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Library Legislation in India

Model Act/Bills

         Model Union Library Act

         Model Act. of Dr. Ranganathan or Model State Libraries Bill 

         Model Bill of Ministry of Education 

         Model Bill of the Planning Commission or Model Public Library Bill 

         Model Library and Information Services Act 

         

The salient features of this new Model Act are given below

Impact of the Model Acts. 

The Press and Registration of Books Act. (PRB Act. 1867)

        This act aim

Delivery of Books and Newspaper Act (1954)

                                                                                                                                                                       

                      Library Legislation in India               

The public libraries act 1850 was the first legislation step in field of library legislation. Library legislation / Act means preparing the formal of law or legislation for the development of public libraries. In the context of libraries, the library Act means to give legal provision for establishing a library system, its maintenance, service, functions, right and management under any state or a national government.

   Model Act/Bills   

 1. Model Union Library Bill. Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. 1951 

 2. Model State Library Bill. Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. 1930 to (First Public library act). (Revised 1972). 1972 

 3 Model Public Libraries Bill Ministry of Education, 1963 Govt. of India. 

 4. Model Public Libraries Bill. Planning Commission, 1963 Govt. of India. 

 5. Model Public Library and V. Venkatappaiah, Sponsored 1989 Information Services Act. by Indian library association revised in 1995 

 1. Model Union Library Act                                                                

 Government of India appointed a committee in 1948 to suggest established national central library at New Delhi. 

* Dr. S. R. Ranganathan as a member of committee drafted "Library Development plan 30 year programme for India with draft bill for union and constitutes states which contain Union Library Bill. The salient features of the Model Union Libraries Act are given blow

1. Constitution of a National Library. 

 2. Establishment of a system of national central libraries. i.e. National copy right library 

 3. Constitution of National library committee for the purpose of advision the National library authority on all metters arising under this Act referring to it. 

 4. Constitution of a National Library Fund. 

 5. Amendment to the delivery of Books and News Paper 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. 

 2. Model Act. of Dr. Ranganathan or Model State Libraries Bill      

 Dr. S. R. Ranganathan initiated the model library Act as a conference papar during All Asia Educational conference held at Banaras in 1930. (First public library Act.) 

 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 

 1. Model Libraries Act will provide a system of public libraries for the city, rural and other areas. 

2. Minister of Education shall be the State Library Authority (SLA). It shall be the duty of the State Library Authority to provide for adequate library service in the state. 

3. Constitution of a state library committee for the purpose of advising the state library authority on all matters arising under the Act. 

 4. Constitution of a Local Library Authority (CLA) for each city and one for each district. 

 5. The State Library Authority and Government, and a Local Library Authority may raise the library, rate is such a manner and at such cess as may be determined from time to time. 

 3. 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. 

Salient features of this Bill are given below 

 1. Constitution of State Library Authority, the appex body, to advise the Government in the matter of developing libraries. 

2. Constitution of the state library Directorate for directing and controlling the system. 

3. Constitution of District Library Committee in each district. 

4. Treatment of the employees as government servants. 

5. Collection of library cess at a rate of 6 paise per rupee on house tax and property tax. 

 4. Model Bill of the Planning Commission or Model Public               Library Bill                                                                                           

 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 309 million. 

 During the Period, if was contemplated to establish new libraries and maintain and improve the existing libraries. The working group submitted its report in 1965. 

Model Public Libraries Bill, which contains the following features 

 1. Establish, maintain and develop an integrated and adequate public library service in the state. 

 2. Constitution of a committee of experts to prescribe the standards of service. 

 3. Provision of state library council to advise the Government in the promotion and the development of library service. 

 4. Provision to establish a state library directorate to control, direct and supervise the library system in the state. 

 5. Establishment of public library system consisting of a state central library, State Regional Libraries (only in bilingual states) and District Library System. 

 6. Treatment of all the employers in the system as state Government servants. 

 7. There is no library cess. The Govt. shall maintain the public library system of the state. 

 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 Panchayet 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 all 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 

 1. State library and Information service, based on a state policy. 

 2. Constitution of state Library Authority at the apex level with Minister for libraries as chairman, as policy making and executive body. 

