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Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes They were started mostly with voluntary efforts and had meagre funds to meet information
needs of the people.
The financial support through subscriptions or through public donations could not provide
viable services;

The governance and management of these libraries were on ad hoc lines without any
structure and resources;
Very limited services were provided that too to members;
They had no stability nor scope for growth;
They functioned only as long as the initial enthusiasm of the founders remained, thereafter
these libraries slowly decayed.
In modern times, the public libraries must provide services with certain standard, and with an
objective of reconstruction and development of a society. They cannot be achieved only through
individual munificence. A library service on sound lines requires library legislation to get a
perennial source of income. Library leaders, public men, and scholars, have realised that the
only way to establish and develop a public library system is through public law. Pioneers and
men of vision like Edward Edwards, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan and many others spared no efforts to
bring about library legislation in their respective countries.

Notes The UNESCO public Library manifesto 1994 emphasises that “Public Library is the
responsibility of Local and National Authorities. It must be supported by specific legislation
and financed by National and Local Governments.” So, a public Library is to be maintained
efficiently and permanently with uniform, pulsating and integrated library service with
properly laid out network of library system.
A simple executive order of the State Government will not be able to maintain sound system
however good it might be, and at the same time executive orders cannot generate finances. With
the ever growing needs, and the escalation of prices, the task in financing will be more difficult.
Finance needed for the rising and growing services will be possible only with a State Legislation
and library cess.
In brief, the reasons for legislation can be summed up as under:

It will constitute a proper administrative and supervisory body with executive powers;
It will provide a well organised library system for the state, district and up to the remote
village level with free access to all the citizens.

It will provide a steady and permanent source of finance;
It will maintain standards in library service;
It will be obliged to meet the objectives and remain accountable.
Finally, it is to be noted that library and information service is a crucial factor in the national
development for meeting learning needs of the masses.

Thus, it is only through a State Public Library Act that a public library system could be created,
sustained and promoted, ensuring a smooth financial flow, properly governed and managed to
provide modern library services to all.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
7. Public libraries should stimulate neo-literates.

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