Need for revision of Karnataka Public Libraries Act

Need for revision of Karnataka Public Libraries Act

M S Sridhar*

The Act in vogue for over last 45 years has already been subjected to several piece meal
amendments at different point of times to meet the changing needs. There is a need for integrated
look at these amendments. Public and experts have repeatedly aired their anguish at many lapses
of public library system and the act became scapegoat for such public debate. The act urgently
needs revision to accommodate changed environment, particularly the need to consider
implications of ICT, public-private partnership, fee-based services, redefining the role of public
libraries, providing enough tooth for implementation of certain objectives, clear guidelines for
evaluation and feedback, ensuring active participation of user community, creation of checks
and balances to ensure service quality, etc. Some few specific reasons for revision of act include:

1. No timely transfer of funds from library cess collected by local bodies. No time bound
automatic transfer of cess amount collected despite an amendment to allow 10% collection as
charges to local bodies. Sometimes the arrears were as much as 20 crores over years.

2. The collection created by the Bureau of copyright collection is nowhere near comprehensive.
The implementation of ‘Press and Registration of Book Act’ has miserably failed for lack of
machinery with responsibility as well as necessary incentives for those who comply and also lack
of penalty measures on defaulters. As a result, copies of very few books reach state central
library and the collection of even Kannada books is shamefully inferior to those found in foreign
libraries like British Library and Library of Congress.

3. Bibliographical Bureau created by the act totally lacks bibliographical control of books
published in the state. A comprehensive and up-to-date bibliography of even Kannada books
cannot be found. Even the annual production of books is left to guesstimates.

4. Various Library authorities/ Committees at different levels have become ritualistic without
consistent and effective participation of substantial part of members. In particular, the following
require urgent and serious reconsideration.
i. Committees are too large to be effective (with 20 or even more members)
1
Page

M S Sridhar
Need for revision of Karnataka Public Libraries Act

ii. With the increasing number of universities in the state, one syndicate member from each
of the University to State Library Authority will make it unwieldy. Other kinds of
institutions are not represented in the committee at all.
iii. © Too busy and preoccupied public personalities as ex-officio chairman/ president
without alternate chairman/ president coupled with only two meetings in a year and 20%
as minimum for chorum virtually have only one or two representatives participate in the
meetings (since chairman/ president and secretary/ convener count as two) and significant
decisions are taken.
iv. Dangerously, in case of branch library, librarian himself is chairman as well as secretary
of the committee.
v. In case of State Library authority, representation from outside Bangalore is negligible
vi. Two meetings per year is too less. Apart from increasing the number, possibilities of
special meeting if necessary in online/ video conferencing mode and creation of
subcommittees for selection, procurement, grievances, user support, etc. is necessary
vii. Village level committees should allow for local head maser, post master, bank manager
as well as education/ agriculture and health officials
viii. Representation of Library Association needs to be replaced when the Association is
defunct
ix. Removal of non-participating members should be made automatic and stringent (the
present provision of not attending three consecutive meetings is discretionary)

5. Matching (6%) grant from government is unusually based on cess generation capcity of the
geographical entity (city, district, village, etc.) and not on the size of population as done world
over. This leads to a situation where a rich area already having enough resources through cess
will become further rich with matching grant from government and encouraged to spend money
unscrupulously as compared to poor areas starving for fund to provide minimum/ basic library
services. Library service being a welfare activity, government grant should be based on
population (i.e., per capita based) with some standard like IFLA standard rather than revenue
generation capacity of the area.

6. There is a need for watch-dog committees at all levels involving users, media representatives
and NGOs.
2
Page

M S Sridhar
Need for revision of Karnataka Public Libraries Act

7. The bulk purchase activity being the frequent target of public and media, clear guidelines and
procedures with provision for checks and balances is required.

8. The provision for aided libraries is clearly not spelled out in terms of public-private
partnership and their status reviewed periodically as per guidelines of act.

9. Library fund meant for reading material has to be allowed to be used for building and/ or
accessing digital collection as well as ICT infra structure required by the library

10. Setting up of public libraries, particularly village libraries and the ‘Local library development
plans’ need to be based on accepted/ adopted standards.

11. The act need to provide for rules and guidelines about capturing and publishing usage
statistics as per standards and also have regular feedback and evaluation.

12. The minimum requirements of ‘Karnataka Library Service’ need to be spelled in the act is to
bring quality and trained human resources, particularly enumerating the roles of non-
professionals and part-time professionals.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*
Former Head, Library and Documentation, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore 560017.
Address: 1103, ‘Mirle House’, 19th B Main, J P Nagar 2nd Phase, Bangalore – 560078; Ph: 26593312;
Mobile: 9964063960; E-mail: mirlesridhar@gmail.com

3
Page

M S Sridhar