PUBLIC LIBRARIES

DEFINITION:

“A public library is a library that is open to the public and funded by taxes at the municipal,
district covering several municipalities, county, state, or federal level”.[ CITATION New18 \l
1033 ]

“A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is funded from public

sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are
also civil servants”. (Wikipedia)

OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Many individuals and institutions have deliberated on and defined the objectives and
functions of the public libraries. It's functions as:

1. Self Education Centre

2. Centre for Life Long Learning
3. Community Information Centre
4. Recreation Centre
5. Cultural Centre for Society
6. Centre to support Economic Development
7. Centre for Community Skills Development
8. Centre for Strengthening Democratic Spirit. [ CITATION Sin15 \l 1033 ]

IFLA/UNESCO PUBLIC LIBRARY MANIFESTO 1994

International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)

and UNESCO presented IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 1994 and recognized the
value of public libraries in fostering spiritual values of all people regardless of social,
economic, and cultural differences.
ORIGINS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION

Many claims have been made for the title of "first public library" for libraries in
various countries, with at least some of the confusion about what should be considered a
true "public library."

The early libraries open to the public in the West were the collections of Greek and
Latin scrolls, which were available in the dry sections of the many buildings of the Roman
Empire. However, they were not lending libraries.

The "halls of science" run by different Islamic sects in many cities of North Africa and
the Middle East in the ninth century were open to the public. Some of them had written
lending policies, but they were very restrictive.

The later European university libraries were not open to the general public, but
accessible by scholars.

A selection of significant claims made for early libraries operating in a way at least
partly similar to the modern public library is listed below by country, then by date. [ CITATION
New18 \l 1033 ]

UNITED KINGDOM

In Bristol, an early public library was that of the Kalendars or Kalendaries, a

brotherhood of clergy and laity who were attached to the Church of All-Hallowen or All
Saints. Records show that in 1464, provisions were made for a library to be erected in the
house of the Kalendars.

1608 A.D

Norwich library established in 1608 is said to be the first provincial town library under
municipal control.

Other early town libraries of the UK include those of

Ipswich (1612),

Bristol (1612),

Leicester (1632).
Although by the mid-nineteenth century, England could claim 274 subscription libraries and
Scotland, 266.

1850 A.D Public Libraries Act

Foundation of the modern public library system in the UK is the Public Libraries Act
1850. Prior to this, the municipalities of Warrington and Salford established libraries in their
museums, under the terms of the Museums Act of 1845. Manchester was the first library to
operate a free lending library without subscription in 1852. Norwich lays claims to being the
first municipality to adopt the Public Libraries Act 1850.

The Scottish-American philanthropist and businessman, Andrew Carnegie, helped to

increase the number of public libraries starting in the late-nineteenth century. [ CITATION
New18 \l 1033 ]

UNITED STATES

1636. A.D

Some American historians stated that the Pulic Library is an American invention and
states that the first town library was established in Boston, Massachusetts in 1636.
The Boston Public Library still operates today.

1731A.D

The Library Company of Philadelphia was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin  as a

subscription library, which may have been the first truly public library is still in existence as a
nonprofit, independent research library.

1803 A.D

Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury was the first free public library in the United
States, was established in 1803.

1849 A,D

The New York Public Library in New York City, begun in 1849 and consolidated in
1901, one of the most important public libraries in the United States.

Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie donated the money for the

building of thousands of Carnegie libraries in English-speaking countries in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth century. A total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built
between 1883 and 1929 including 1,689 in the United States, 660 in the United
Kingdom and Ireland, 125 in Canada, and others in Australia, .(Wikipedia)

PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN SUB-CONTINENT

Libraries established in subcontinent by the kings and capitalists functioned like
private institutions and the admission was limited. Service to the general public had to wait
for the British.
In 1808, the Government of Bombay proposed to register libraries, which were to be
given copies of books published from the “funds for the encouragement of literature” .
[ CITATION Zah08 \l 1033 ]
During the first half of the 19th century, the three presidency towns of Bombay, Calcutta,
and Madras had public libraries. Of these, the establishment of the public library at Calcutta
in 1835 was the most significant. This was the library which later developed into the
National Library of India. [ CITATION Zah08 \l 1033 ]
Examples from Muslim majority part include

General Library, Sukkur (1835),

Liaquat Hall Library, Karachi (1854) and

Khaliq Dina Hall Library, Karachi (1856).

In last quarter of nineteenth century Local Self Govt. Act 1885 directed district
boards and municipalities to establish libraries. The greatest achievement of this
period was the establishment of the Punjab Public Library at Lahore (1884) by Lt
Governor Sir Charles Atchison.

