In-red Hardayal libraries face closure

Thirteen branches of Hardayal Municipal Library in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation areas have stuck in limbo as both the civic bodies are considering closing them in the absence of adequate funds.

However, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has adopted remaining other 13 branches falling under its jurisdiction. Three branches are under East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).

On Tuesday, the NMC had passed a resolution in its House meeting adopting 13 branches of the Hardayal Municipal Library — including its headquarters at Chandni Chowk. After trifurcation of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the NMC has been made the nodal corporation to run all the branches of the library which was renamed as Hardayal Municipal Public Library from its original name Hardinge Municipal Public Library in 1970. The headquarter of the library, located at Gandhi Ground, Town Hall in Chandni Chowk, is one of the richest library in the city with collection of some rare books.

However, the fate of some of its branches and around 50 employees remains uncertain as the SDMC officials said they might shut down the branches under its jurisdiction. “While the library has 27 branches across the city, the headquarters of library is the best. Other branches are no match to the headquarters. Since the headquarters lies in the jurisdiction of North Corporation, it has adopted it for maintenance. As far as branches under the jurisdiction of SDMC are concerned, we need to seriously consider whether it would be prudent to run them,” said a senior official of SDMC.

A senior councillor from the ruling BJP in the SDMC said a decision of the issue of operating the library would be taken soon. “We would discuss the issue with the Mayor, senior leaders and officials of the corporation. A decision over the future of the libraries would be taken soon. If we decide to run the libraries, we would re-launch them on a grand scale,” he said.

Even as the fate of some of the branches hangs in balance, salary to the employees of the library has not been paid for the past four-five months. Deliberative wings of three civic body said the decision would hit the employees of the remaining branches as the other two corporations do not have budgetary allocation for maintaining the libraries.

Leader of Opposition in NMC Mukesh Goel said, “Before trifurcation, the MCD had a budgetary allocation of `3 crore as grant-in-aid for maintaining the library. After trifurcation the budgetary allocation was transferred to the North Corporation. The corporation has now decided to adopt only 13 branches and has allocated `2.3 crore for their maintenance. The future of the rest branches falling under South and East corporations has become uncertain as the South and East civic bodies do no have any budgetary allocation for maintenance of the library”.

Read More News at: http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/105749-in-red-hardayal-libraries-face-closure.html

Books, anywhere anytime (The Hindu)

By-NITHYA SIVASHANKAR

The HinduA book for everyone: At Just Books library. Photo: K. Ananthan

With over 8,000 titles to choose from, Just Books, a community library chain, arrives in Coimbatore

In 2008, R. Sunderrajan, a software engineer from Bangalore, started a library at his residence because he did not want to travel too long to borrow books. Within a short period of time, members to his library multiplied. What started off as a part-time business has grown into a company that has 70 libraries in 10 major cities across India. The 70th branch of Just Books was launched in Coimbatore last week.

CONVENIENT

Located near Cream Centre in Race Course, this library is part of a country-wide community library chain. Niranjani Ramanathan, who runs Just Books here says, “Members can borrow and return books from any Just Books library in the country. Our libraries are integrated. So, if you are travelling, you can borrow a book from a Just Books outlet in one city and return it elsewhere.”

Just Books Coimbatore already has 8,000 books that cater to people of all ages. Children can choose from the popular Mr. Men, Curious George and Maisyseries to Indian picture books published by Tulika and Pratham Books. For young adults, there are Judy Blumes, Roald Dahls, Alexander McCall Smiths and Eva Ibbotsons, apart from the staple Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books.

For the adults, there is romance, science fiction, classics, humour, thrillers, business and management, self-help, spirituality, cookery, biographies and autobiographies to choose from. “Since the library is part of a large network, if a member from our city needs a book that is available in another library, we will get it for them. There is a combined collection of over 6 lakh books in our library chain,” says Niranjani. There are books in regional languages too. “For now, we have stocked our library with books in Tamil and Malayalam. We could also procure books in Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Urdu and Gujarati for our members.”

A special feature about Just Books is the unmanned RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) kiosk, which enables a member to search for, issue and return a book without the aid of a librarian. The functioning of this machine is very similar to that of an ATM. The members are given an ID card which enables them to use the kiosk. The books have RFID tags which are read by the machine. You can walk in, pick a book and borrow it with just a couple of swipes on the touch screen. Members can also order their books online (www.justbooksclc.com) or over phone, and have them picked up and delivered from anywhere within the city for a nominal delivery charge.

As part of Just Books’ initiative to promote reading, Niranjani plans to host events at the library on a weekly basis. “We will organise community-based events such as storytelling, book reading, author signing, cookery demonstrations, art and craft sessions, and health counselling sessions for members and non-members,” she says. She also plans to set up a reading lounge.

