing libraries.
- Constitution of the State Library Directorate for directing and controlling the system.
- Constitution of District Library Committee in each district.
- Treatment of the employees as government servants.
Model Bill of the Planning Commission
The Government of India, Planning Commission constituted a "Working group on Libraries", to advise on the development of libraries during the Fourth Five Year Plan. The Working Group recommended a Library Development Scheme to be implemented in the fourth plan period, with a financial commitment of Rs million. During the plan period, if was contemplated to establish new libraries and maintain and improve the existing libraries. The Working Group submitted its report in 1965. The report was appended by a Model Public Libraries Bill, which contains the following features.
- Establish, maintain and develop an integrated and adequate public library service in the State.
- Constitution of a Committee of Experts to prescribe the standards of service.
- Provision of State Library Council to advise the Government in the promotion and development of library services.
- Provision to establish a State Library Directorate to control, direct and supervise the library system in the State.
- Establishment of Public Library System consisting of State Central Library, State Regional Libraries (only in bilingual States) and District Library System.
- Treatment of all the employees in the system as State Government Servants.
- There is no library cess. The Government shall maintain the public library
system of the State.
9.5 Model Library and Information Services Act
At the request of Indian Library Association, Delhi Dr. Venkatappaiah drafted the Model Public Libraries Act in 1989, keeping in view the recent developments and experiences. This model. Act was discussed in the National Seminar on Library Legislation held at New Delhi 1990.
In the wake of recent developments in the country such as, New Panchayat and Municipal Acts, after amending the constitution in 1992,releasing of UNESCO Public Library Manifesto in 1994, Total Literacy- Campaign, emerging necessity of information at a11 levels, the earlier Model Act of Dr. Venkatappaiah was revised as Model Library and Information Services Act in 1995. The salient features of this new Model Act are given below: i. State Library and Information Service, based on a State Policy. ii. Constitution of State Library Authority at the apex level with Minister for Libraries as Chairman, as policy making and executive body.
Model Union Library Act
Course: Foundation of Library Science (C101)
University: Sikkim University