The second phase of public library development began in the early years of the
twentieth century. The enactment of the Imperial Library Act in 1902, followed by the
establishment of the Imperial Library in 1903 by Lord Curzon. Baroda Library
Movement led the way between 1906 and 1911 by establishing an elaborate library
system.

The message was carried forward by the Punjab Library Association, and it was at
the behest of this group that the All-India Library Conference Seventh Session, held at
Lahore on 27 December 1929, took a keen interest in the subject and adopted the
following resolutions:

(1) The Conference urges upon the Government of India to open public libraries in all
towns and villages of India.
(2) The Conference appeals to all the ruling princes, landholders, trustees of charitable
and religious institutions and the general public to support the existing libraries.
(3) The Conference recommended to open public libraries for at least twelve hours a day.
(4) The Conference urges upon the Central Government to supply free of charge to all
public libraries copies of all government publications.
Thus in the early 1930s some 1500 village libraries for use by children and adults were
established in school buildings throughout the Punjab.

By 1935 the government had established about 1600 rural libraries attached to
middle schools, where teachers acted as librarians after school hours .

It is estimated that by 1942 there were 13,000 village libraries in India”.

The formation of the All-India Public Libraries Association in 1920 may also be
counted as one of the achievements of this Conference. The Association promoted public
library consciousness by holding periodic conferences and through its official organ, the
Indian Library Journal.

With the formation of the provisional government in 1937 paved the way for the
Library Development Committee (1939-40) under the chairmanship of A.A.A. Fyzee.

S.R. Ranganathan drafted two development plans, Post-War Reconstruction of

Libraries in India (1947) and National Library System: A Plan for India (1946).[ CITATION Sye \l
1033 ]

THE EARLY POST-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

At independence Pakistan inherited only one public library of significance, the

Punjab Public Library, Lahore. Khan Bahadur Asadullah, former librarian of the Imperial
Library was acquired as early as 1947 and as died in 1949 so little was achieved prior to
his death.
 The establishment of the Directorate of Archives and Libraries within the
Ministry of Education in 1949 proved helpful and a number of public libraries,
particularly in the Punjab,i.e

1947- Municipal Library, Vehari

1948-Central Library, Bahawalpur

1952-Sindh Provincial Library, Hyderabad

1952-Municipal Library, Dera Ghazi Khan

1953-Municipal Library, Faisalabad

1954-Iqbal Library, Jhelum

PUBLIC LIBRARY PLANNING

Since independence efforts have been directed by both government and library
associations towards establishing a public library system in Pakistan. Library experts,
including foreigners, have been commissioned by the government to prepare
development plans of different kinds, and a few library associations also have prepared
and submitted their own plans to the authorities.

As early as 1956, L.C. Key, an Australian expert, suggested the establishment of

a provincial library in each provincial capital connected with the National Library of
Pakistan.

The 1960s were characterised by a number of false starts and well-meant plans that failed
to materialize i.e to establish a demonstration public library in Pakistan similar to one at
Delhi, as a joint project of the Government of Pakistan and Unesco and a central public
library in Karachi prepared by the Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries
(SPIL) in 1967.

A noteworthy development of the early 1970s was the appearance of the New
Education Policy 1972-80, which among other revolutionary recommendations included a
proposal for the establishment and support of 50,000 People’s Oriented Public Libraries in
all Pakistan. David G. Donovan, former Director of Library of Congress prepared a feasibility
report which he submitted in 1974.

ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES DECADE WISE

Before-1947 18.00 5%
1948 - 57 14.00 4%
1958 – 67 34.00 10%
1968- 77 58.00 17%
1978 – 87 52.00 15%
1988 - 97 35.00 10%
1998 - 07 19.00 6%
2008-013 23.00 7%
Not reported 83.00 25%
Total 336.00 100%

PUBLIC LIBRARIES: THE PRESENT SITUATION

According to the Directory of Libraries in Pakistan (1996), there were 302 public
libraries in the country and 336 in 2005[ CITATION Moh15 \l 1033 ] .Such libraries are
maintained by local bodies such as metropolitan or municipal corporations, municipal or
town committees, cantonment boards and district councils.

INADEQAUTE STOCK

Book stock in the public libraries is inadequate. This was recognized more than a
decade ago, when Donovan found the book collection old and “no longer relevant to
community interest and needs” (Donovan, 1984, p. 5). According to a 1996 Pakistan Library
Association survey,with few exceptions the library collections are outdated, and the annual
rate of acquisitions is very low.

POOR ORGANIZATION

The stock in the majority of libraries lacks proper organization. However, in

recent years emphasis has been placed on technical processing. The Dewey decimal
classification is the most used system, but there is considerable variation with regard
to choice of edition.

