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Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes qualified librarian, Dr. Nihar Ranjan Roy. He, for the first time in India introduced
the DDC and AACR rule for providing effective library services to the user.

Madras University Library: The Madras University Library was opened in 1907. The
Government of India gave a special grant of ` 1,00,000.00 to the library to develop its
book collection. In 1924, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan joined the Madras University Library
as librarian. He was the first professionally qualified librarian in Indian history.
Due to his active involvement he was able to receive ` 6,000.00 and ` 10,00,000.00 in
the year 1926. This was the first grant to be received from the government in the
history of the university libraries in India. As a result of this grant, the University
Library that was in-house at the Connemara Public Library since 1908 was shifted to
the new location in 1936. Again five well-trained reference librarians were appointed
to provide special reference service to the user. This was done for the first time in the
Indian history.

Bombay University Library: The Bombay University library was established very lately
due to the lack of donation. It was the university authorities of Bombay that offered
a donation of ` 20,000.00 for construction of library building. In 1931, a very special
grant of ` 10,000 was given by Kikabhai and Meneklen the sons of late Premchand
Roy Chand. In 1939, the Central Government provides a special grant of ` 50,000.00
to the University of Bombay library to strengthen its collection.
Punjab University Library: Punjab University was established in 1882 and in the year
1908, Punjab University Library was opened.
Banaras Hindu University Library: Banaras Hindu University was established in 1916.
In 1926-27, the construction of the library was made by the handsome donation of `
2,00,000.00 by the late Sir Siyaji Rao, the Maharaja of Baroda.
3. Research Libraries: The Asiatic society of Bengal that was established at Calcutta in 1784
started building up a good research library since its inception. The Asiatic Society of
Bombay, founded in 1804, also developed a good library. The first technical library to be
founded in this country is the Victoria Technical library at Nagpur in 1806. The Madras
Literary Society had founded its library in 1812.
1.2.3 20th Century

1. Role of Individual: The development of public libraries as a movement may be said to
have started by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the ruler of Baroda State in 1906. During
his visit to USA he was impressed by the public libraries system in that country. In order
to organize libraries along modern lines, the Maharaja appointed an American librarian
by name William Allenson Borden as curator of libraries of his state. During his tenure of
office that is in between 1910-13, Borden could organize a very good network of free
library services in the state. However, this example did not set a pace in the later
development due to lack of interest on the part of the State Government. But the contribution
made by Maharaja Sayajirao III would be written in golden letters in the history of public
library movement in India.
The library movement in Baroda originated as the peoples movement under the leadership
of Motibhai Amin (a public leader) in the form of Mitra Mandal (Society of Friends) as
early as 1906 which received state patronage in 1960. Newton Mohan Dutta, curator of
libraries at Baroda also did good work.

6 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY