(a) whether the Government propose to inter-connect/link all the Central Libraries in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the funds provided for implementation of the scheme?
(a) whether the Government propose to inter-connect/link all the Central Libraries in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the funds provided for implementation of the scheme?
MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE (SHRI JAGMOHAN)
(a) to (c): The Department of Culture would focus on modernization of central and public libraries in accordance with the objectives of the Tenth Plan. A national bibliographic database in electronic format is under preparation in a number of central libraries including the libraries under the administrative control of the Department of Culture. The two largest libraries namely, National Library, Kolkata and Central Secretariat Library, Delhi have already initiated the work for creating the electronic resource base of the existing holdings. These electronic databases would be made available to all other central and state libraries throughout the country for easy access and dissemination of available resources in the country. The said project of retro-conversion of existing catalogues in the National Library and Central Secretariat Library is anticipated to cost around Rs 10 crores and would be completed during the Tenth Plan.