MINISTER OF HOUSING AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND MINISTER OF CULTURE (KUMARI SELJA)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT REFEREED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.279 FOR
24.04.2012 REGARDING NATIONAL MISSION ON LIBRARIES.
(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) A High Level Committee to be called ‘National Mission on Libraries’ has been
constituted. Terms of reference for the National Mission on Libraries are as follows :-
(i) advising the Government of India on all library and information sector matters
of national importance,
(ii) preparing long term plans and strategies for development of the library sector,
(iii) interacting with State Governments on library matters,
(iv) setting standards for library services,
(v) encouraging and promoting partnership with corporate sector, philanthropic
organizations, as well as bilateral and international agencies in the development of
the library and information sector,
(vi) reviewing and assessing current status of library and information Science
education
(vii) coordinating with stakeholder Ministries such as the Ministry of Culture,
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry
of Panchayati Raj etc., to ensure effective implementation of the National Knowledge
Commission’s (NKC) recommendations on libraries and management of the post-implementation
scenario.
(viii) coordination with other national stakeholders of the library and information
sector.
(ix) collaborating with counterpart agencies in other countries to explore areas for
cooperation which will lead to strengthening of India’s library and information sector.
(x) securing public support through advocacy and media by providing evidence of
delivery, usage, outcomes and impact.
(xi) helping State Governments (that do not yet have library legislation) in
formulating State Library Acts.
The activities proposed to be taken up under the said Mission include; national
census of libraries, infrastructure development in public libraries, information
and communication technology application for improving library services, strengthening
of library and information science education, training and research facilities and
skill development programmes for library staff, development of sections for differently
abled and other special groups, establishment of knowledge centres, content creation
and networking of libraries etc.,
(c) & (d) Yes, Madam
National Knowledge Commission (NKC) inter alia recommended that a National Mission on
Libraries should be set up leading to formation of a permanent National Commission on
Libraries. Accordingly the High Level Committee (National Mission) has been constituted.
Other recommendations of the NKC are to :
(i) Prepare a national census of all libraries,
(ii) Revamp Library Information Science (LIS) education, training and research facilities,
(iii) Re-assess staffing of libraries,
(iv) Set up a central library fund,
(v) Modernize
library management,
(vi) Encourage greater community participation in library management,
(vii) Promote information communication technology [ICT] applications in all libraries,
(viii) Facilitate donation and maintenance of private collections and (ix) Encourage
public private partnerships in LIS. These recommendations are broadly covered under
the mandate of the National Mission
(e) Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) is working for the strengthening
of the public library sector in the country. The Foundation, through its schemes supplies
books to Public Libraries, provides grants for infrastructure development, acquire
computers and construct buildings etc. In order to promote reading habit, RRRLF
provides assistance to set up special corners in public libraries for various
groups such as children, women, senior citizens, differently abled etc. The Schemes
envisaged to be taken up by National Mission on Libraries will upgrade public libraries
and promote reading habit across the country.
