Page 102 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Unit 5: Management of Library Automation

vast amount of literature is already lost and the rest available is mostly in a state of decay. Notes
There was no effort to document, preserve, or even explore these rare manuscripts lying
within personal possession.
The content and style of manuscripts echo the changing concerns of society. They are
required to be documented, preserved, and made accessible to the present and succeeding
generations to reinstate the glorious past. National Mission for Manuscripts is an initiative
of the Government of India. The project has helped organizations like Banaras Hindu
University to preserve their rare and precious collection of manuscripts and make it
available to users.
History of the Sayaji Rao Gaekwad Library, Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

The library was established in 1916 in Telang Hall of Central Hindu College. Initially, it
had a small collection which was donated by the son of Justice K. T. Telang, Prof. K. P.
Telang. The library was nurtured by the eminent historian Sir Jadunath Sarkar. The library
was moved into Central Hall of BHU Faculty of Arts in 1921. In 1926, Sir Sayaji Rao
Gaekwad made a generous donation of ` 2 lakh (200,000) to establish an independent
building for the library. In 1941, the construction of the building was completed and
library was established. The architecture of the library followed the archetype of British
Museum Library. The present collection of manuscripts in Sayaji Rao Gaekwad Library
(also known as Central Library) BHU has been built over a period of time by the generous
donations from scholars and their families. These donations helped the library to enrich
their collection with many invaluable manuscripts and rare documents. Earlier, these
manuscripts were kept under lock and key because of the fear of irreparable damage. The
access was restricted to research scholars and eminent personalities. In 2003–04, the
manuscript collection of the library was opened to the public. The driving force was the
IXth five year plan (1997–2002) of the Government of India in which set a high priority on
conservation and preservation of manuscripts and rare documents (9th Five Year Plan,
Vol. 2.) This was aided by the efforts of the National Mission for Manuscripts. Better
preservation technologies have helped gain the trust of authorities on this issue.
National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) of India

NNM is an ambitious project launched in February 2003 by the Ministry of Culture,
Government of India, under the 9th Five-year plan (1997–2002). It was an effort to save
national heritage through documentation and representation in different forms and provide
more visibility to ensure wider cultural inheritance (National Mission for Manuscripts,
2005). The mission operates in different states of the country through a network of
specifically identified Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs), Manuscript Partner Centres
(MPCs), and Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs). These centres work with the
objective of collecting data on manuscripts located in different places, from universities
and libraries to temples, mathas, madrasas, monasteries, and private collections. An MRC
does the job of documenting its own collection and conduct surveys for collections in and
around areas/districts. MPCs mainly look after the documentation of their own collections.
MCCs look after conservation of manuscripts. The Mission provides assistance for
infrastructure for conservation and preservation of manuscripts. It organizes training
programs and supports research for better management and wider dissemination of
manuscripts.
Manuscript Collection at BHU
BHU has a vast collection of manuscripts and rare documents.
1. Literature on Kashmir Shaiv Darshan: More than 100 small and large works of
literature are available, all rare and many unpublished.
Contd...

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 97