More News at-http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/leisure/article3620415.ece

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation library cess dues go up to Rs. 25 crore

Library cess forms 8 per cent of the property tax paid to Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

Libraries have of late begun receiving funds from the State Government lifting them up from the earlier mess but civic bodies continue to delay payment of the library cess component to them.

According AP Grandhalaya Parishad Chairman and journalist Turlapati Kutumba Rao, GVMC owed the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha (ZGS) around Rs.20 crore for the period 2006-07 to 2010-11. With the latest arrears it would come to around Rs.25 crore.

He said he would address a letter to Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu on the issue. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation also owed Rs.18 crore towards library cess two, three years ago but owing to persistent efforts it came down to Rs.9 crore now. Mr. Kutumba Rao told reporters here on Tuesday that the budget for libraries was a record Rs.96 crore for the current year. The government was also likely to allow recruitment for some of the vacant posts. Compared to the situation in 1997 when libraries were sought to be given to voluntary organisations the situation was much better now. After the Rajasekhar Reddy government came to power in 2004 Rs.13 crore was allocated.

Besides meeting staff salaries and bills, wherever necessary, buildings would be constructed and infrastructure provided with the budgetary allocation. He said the libraries were playing a key role in providing books to students appearing at competitive examinations. Under “On demand,” libraries would get books sought by aspirants if they are not already available. Internet connections were also being made available at libraries on hourly payment basis.

On the purchase of books, he said the Parishad was getting Rs.1 crore from Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation and by adding an equal amount was getting books for the libraries in the State. ZGS secretary P. Krishna Rao said contrary to the popular view the number of readers to the libraries was growing partly because of the preparation for competitive examinations.

Mr. Kutumab Rao recalled the contribution of greats like Ayyaki Venkataramanaiah, Gadicherla Hari Sarvottama Rao and Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, among others, to the growth of library movement in the country and the State before the country got freedom after the inspiration provided by Mahatma Gandhi. Former librarian of Mrs. AVN College R.V. Gopala Rao and president of Society for Promotion of Public Libraries P.S.N. Murthy were present.

More News at:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article3576066.ece

A library which doesn’t allow members inside

• By Vinod Nedumudy 

Aluva municipal library and reading room. —DC

Even as the state is observing Reading Week, the Aluva municipality which runs a library named after famed literary figure Kuttippuzha Krishna Pillai, refuses to allow members inside the library to pick books of their choice.

The members are livid with the system here. To top it all is the condition of the library which is going from bad to worse.

The library and reading room has its own three-storied building. A lot of avid readers have used the facilities here.

But the number of visitors and readers is dwindling with the contingency staff deployed at the library discouraging the few who go there.

The current practice is to put up a list of all the books in the library in a rack outside the area where the books are kept.

“Once we opt for a book, a member of the staff goes inside, only to return empty-handed. They don’t look for the books. It’s quite discouraging,” said Anil Joseph, a member of the library.

Those who go to the library say that its condition is deteriorating. Layers of dust and cobwebs cover the alleys and the stacked books. “There are around 35,000 books in the library, one-third of which is English.

It was set up on August 17, 1956 in a temporary building by Krishna Pillai and a few others. The library was later named after the literary figure,” said Sathyadevan, former secretary, who was also the librarian.

Latheef Poozhithura, the standing committee chairman in charge of libraries at Aluva municipality said that the members were blocked because of the theft of books.

“However, if the contingency workers are discouraging members, we will review the decision,” he said. However, a few members said that their pleas in this regard had fallen on deaf ears.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/134723

पुस्तकालय को आधुनिक बनाने के लिए सांसद ने लिखा पत्र

बलिया: सांसद नीरज शेखर ने ग्राम पंचायत अखार में संचालित महात्मा गांधी सार्वजनिक पुस्तकालय के विकास एवं आधुनिक सुविधाओं से सुसज्जित करने हेतु जिला पंचायत को पत्र लिखा है। पत्र में उन्होंने कहा है कि उक्त पुस्तकालय का लाभ क्षेत्र के कई गांवों के लोग उठा रहे हैं। ज्ञात हो कि 10 नवम्बर 1997 को क्षेत्रीय नागरिकों के अनुरोध पर संचालित उक्त पुस्तकालय अपने संसाधनों के बल पर लोगों की सेवा कर रहा है जिसमें प्रतिदिन दर्जनों पाठकों का आना जाना रहता है। पुस्तकालय प्रभारी डॉ.अखिलेश सिंह ने बताया कि बहुमूल्य पुस्तकों का संग्रह किया गया है। सदस्यता नि:शुल्क होने से काफी ग्रामीण पुस्तकालय से जुड़े रहे हैं।

Source: http://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/ballia-9301116.html

No young takers for this niche library in South Delhi

By Neha Das, May 22 2012

Bustling with activity and cultural programmes specific to Bengal and Bengalis, Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi has for long been considered a ‘mini Kolkata’.

