Page 133 - DLIS101_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SOCIETY

Library and Information Society

Notes He had made great efforts to promote the public library system in Great Britain and perhaps his
greatest achievement was the complete elimination of the population limits, as this allowed even
very small towns or parishes to set up a public library. It was later found that this could present a
problem, however, as many public libraries were established by library authorities that did not in
fact have enough money to run a library satisfactorily. Despite the rise in the level of tax public
libraries could levy, it was still very difficult for boroughs to raise enough capital to fund new libraries.
The growth of the public library movement in the wake of the 1850 Act relied heavily on the donations
of philanthropists such as Andrew Carnegie, John Pass more Edwards and Henry Tate.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
9. The Public Libraries Act, 1850 was an Act of the United Kingdom.
10. Museums Act was introduced in the year 1845.
11. The public library Acts of 1855 and 1866 were the last to be advanced by William Ewart.

11.10 Summary

• In 1924, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan visited a number of public libraries during his stay in United
Kingdom.
• Dr. S.R. Ranganathan later on amended the draft Act twice- once in 1957 and again in 1972.
This Model Library Act was introduced in the shape of Bill in the Madras Assembly in 1933.
• Except the Kerala Public Libraries Act, 1989, all the Acts, which have passed in India during
the years 1948 to 1990, have the influenced of Model Public Libraries Act drafted by Dr. S. R.
Ranganathan.
• India got the first Public Library Act through the ceaseless efforts of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan.
• A public library (also called circulating library) is a library which is accessible by the public
and is generally funded from public sources and may be operated by civil servants.
• The Public Libraries Act 1850 (13 & 14 Vict c.65) was an Act of the United Kingdom Parlia-
ment which first gave local boroughs the power to establish free public libraries.

11.11 Keywords

Industrious : Hard-working
Executive : Decision-making
Legislature : Governing body

11.12 Review Questions

1. What is library legislation?
2. When was the model library act published by Dr. S. R. Ranganathan?
3. Write on public libraries act 1850.
4. Write a paragraph on public library.
5. Discuss on efforts of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan for Public Library Legislation and Service.
6. Explain the Library Legislation Current Status.
7. Explain the Salient features of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan’s Model Library Act.

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