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Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes Association. Between 1933 and 1947, seven All India Library Conferences were held in different
parts of the country. Publications of ILA included two editions of the Directory of Indian Libraries
and a quarterly journal entitled Library Bulletin, as an official organ. After Independence, the
Association witnessed both hectic and lean periods of activity. Until 1983, when ILA completed
fifty years, 22 more All-India Library Conferences were held. The growth over the period was
steady but not spectacular. Some initiatives taken by the ILA can be said to have had an impact
over library development in the country.

Example: In 1992, the ILA successfully organized an Indian Federation of Library
Associations (IFLA) conference at Delhi. However, the expectations of the library profession
have all along been far more than what was achieved. At the present time, the library profession
is keen to make ILA strong and effective and there are signs of some progress.
In 1933, some of the Government of India Librarians, especially those in Calcutta, under the
leadership of K. M. Asadullah organized the first All India Library Conference. It was at this
conference that the Indian Library Association was founded on 12 September, 1933. The ILA
Headquarters is in Delhi. The Indian Library Association is a premier association committed to
the cause of Library Movement and Development. The Indian Library Association is the national
association which represents those who work in or advocate for Indian libraries. ILA members
work in college, university, public, special (corporate, non-profit and government) and school
libraries.

Objectives

The Association aims at establishing high standards of librarianship and library services in the
country. It has the following objectives:

promotion of library movement in the country and enactment of library legislation;
improvement of library services;
development of library science education and training and accreditation of library schools
towards maintaining proper standards of education;
betterment of salary, service conditions and status of library personnel;
promotion of cooperation among libraries and library professionals;
promotion of research and bibliographical studies;

affiliation with state and other library associations;
cooperation with international and other national associations with similar objectives;
publication of serial and other publications for dissemination of information;
providing a common forum by organising conferences, seminars and meetings;

promotion and formulation of standards, norms, guidelines, etc., for management of
library and information systems and their services.

Organization

The membership of the Association comprises patrons, life and ordinary members, and
institutional and associate members. The general body elects, for a two-year term, a President,
Six Vice Presidents, a General Secretary and Council Members up to 20 at the rate of one
representative for every 100 personal members, and one representative for every 40 institutional
members. There are 11 Sectional Committees, one representative of each member state library

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