National Library - India
The
National Library, India is the largest library in the country. It is an institution
of national importance under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve the printed
material produced in the country. The library is situated on a scenic 30
acres Belvedere Estate, in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).
Historical Background
Calcutta Public Library (CPL)
Calcutta Public Library was established in 1836. It was not a Government
institution. It ran on a proprietary basis. Any subscriber paying Rs 300 at
one time or in three instalments was considered a proprietor. Poor students
and others were allowed to use the library free of charge for a specified
period of time. The then Governor General, Lord Metcalf transferred 4,675
volumes from the library of the College of Fort William to the Calcutta
Public Library. These volumes and donations of books from individuals formed
the nucleus of the library. Dwarkanath Tagore was the first proprietor of
Calcutta Public Library.
Both Indian and foreign books, especially from Britain, were purchased for the
library. In the report of 1850 we find that the library has started
collecting books in Gujarati, Marathi, Pali, Simhalese and Punjabi. Donations
were regularly received from individuals and from the Government of Bengal
and North Western Provinces.
Calcutta Public Library had a unique position as the first public library
in this part of the country. Such a tidy and efficiently run library was rare
even in Europe during the first half of the
nineteenth century. Thanks to the efforts of the proprietors of Calcutta
Public Library, the National Library has many rare books and journals in its
collection.
The Imperial Library
The Imperial Library was founded in 1891 by combining a number of
Secretariat libraries. Of these, the most important and interesting was the
library of the Home Department, which contained many books formerly belonging
to the libraries of East India College,
Fort William,
and the East India Board in London.
But the use of the library was restricted to the superior officers of the
Government.
Amalgamation of CPL and Imperial Library
Lord Curzon, Governor General of India in the early years of the
twentieth century, is usually credited with the idea of opening a library in Kolkata
for public use. He found that the Imperial Library and Calcutta Public
Library were not being used as expected because of limited access and lack of
amenities. He decided to merge the collection of Calcutta Public Library with
that of the Imperial Library, subject to certain terms.
The new library, called Imperial Library, was formally
opened to the public on 30 January 1903 at Metcalf Hall, Kolkata. The aims
and objectives of the Imperial Library were well defined in a Notification in
the Gazette of India: ‘It is
intended that it should be a library of reference, a working place for
students and a repository of material for the future historians of India, in
which, so far as possible, every work written about India, at any time, can
be seen and read.’
John Macfarlane, Assistant Librarian of the British
Museum, London, was appointed the first Librarian
of the Imperial Library. After his death, the polyglot scholar Harinath De
took over the charge of the library. J. A. Chapman succeeded him in 1911.
During Chapman’s term, the library experienced remarkable growth and
improvement. After his retirement, Khan Bahadur M.A. Asadulla was appointed
librarian and he continued in office till July 1947.
 |
 |
John Macfarlane, the first Librarian
|
Harinath De, the first Indian Librian
|
The policy of acquisition broadly adhered to by the Imperial Library was
outlined by Lord Curzon in his speech at the inauguration: ‘The general
idea of the whole Library is that it should contain all the books that have
been written about India in popular tongues, with such additions as are
required to make it a good all-round library of standard works of
reference.’
From the Imperial Library to the National
Library
After Independence
the Government of India changed the name of the Imperial Library to the
National Library, with the enactment of the Imperial Library (Change of Name)
Act, 1948, and the collection was shifted from the Esplanade to the present
Belvedere Estate. On 1 February 1953, the National Library was opened to the
public, inaugurated by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. B. S. Kesavan was appointed
the first Librarian of the National Library.
Statistics
2. Opening of Imperial Library to the Public 30th January, 1903
3. Change of name to the National Library 1948
4. National Library opened to Public 1st February 1953
5. Number of working days of the library in a year 362 days
6. Total number of books in the library 26,41,615
7. Total number of publications received under the D.B. Act 11,89,128
8. Total number of publications received as gift & exchange 5,50,037
9. Total number of digitized books/documents 21,250
10. Total number of maps 88,162
11. Total number of manuscripts 3,231
12. Total number of bound periodicals 1,47,331
13. Total number of newspaper s (Titles) 905 titles
14. Total number of bound newspapers 11,911
15. Total number of microforms 1,04,388
16. Total area of Library Compound (in acres) 30 (acres)
Library Timings
The library is open from
9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all the working days, and from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays,
Sundays and other holidays. On
holidays only the Lending section, Reading Rooms of the Main Building,
Annexe Building,
New Annexe Building
and Esplanade Reading Room remain open.
