Why libraries are liberating spaces

Source– The post is based on the article “Why libraries are liberating spaces” published in “The INdian Express” on 22nd June 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to development and management of education

News– The article explains the issues related to public libraries in India

What are issues related to public libraries in India?

Under the Indian Constitution, public libraries are a state subject. Nineteen states have passed the Library Legislation Act and five states levy a library cess.

In 2013, the National Mission on Libraries came into being under the Ministry of Culture, to revive and modernise public libraries.

They have utilised most of their budget for creating digital libraries including the National Digital Library of India. But it has not made much difference due to digital inequality existing in the country.

There is no move by the National Mission on Libraries to bring state public libraries under one policy or address the issues of access to existing libraries.

There is wildly conflicting data on the state of the Indian public library system. No reliable data exist for functioning libraries at the national, state and district level.

There is no standardisation across public libraries or guidelines for curriculum, and best practices.

NGO and citizen-led efforts in some of India’s most under-served, remote and neglected regions are working on public libraries. But there is no concerted effort to help sustain them.

What are efforts by the government for a national policy on public libraries?

The most recent draft national policy was written in 1986 and it recognised that all public libraries must be free. Though it was never ratified,

Last year, it was reviewed by a Rajya Sabha standing committee. The committee recognised that a national policy was needed to convert state legislations into an enforceable tool for reform. But it dropped the need for free libraries.

What is the way forward to improve the conditions of public libraries in India?

There is a small but growing group of library workers from all over India coming together to campaign for a free library movement. Everyone from bookmakers, policy wonks and educators to the public should join librarians in demanding it.

The need of the hour is a national library policy to ensure free, accessible and excellent libraries for all.