 3. Formation of directorate of public libraries for streaming the administration. 

 4. Constitution of city, district library authorities for rendering service from district to village level. 

 5. Provision for a network a public library and Information service from state level to village level. 

 6. Constitution of the state Library and Information services. 

 7. Collection of Library cess on house tax and property tax, entertainment tax, professional tax, vehicle tax etc. 

 8. Constitution of state Boards for education, book production, co-ordination etc. 

 9. Accountability of public. expenditure and services. 

 Impact of the Model Acts. 

 i. After independence, the public library acts were passed. 

 ii. These Acts. have structurally adopted; to certain extent, the model Act of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. 

 iii. There is no impact of the Model Bills of Ministry of Education and Planning Commission for passing library acts in these states in India.

 iv. The ILA circulated the model act by to all the states. 

Library legislation and                             Library Name Source of Income                Established Years  Public Library Act.

1. Kolhapur Public Library Act (after the state add to maharastra)                                            1945

2. Tamil Nadu Public Library Act.           10% Property and house tax                                      1948 

3. Andhra Pradesh Public Library Act.      8% House and property tax                                     1960 

4. Hyderabad Public Library Act                                                                                                 1960

5. Kashmir Public Library Act                                                                                                    1961

6. Karnataka Public Library Act.    6% lands, buildings octroi, duty, vehicle,Profession tax.   1965

 7.. Maharastra Public Library Act.                                                                                             1967 

 8.. West Bengal Public Library Act.                                                                                           1979 

 9.. Manipur Public Library Act.                                                                                                 1988 

 10. Kerala Public Library Act.            5% buildings or property tax                                         1989 

 11. Haryana Public library Act.                                                                                                  1989 

 12. Mizoram Public Library Act.                                                                                                1993 

 13. Goa Public Library Act.                   1.67% Property or house tax.                                      1993 

 14. Orissa Public Library Act.                                                                                                    2001 

 15. Gujarat Public Library Act.                                                                                                  2001 

 16. Uttrakhand Public Library Act.                                                                                            2005 

 17. Uttar Pradesh Public Library Act.                                                                                        2006 

18. Rajasthan Public Library Act.                                                                                                2006

 19. Lakshadweep Public Library Act.                                                                                        2007 

  20. Bilhar Public library Act.                                                                                                    2008 

 21. Chattisgarh Public Library Act.                                                                                            2008 

 22. Arunachal Pradesh Public Library Act.                                                                                2009 

 Tara annando koro, Mohan paschibangar manus kalana, haira Mr ram goay. odaher gaja Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh Raja, laga bar Chattisgarh anay. 

 The Press and Registration of Books Act. (PRB Act. 1867)                                              

 The earliest surviving enactment specifically directed towards the press was passed in 1867 the Press and Registration of Book Act. 

 The objective was however not to establish governmental control over the freedom of the press. 

 Regulatory law which enabled government to regulate printing presses and newspapers by a system of Registration and to preserve copies of books and other matter printed in India. 

 A number of minor amendments were made in the act from time to time. 

But major amendments were carried out in 1955 following the. 

 Recommendation of the First Press Commission in 1953, consequent upon which the office of the Registrar of news papers of India was created and started functioning in 1956. 

 In 2011 the then govt. introduced The Press and Registration of Books and Publications Bill on 16 December, The Key amendment was renaming the act itself. It was referred back to the standing committee in 5th January 2012.

 A revised version of the draft bill was presented back in 2013. 

 This one never made it to becoming an Act The PRB of 1867 with its amendments stands even today.

 This Act aim 

 i. Regulate printing press and newspaper in India. 

 ii. Preserve copies of books and newspaper printed in india. 

 iii. Provide for registration of books and newspaper. 

 Delivery of Books and Newspaper Act (1954)                                                                    

 The Delivery of Books Act 1954 enacted by the Indian Parliament regulates the deposit of Books Published in india. 

 The National Library of India, Kolkata, 1998 Connemera Public library, chennal, 1890 Central Library, Mumbai, 1804 the Delhi Public Library, Delhi, 1951 

 * Copyright library in 1982 

 *free of cost one copy of each of its publications to four libraries in 

 i. Calcutta (National Library) 

 ii. Madras (Connemara Public Library)

 iii. Bombay (Asiatic library) 

 iv. Delhi (Delhi public Library)

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