The Library remains entirely closed
on 26 January (Republic Day), 15 August (Independence Day) and 2 October
(Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday).
Membership
Any person above 18 years of age, can become the member of the National
Library. Separate membership is necessary for
Reading Room and Lending Section. For membership one has to apply on
prescribed forms. The membership will be provided under certain conditions.
Applications for any kind of membership must be accompanied with two
passport size photographs (4.5cm x 3.5cm).
Aims of the National Library, India
1.
|
Acquisition
and conservation of all significant national production of printed
material, excluding ephemera.
|
2.
|
Collection
of printed material concerning the country, no matter where it is
published, and as a corollary, the acquisition of photographic records of
such material that is not available with in the country
|
3.
|
Acquisition
and conservation of foreign material required by the country.
|
4.
|
Rendering
of bibliographical and documents services of current and retrospective
material, both general and specialised.
|
5.
|
Acting
as a referral centre purveying full and accurate knowledge.
|
Lending Services
Local Membership
A limited
number of books are lent out to readers under certain terms and conditions. To
make use of this facility one has to become the member of the Lending
division, applying on a prescribed lending form. Two books can be borrowed at a time for a
period of 14 days, which can be extended for another 14 days either by
phone, or by post or by personal visit. Membership of the Lending division
is free, but the borrower has to deposit the amount equal to one and half
time of the price of the book. A fine of Re.1/- is charged per book per day
for late return. When the borrower wishes to cancel the membership, he/she
gets back the money, through a cheque, without any deduction.
Outstation Membership
Outstation
mambers can borrow the books through post. The lending rules of local
membership apply to outstation memberships. But postal charges both ways
are to be borne by the borrower. The books are sent by V.P.P. for postal
charges and the borrower is expected to send them back by registered post
only. Books are lent out for a period of 21 days, which can be extended for
another 21 days.
|
Inter Library Loan
Selected
libraries of the country and abroad may borrow the books from the National
Library through the inter library loan facility. Four books are lent out
for a period of 21 days for Indian libraries and two months for foreign
libraries. Both ways postage is to be borne by the borrowing library.
|
Bibliographic Services
Research
scholars, Government agencies, universities and national level institutions
may make use of this facility. Selected lists of reading materials or
bibliographies are prepared by the library on request. Special
bibliographies are prepared to augment the exhibitions, which the National
Library holds. Compilation of exhaustive bibliographies on special topics
are under way. The library provides bibliographies and / or bibliographic
statistics to national and international organisations. The library
provides support to the Central Reference Library, Kolkata, in compiling
the Indian National Bibliography.
Reprographic Services
Members of
both the reading room and lending division may use reprographic facilities
against payment. The photocopies, microfilms
and microfilms printout / photocopy will be provided within the limits of
the International Copyrights Act.
|
Services for Children
The National
Library has a separate division for children. Equipped with books in
English, Indian and a few foreign languages, the division provides children
with reading material for information and fun.
No formal membership is required to use this
section. Any child can enter the Children’s Library, sign in a
register and use the books. Books from the Children’s Library are not
lent out. At present the Children’s Library hold about 28,000 books
and many periodicals.
Training and Guidance
The library provides training and guidance in conservation of library
materials and in modernisation activities of the libraries to different
institutions on request. Regular courses are conducted in the National
Library premises and in different parts of India to impart knowledge in
these fields. A separate Training HRD division was formed in 2010 to plan
and co-ordinate training programmes and monitor staff development needs.
Website of National Library
The first official website of the National Library (www.nlindia.org) was
launched on 22 January 2002 at 4.30 p.m by H. E. Sri Viren J. Shah, the then
Governor of West Bengal, at the main building. The website was designed by
Cyber Animatrix Pvt. Ltd. At the inauguration, H. E. Sri Shah, also released
a CD ROM on the activities at the National Library. The occasion was made to
co-incide with the birth centenary of Professor Nirmal Kumar Bose, the
distinguished anthropologist and freedom fighter. An exhibition of his
publications was also organised.
