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Unit 1: Concept of Library Science

5. Role of UNESCO: The great contribution of UNESCO towards the library profession in Notes
India is that it gave it an international status. UNESCO for the first time started the first
pilot project by establishing the Delhi Public Library in October 1951. The main aim of this
project was to provide information on the problem of public library services for the parts
of India in particular and for Asia in general.
The Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC) was set up in 1952 by the
Government of India with technical assistance from UNESCO. In 1964, UNESCO assisted
INSDOC again in setting up its regional centre in Bangalore.
The second eminent step that the UNESCO took in this direction was the holding of a
seminar on the development of public libraries in Asia in Delhi from October 6-26, 1955.
It was the first international meeting on this subject to be organized in an Asian country.
On the whole, the seminar was a great success for the library profession in India.
Another UNESCO seminar which had far reaching effect on library profession in India
was the “Regional seminar on library development in South Asia”. It was held in the
University of Delhi library from 3-14 October 1960. The most significant achievement of
this seminar was the “grading of staff”, “salary scales” and “status of librarian”.

Besides these, the UNESCO honoured the Indian librarians by inviting them to advice on
various library projects meant for the member country. The prominent among those are
Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, B. S. Kesavan, S. S. Saith and a few others.
Indian National Commission is the official agency of UNESCO, the National Information
System for Science and Technology (NISSAT) in Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research (DSIR) is the focal point for UNISIST (PGI) and is also the coordinating centre for
ASTINFO programme. NASSDOC of ICSSR is the focal point for UNESCO supporting
APINESS programme.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
4. In August 1835, the …………… public library was established.
5. The Madras University Library was opened in ……………….

6. The development of public libraries as a movement may be said to have started by
……………………, the ruler of Baroda state in 1906.

1.3 Need of Library

Libraries are very useful for all of us, either when we are kids in school, students in college,
learning something to ace that new job interview or for finding that perfect book to read in our
spare time.
A library can be considered a store – house of knowledge. In dictionaries the word “library” has
been defined as “a building or room containing a collection of books”. A library renders a great
service to the society. There are a large number of Public Libraries maintained by the local
authorities throughout the island.

A library plays a very important role in promoting the progress of knowledge. There are many
people who love reading. But they can’t afford to buy books because the prices of books are very
high. So when one becomes a member of a library, he can borrow valuable books. A member
can borrow two books at a time and he can keep it with him for two weeks. Libraries are

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 9