LIBRARY AND SOCIETY
When a book is not purchased by a library it should be available from one of the co-operating libraries, whenever it is required by its readers. To ensure this, inter – library loan system was introduced by various libraries. It can be successful only if the catalogues of the co-operating libraries are made available amongst themselves. The union catalogue which are prepared on co-operative basis enables this system to work successfully.
- Delivery of Books and Newspaper Act 1954
The delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Act, 1954 was enacted by the Government of India in order to promote libraries in India and to encourage scholarship. It is considered necessary to build good libraries and for this purpose, it is desired to acquire not more than four copies of books and other publications in India. One copy of book so acquired will be deposited in the National Library, Calcutta and the remaining three sets will be utilized for important libraries.
In this Act, the term “book” includes every volume, part or division of a volume in any language and every sheet of music, map, chart or plan separately printed or lithographed.
The Act was amended by the Government to include newspapers in 1956 because the newspapers also contain highly useful nascent information and thought. The public libraries which were granted the privilege of legal deposits by this Act are (1) National Library, Calcutta for the Eastern Region, (2) Central Library, Bombay for Western Region, (3) Connemara Public Library, madras for Southern Region, (4) National Central Library (proposed), Delhi, Northern Region (at present Delhi Public Library).
The Act has made it obligatory for every publisher to deliver at his own cost four copies of the publication to four libraries within thirty days of its publications. The Act provides for penalty upto fifty rupees for contravening this provision or the fine may be equal to the value of the book. Only the conscientious publishers may be sending the books. The unscrupulous may ignore the Act, particularly in case of the books of Arts and science which are highly priced.
- Library Association (LA),
The Library Association was founded in 1877 in order to raise the standards of librarianship and to improve service to the public. Its success was reorganized by the granting of Royal Charter in 1898. Her majesty the Queen became patron of the association in 1977, the centenary year. In 1965 the Library Associations moved to Ridgmount Street, London. Today the association has 25,000 members, including nearly 2000 resident outside the United Kingdom. The largest category of membership is from public libraries. Any one join the association, who are interested in the objectives of the association.
The Library Association is highly decentralized body. Twelve geographical branches cover the whole of the United Kingdom. In order to foster work on many aspects of library and the information work, the association has 23 special interest groups. The Association of Assistant Librarians (AAL) originally an independent organization is the largest of all groups, AAL conducts work on all subjects but other groups specialize in some aspects of library work.
The Library Association has published hundreds of publications. Today the publishing role is carried out by Library Association Publishing Ltd., a company wholly owned by the Association. The Association also publishes Library Association Record, a monthly. This record helps the members to keep in touch with others and know the development in the profession.
A library which is concerned almost exclusively with the literature of a particular subject, or a group of subjects. Special library serves a special clientele located within a single establishment or group and all engaged in working towards one common purpose. It exists to serve the personnel of the parent body and caters to their information needs. The readers of the special library are the scientists, researchers and employees attached to the institution to which the library is attached. Materials collected and kept in such libraries will be special in nature, mainly belonging to the subject area on which the special library is concerned.
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