It also has the Kali Mandir Society often referred to by the locals as Kali Bari. Built on a small hill, this is a primarily a temple complex but also houses the Community Cultural Center. The complex started with a Shiv temple, which still stands within the complex but now the larger shrines are dedicated to Kali and Radha-Krishna. Over the years it has remained an important centre of convergence for the local community during Durga Puja festivities.

Renowned for their love of reading and academia, the Bengalis as a community pride themselves on their love for literature and poetry. But the little library, named after Ramkrishna Paramhansa, which nestles in the premises of the temple complex does not boast of young readership nor has been successful in promoting love for literature or literary texts amongst the young Bengalis. Run by Purnima Das who is assisted by Shivnath Chakravarty, a specially abled person, the library subscribes to all possible major newspapers including renowned Bengali ones like the Anandabazar Patrika, Bortomaan, Proti Din, Aajkaal and even Statesman’s Bengali edition. Not only that, the library also keeps magazines like Khela, Desh, Phire Dekha, Shaptahik Bortoman. Even rare editions of works by Kalidasa are available for those interested. But unfortunately not may people are interested.

This air-conditioned library, which started in 1985, manages to draw only senior citizens. “We don’t get too many readers as this library is part of the mandir. Besides, nobody reads Bengali books now,” rues Purnima. “This library has not been successful in promoting Bengali literature. The fact is, children don’t come here to read at all. They all study in public schools and do not have any Bengali subject. So, we only have one section for children’s reading. The senior citizens on the other hand, come here during their leisure time, which is normally evenings. They enjoy browsing through so many different newspapers.”

Of its total collection of about 25,000 books, about 80 per cent is Bengali fiction. Among others, it also keeps books by Sunil Ganguly, Buddhadeb Ghosh and many others. The library started out keeping only religious books and that remains its USP. “We get maximum readers for our religious collection. We have books on Ramakrishna Pramahansa, Ma Sharada, the Bhagavad Gita, books on Hinduism, the Upanishads and on the Vedas,” shares Purnima. Though the library also has books on literary criticism, drama by Utpal Dutt and contemporary Bengali poets, it is not adding to its collection at the moment.

With reading habits going down, it is no surprise that the Ramakrishna library too has suffered in its wake. Despite its very low rates - even at Rs 50 as annual security for lifetime members and the annual membership for Rs 100, there are hardly any takers. 

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/251394/no-young-takers-niche-library.html

READ's Community Library and Resource Centre - A ray of hope for rural Manipur -

By:- Nahid Jubair *

The paradigm of community development and people's participation in rural/regional development has been introduced from 1950 onward. However, many development practices have been limited to the trickle down approach. The numerical involvement in community development activities has been in practice due to the poor implementation mechanism of the spirit of the participatory community development approach.

The actual participation requires a participatory decision-making process that enhances the role of local people in the decision and management of community matters of development. Thus, participatory community development has been critically important in the pace of rural community development.

Read India Logo

India is a developing country where the literacy rate is very low. Among the literate people, the women, marginalized and disadvantaged people are only a low percentage. For sustainable rural development, rural community people should be literate so that they can actively participate in community affairs. 

In this respect, Rural Education and Development (READ) India has been adopting the spirit of community development throughout its approach. It empowers rural communities using a replicable model for sustainable educational, economic and community development that pairs non-profit community resource libraries with for-profit ventures. READ's approach mostly focuses on the educational development of rural people through community libraries. 

The READ approach of community development also includes economic development, which is one pillar of educational development of an area. It has accepted an innovative micro-funding approach to sustain financially each library through viable income generating programs that support the library for its regular operation and future development. Often the income-generating projects have risen considerably more than library operational expenses. Surplus revenue of the library goes to other community development projects. 

A community library is more than just a library. The library is defined as a local educational institution, outside the formal educational system in village areas, which is set up and managed by local people to provide various learning opportunities for community development and improvement of people's quality of life. 

The concept of a community resource centre is that of a community owned centre for lifelong access to educational materials. While on one hand, it serves as a storehouse of knowledge and information, on the other hand, it works to create a space for the community men and women to collaborate on a range of development initiatives. 

