PIL on Neglect of Library and Appointment of Library Staff all over India

[Dr. Badan Barman]

To:

 

Indian Library Association

 

Considering the Historicity of Libraries and library services to the community, the ILA should file a PIL in Supreme Court and here is a small write on the reason for such an act.

 As a Life Member of ILA for more than 40 years in standing and as President of Karnataka State Library Association, I am making this proposal to ILA.

  

As  all of us know that the Library has been becoming the most neglected institution under the policies of the Government both at the Central and State level. It is well known that several  commissions  on education and others have emphasized the role of library and about 21 states of India have public library legislation and many of these Library acts have mandated to provide public library services to the citizens and some of them are also levying Library Cess. Most the Universities in the country are without bare minimum qualified library staff  and some of them are being managed by Only one professionals wherein their earlier strength was anywhere between 20-60. IITs and Institutions of national importance, many public libraries in the country are without staff.

 

In the country there are nearly 200+ Universities offering LIS education from Certificate to Doctorate levels, Thousands of youngsters are passing out of these valued Institutions which  have a history of nearly 75 years in standing. They also are working without adequate teaching faculty and some of them on the threshold of closing.

 

In comparison in the west and also in many developing nations from Africa and South East Asia except India, Library and library profession is regarded as one of the essential services.

 

Despite application of ICT in Library operations and services many libraries in the west are appoint specialists in different areas of application of ICT in libraries to make library services more effective and fruitful.

 

Considering such and all other aspects there is a very strong case to file a  Public Interest Litigation  in the Supreme Court to enlighten the governments both Central and State to take immediate action on improving the library situations all over the country  as the libraries since ages are considered as institutions to cater to the public needs of education, learning, teaching, research and for the leisure time activity. 

 

Indian Library Association being a national professional body should consult the concerned in this regard and go for  filing a PIL and also seek the Parliament to bring a WHITE PAPER on all aspects of  library situations and condition. There is a concrete example of United Kingdom which brought out a White Paper in the 1960s to reorganize entire library scenario in the country

 

Yours

 

Prof. A.Y.Asundi

Former Professor and Chairman of LIS

Email: [e-mail]

Cell : 9980815468

[AJIT KUMAR ROY]

Dear Sir,
The pitiable plight of library professionals has been depicted very nicely in the referred letter. This has been the first instance when a Professor level library professional has raised such awaited issues; otherwise, those who reach such a position are happily enjoying the position, which is the only reason why library professionals are looked down under.
Most of the national level libraries like IITs, NIts, IIITs are not having Librarian. In the name of staff, they have to employ outsourced personnel or trainees. Career Paths for professionals are also not defined, and promotion avenues are not standardized.
Being the apex body, ILA should plan various measures and activities like a demonstration by library professionals at an appropriate place in Delhi, submit PIL in Supreme Court, and anything worth catching the attention of policymakers and adamant officials of Technical Institutes/Universities. They have a preoccupied mind in favor of teaching community and behaving stepson treatment with library professionals.

[shilpa deshpande]

sir, i strongly support your point ,you have raised. proceed further i, will be supporting you in this problem. As i belong Telangana state from past two years there is no Notifications for librarian post as there are lot of vacancies in all institutions under Govt sector .

[Dr. Subhash Chandra]

sir,

It is a big problem. In our state (Uttar Pradesh) the vacancies in Degree Colleges (Govt. and Aided ) and Universities are vacant for a long time. The state government is not worried about this situation.

I strongly support your initiative.

[chidanandamurthy]

 strongly support to you sir, Karnataka state govt aslo neglect of our profession so many vacant librarian post like, PU colleges, Degree Govt and  private Aided colleges,  university, 2008 lost  recruitment of Librarian post.

[Joshi Ashutosh Gopalrao]

Stongly support this petition. There is lack of culture to respect the knowledge 

[Swetha Elizabeth Raju]

Thank you Asundi Sir for initiating this issue. Let us stand together and standardize our profession and career path. Its time to raise our voice and fight to bring a change in the system. Hope we all get justice.