Question

Library development in india since independence

Answer 1

Library movement is a saga of organized growth and development of libraries giving

the details of establishment, maintenance and functioning of libraries in a geographical

proximity. These aspects viz., establishment, maintenance and functioning make a library a

growing organization. No country in the world can progress without providing free public

library services to the citizens. It is imperative on the part of the democratic country like

India to establish the service institutions like public libraries in order to strengthen the

democratization of information and to promote the social, cultural, historical and scientific

and technical knowledge in the public at large. The growth and development of public library

system in India may be studied by categorizing it broadly into three groups:

1. Ancient libraries;

2. Medieval Libraries : and

3. Modern libraries

Answer 2

Library development in India since independence:

During 13th to 17th century considerable efforts were also made to promote the growth of libraries and some of the important developments include establishment of the Imperial Library at Delhi with Amir Khusro as its Librarian. This indeed was the first public library in India.

In addition the British government established their domination in India and as a result the process of growth and development of libraries slowed down in the 19th century but the foundation of the Calcutta Public Library in 1835, which today is known as the National Library of India, is one of the landmarks and is an exception to the development of the libraries in 19th Century.