Library and information centres are vital and powerful national resources for individuals, organizations and governmental agencies. Community libraries help local people to develop sound reading habits. They provide reading materials to all age groups and people from different interest groups. With easy access to the library, technology and information, local people become literate and develop their skills. This turns villages into viable places to live by creating jobs and access to technology, thus balancing the urban-rural opportunity gap. 

The lack of proper transportation facilities (railway, air, etc), special climatic conditions and such other factors are the barriers that are isolating the Manipur from other parts of India. The result definitely affects the overall growth and development of the region. 

The role of the library for all round development of the society is unquestionable, and when the name of the North East India came its emphasis is even more. The community library or rural library or by whatever name we call it, that are located in the Manipur serve as the key institution / gateway to look insight into the rural masses. 

As such they can be vested with different types of responsibilities from government as well as from different NGO's and like other. But the problem is that about them also a very little information is available. 

The use of the term 'rural library', instead of 'community library' or 'community library and resource centre' is always a confusing one, and must need to be abandoned. In justification of the above sentence it can be said that the term 'rural' indicates the places that have a small population size and whose needs are not served by a metropolitan Development Authority. 

The overall definition of the term is always attached with places proximity to a central space, community size, and total population, economic and socioeconomic conditions. But in every state there are a great number of libraries that are grouped as 'rural library' which are in reality serving the urban community or localities. 

The Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur is looking after the 13 (thirteen) government public libraries. Besides the 13 Government public libraries there are 120 (one hundred twenty) libraries that are run by beneficiary club / voluntary organization etc and they are getting regular book assistance, furniture and equipment from the government. 

Again there are over 95 (ninety five) libraries which are yet to receive regular assistance from the state government, some of them already receive financial assistance from the RRRLF for purchase of books, furniture, equipment and also for construction of library building. 

Government public libraries in Manipur 

Sl No	Name of library	No. of libraries
1	State Central Library	1 Nos
2	District Library	9 Nos
3	Branch Library	1 Nos
4	Community	215 Nos
Total		226 Nos

Recently, in Sangaiprou near Imphal READ (RURAL EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT) India and local community people jointly implemented a Tazei Community Library and Resource Centre (TCLRC) for minimizing Urban Rural opportunity gap. 

Sangaiprou is a tribal village inhabited by Zeliangrong community and also called as Kabui to Zeliangrong. It lays within the jurisdiction of 19 Patsoi Assembly Constituency, Imphal West-1, Sub-Division Imphal West District Manipur. 

And under Lamjaotongba Gram Panchayat, It is about 7(seven) Kms from Imphal and located in between two National High Way NH-53(Imphal � Silchar) and NH-150 (Imphal- Aizawl). The word "Sangaiprou" derived from Manipur mythology. It means that the habitation of Sangai the state animal of Manipur. 

READ India is helping rural communities by establishing community libraries with a sustainable financial strategy. Both the library and the sustainable income-generating projects are used as a developmental vehicle to undertake various other development initiatives in the community. TCLRC has selected two income-generating projects. 

A project site photo under construction

READ libraries create different sustainability projects based on geographic location, resource availability, local interest and demand. Those income-generating projects cover all the expenses of the library's operating budget, and surplus funds go towards future program expansion. 

READ does not implement the project itself, but it regularly monitors the activities of the community libraries. The community itself manages the community library and its services. The responsibility of the project implementation solely falls on the local community. READ activities are flexible and participatory which allows leadership to emerge from any member of the community. 

Support mechanisms are also made available through coordinating and networking. This model also allows volunteers, who are eager to learn about community development, to gather ample experience about community matters. 

To serve the people, it is necessary to go to their doors steps, to provide them service at the levels where they live. When we consider in respect of information or knowledge, Community Library and Resource Centre (CLRC) or Community Development Library (CDL) or Rural Information Resource Centre (RIRC) or Rural Library or by whatever name we call it, doing the same. 

But for how long it will continue without people's own initiatives. They also must come forward to take the benefit, to make it self sufficiency through various provisions like READ library model.. 

Most of the community libraries in the North East India especially in Manipur spontaneously developed as a part of NGO, Societies, and Club etc and after some time they are dying in the same way due to the lack of subsequent management. During present time they are facing major financial crises and the respective state government and RRRLF financial grant are unable to cover even a fraction of the total need of the community libraries. Without full participation / cooperation from the general people the whole system will be vanished. 

Community libraries are very essential for the growth and development of the society and through years it is playing a great role. In terms of community development the common purpose sharing organization / institution like Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) formed on 7th February 2003, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) established in 1991, Panchayats, Department of Agriculture of respective state governments, Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, etc. can think to unite themselves, for the maintenance of this system, to serve the rural population as well as to fulfil their individual need.

Source: http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Community_Library_and_Resource_Centre.html