Page 113 - DLIS001_FOUNDATION_OF_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SCIENCE

Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes 6.3 Basic Elements of Public Libraries

If you examine this definition closely you will find that it incorporates certain basic elements
which are unique to a public library. Let us now understand these basic elements.

1. A Free Library: A public library does not charge its users any fee for any of its services like
consultation of books on its premises or loan of books for home reading or for rendering
reference service or for providing recreation through a film show or any other cultural
programme. All these services are rendered free to the citizen of a locality. Thus, a public
library is unique in bestowing a right to every citizen to have free access to its books and
other information resources.
However, a nominal charge may be made in cases when a particular product or a service
passes to a reader as its own.

Example: When a certain bibliography or an article is copied for you and you retain the
copy permanently with you, you may be charged nominally for such a service.

2. Financed by Public Funds: How, then, a public library maintains itself? The finance needed
for the establishment, maintenance and development of public libraries is secured mostly
from public funds. That is, the government under the law of the land levies an indirect tax
known as library access, which is levied as surcharge on property or land possessed by a
person or income accrued on professions or vocations or on vehicles owned by a person.

Example: In Andhra Pradesh, the Government of Andhra Pradesh levies a library access
of 8 paise per rupee on house tax and property tax.
A person who owns a property when he pays the property tax pays also the library access.
Thus every property holder indirectly contributes to the Library Fund of the area and thus
lends support to the public libraries whether he/she is a literate or an illiterate. But the
benefits of public library services are enjoyed equally by all citizens, irrespective of the
fact whether they contribute to the library fund or not.
As money accrued by way of library access may not be sufficient for establishment;
maintenance and development of public libraries, the State Governments in some cases
contribute certain amount to the library fund.

Example: In Karnataka, the State Government contributes 3% of the land revenue of a
district to the District Library Fund. In addition, there is a provision for any other organisation
(national or international) or the Central Government to contribute whatever they can to the
library fund. It is for this reason that you find in the definition given above the phrases “financed
for the most part” i.e., some portion of the library fund may come from the Central Government,
other organisations or philanthropic individuals.
3. An Auxiliary Educational Institution: Over the centuries civilised society has evolved a
number of educational institutions of formal learning like schools; colleges and universities.
The libraries attached to these educational institutions provide direct assistance for the
teacher and the taught. But as the student population, which is increasing every year, is
physically spread out in cities, towns and villages, the academic libraries are unable to
meet all their demands. So, the public libraries located in these localities assist the students/
teachers by providing suitable educative material, as may be needed, to successfully
complete their formal education with ease. In this sense, a public library serves as an
auxiliary educational institution serving each person according to his requirements. This

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