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Unit 11: Library Associations: India, UK and USA

through outside contract. Offering advisory and consultancy services. Undertaking research Notes
surveys of library facilities and services, user demands, learning and reading habits, book
production, etc. in order to identify strengths and weaknesses so as to take necessary steps
to improve the system.

Cooperation: Establishing cooperation with international and national associations of
other countries having similar objectives. Maintaining liaison with book and publishing
trade for attending to mutual problems in library acquisitions.

Task Critically examine six broad groups the programmes and activities of library
associations.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
1. Library development is independent upon professional planning.
2. The association is controlled by a 50 member council elected by the members.

3. L.A. holds annual conferences regularly.
4. L.A. organizes continuing education programmers.
5. The Library Association (LA) and the Institute of Information Scientists (IIS) unite to form
the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) on 1st April 2001.
11.2 A General Account of Library Associations in India

We have historical records of early library associations in India such as Baroda Library Association
(1910), Andhra Desa Library Association (1914), Bengal Library Association (1927) and Madras
Library Association (1927). The Indian Library Association was founded in 1933. The
Post-independence period has witnessed an increase in the number of library associations. We
have, at present, many national and state level library associations. There are also associations
devoted to special categories of libraries, subjects, fields and other special interests.

Example: The Govt. of India Libraries Association, (GILA), Indian Association of Teachers
of Library and Information Science (IATLIS), Micrographic Congress of India (MIC); Society for
Information Science.
Only a few associations are active in contributing to professional development. Professionals
are generally indifferent to become members of library associations. The fact that many states
we have not enacted library legislation points out that our library associations have not been
effective. There is however; scope and need for better functioning and performance of our
library associations.

11.2.1 Indian Library Association (ILA)

The Indian Library Association was founded in 1933 at Calcutta. It is a registered society, with
headquarters now located at Delhi. It is the premier national association representing the entire
library profession in the country. The birth of the Association can be traced to the holding of an
All India Library Conference at Calcutta in September 1933. All leading librarians of that period
were instrumental in organising the conference, whose main aim was to form the Indian Library

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 203