Library census,reading habit survey from Feb

Part of Rs 1000-crore National Mission on Libraries

A national level census of libraries across India to assess the state of our library network and survey the reading habits of Indians will be conducted as part of an ambitious project to revive and strengthen the community library movement in India.

Sources said that an approval to the National Mission on Libraries backed by Rs 1,000 crore fund is expected in February, paving the way for its implementation.

One of the key recommendations of the Sam Pitroda-led National Knowledge Commission,the project was gathering dust in the Ministry of Culture for a while now.

The National Mission on Libraries aims at developing quality standards for libraries,help them acquire books,digitise content and mobilise community library movement. As recommended by the NKC,periodic surveys of user needs and reading habits will also be carried out as part of the national library census.

The library sector is much neglected in India. The overall reading habits across the country leave much to be desired.

The first step is to assess the current status of libraries and identify issues such as in-service training and address them effectively.

The library mission will initially function under the aegis of the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation,which will help fund book acquisitions,state-level coordination and tie-ups with philanthropic agencies. Later,a full-fledged Library Commission will be set up, said a source.

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A high-level committee will also be set up to evolve the contours of the National Mission on Libraries.

With a high-ranking dignitary at its helm and another eight members,the committee will advise the government on all library sector issues of national importance and draft a national policy on library and information systems for India,and develop quality benchmarks for services to be adhered to by all libraries.

The committee will advise the government on promoting partnerships with the corporate sector,philanthropic organisations and international agencies,and coordinating with related ministries and stakeholders such as the University Grants Commission UGC,All India Council for Technical Education AICT,Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation,Council for Scientific amp; Industrial Research CSIR,Indian Council for Agricultural research,Indian Council for Medical Research ICMR,among others.