Libraries measure progress of Civilisations: President

Subject :Schemes

Context:

President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates Festival of Libraries 2023 in New Delhi.

What did President emphasize during the inauguration?

Stressed that the development of libraries reflects the progress of civilizations and history contains instances of invaders destroying libraries.
Libraries are considered a symbol of a country or society’s collective consciousness and intellect.
Libraries act as bridges between civilizations, with people from various countries gaining knowledge by carrying books from India and translating them.
Books and libraries are seen as a common heritage of humanity.
President referred to Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography, where he highlighted the significant positive impact of John Ruskin’s book “Unto This Last” on his life.
- The power of a small book to influence world events.
Conservation of manuscripts and modernization of libraries are crucial for preserving cultural heritage.

What is the goal of the ‘Festival of Libraries’ ?

Organized by the Ministry of Culture.
The festival aims to promote the development and digitization of libraries, fostering a reading culture in India.
It seeks to initiate dialogue on modernization and digitization of libraries, showcasing iconic libraries worldwide, and developing model libraries at the village and community levels.

What initiatives are part of the ‘Festival of Libraries’ program?

Launching a ranking system for libraries across India.
Exhibitions on allied crafts like cartography, calligraphy, and cursive writing will be held.
Creation of a crowd-sourced directory of significant book collections in the country.

What is the vision behind the National Virtual Library of India?

The National Virtual Library of India aims for ‘One Nation, One Digital Library,‘ making information accessible through technology.
It aims to strengthen the culture of connecting with libraries and reading books.

What is Nationl Mission for Libraries (NML)?

National Mission on Libraries (NML):

National Knowledge Commission gave 10 recommendation on libraries in its 2011 report.
Initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Launched in the year 2014.
Modernizing and digitally connecting nearly 9,000 libraries across India.
Cost estimation for the ambitious project is approximately 1000 crores.
Aims to grant easy access to a wide array of books and information for diverse audiences.

Vision of National Policy on Library and Information System (NAPLIS):

Established in 1985, provided the foundation for NML.
Envisioned fostering, promoting, and sustaining information organizations.
Emphasized leveraging technology advances and training library personnel to meet evolving needs.

Fostering Inclusive and Accessible Libraries:

NML prioritizes creating inclusive and accessible libraries.
Special provisions for differently-abled individuals, braille corners, and children’s corners.
Encouraging young minds to explore literature and knowledge from an early age.

Setting up of NML Model Libraries:

Core component of the NML scheme.
Library is a State subject and public Libraries in States/Union Territories function under the administrative control of the respective State/Union Territory authority.
- Financial assistance provided to State Central and District Libraries.
Six Public Libraries functioning under Ministry of Culture namely
- National Library, Kolkata,
- Central Reference Library, Kolkata,
- Central Secretariat Library, New Delhi,
- Delhi Public Library, Delhi,
- Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library,
- Patna and Rampur Raza Library, Rampur.

Setting up of National Virtual Library of India (NVLI):

Aims to create an all-inclusive database of digital resources about India.
Features federated searching, virtual learning environment, E-Governance platform, and multilingual retrieval.

Support from Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF):

An autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture.
Provides financial assistance to public libraries for construction, renovation, and procurement of books.
Conducts capacity-building programs for library professionals.