ABSENCE OF PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY STAFF

 The lack of proper organization of resources can be attributed in part to the absence
of professional library staff. As a consequence, many libraries are run by clerical-level staff.
However, the situation is changing, particularly in large metropolitan areas where library
science graduates are increasingly being employed. This is due in part to gradual
improvements in salaries and professional status of librarians in the public service.

INADEQUATE FINANCE

Inadequate finance has been a major constraint on the growth, development and
functioning of public libraries. Traditionally the authority concerned has made an allocation
for this purpose in the annual budget. Thus the “Punjab Government allowed all local bodies
to spend 1 per cent of their total revenue on development of libraries and reading rooms
which is not being utilized properly. Punjab Library Foundation, which provides grants-in-aid
to almost all such libraries. Efforts are being made to establish library foundations in other
provinces. The libraries maintained by associations, societies or private libraries in other
provinces receive grants-in-aid from their respective governments.

POOR LIBRARY SERVICES:

The present system has not created a good impression with respect to services offered by
public libraries. These services are oriented primarily towards readers who are functionally
literate, and generally consist simply of issuing books to be read at home or in the reading
room. Libraries maintained by associations, societies or private libraries have much better
services, including those for children and the handicapped, mobile library and audiovisual
services.

MANAGEMENT PROBLEM

Management of this category of library varies. In smaller towns, where the library is
also small, the librarian works directly under the municipal administrator. In large
municipalities or metropolitan corporations the librarian reports to some other officer,
usually the chief executive officer or director of information. Library committees exist in
some urban areas; for instance, the Managing Committee at the Punjab Public Library, the
country’s oldest and largest public library, has considerable say in financial matters and in
the appointment and promotion of library staff. Such committees have been found useful in
maintaining liaison between the library and individuals or organizations interested in
improving library service. For example the library board at the Karachi Metropolitan
Corporation in the late 1960s contributed significantly to popularising the concept of public
library service and the development of a library system in the metropolis.

SOME IMPORTANT LIBRARIES

18
Punjab Public Library, Lahore 84
Dayal Singh Trust Library, Karachi* 1908
Liaquat Memorial Library, Karachi 1950
Central Library, Bahawalpur* 1948
Sachal Sarmast Sindh Government
Library, Khairpur Mirs 1903
Quaid-e-Azam Library, Lahore 1981
Public Library, Peshawar 1946
Provincial Library, Balochistan, Quetta 1956
Liaquat Hall Library, Karachi 1850
Municipal Library, Rawalpindi 1973
Darus Salam Library, Lahore 1966
Public Library, Municipal Committee,
Bagh Langay Khan, Multan 1886
Public Library, Sujawal 1961
Islamabad Public Library, Islamabad* 1950
Municipal Library, Dera Ghazi Khan* 1952
Sir Shah Nawaz Khan Bhutto Memorial
Library, Larkana 1975

CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT

Public library development has progressed inadequately in Pakistan,

notwithstanding the interest shown by government, individuals and the profession.
From the foregoing survey it appears that several factors have contributed to this
unsatisfactory state of affairs in public libraries. It is suggested that each of these be
addressed in turn by appropriate professional and government instrumentalities if
Pakistan is ever to have a system of public libraries adequate to the needs of its
population.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS

The most important factor has always been the economic underdevelopment of the
country which bedevils the path of progress. The rapidly increasing population (66 million in
1971, 84 million in 1981, 118 million in 1992 and an estimated 144 million currently) has
outstripped the rate of economic growth and created numerous social problems. Under
such circumstances public library development has been unable to attract the desired
attention of government, and the finance required for a proper expansion of library services
has been unavailable because of more pressing national priorities. However, if libraries are
viewed as part of the problem and of the solution (and if they lobby effectively for such
recognition), then they may receive a more just proportion of the nation’s limited
development resources.

PROBLEMS OF EDUCATION AND LITERACY

A significant obstacle to the development and expansion of public library service is

the high rate of illiteracy. The exponents of the idea of free book service to all have ignored
the basic fact that the introduction of compulsory education is crucial. Even in England the
public library movement could not gain momentum before 1870, when compulsory
education was introduced. There were only 35 libraries prior to that date, although the
Public Library Act had been passed in 1847. Therefore, illiteracy must be addressed, using
both schools and libraries as resources for dealing with this problem.

LACK OF PROPER PLANNING

Between 1956 and 1984 at least nine public library development plans were prepared by
library associations, government-sponsored experts or other groups. Unfortunately, none of
these could be even partially implemented. The following review of library planning in
Pakistan reveals the facts in this regard, and inter alia carries suggestions for more realistic
planning in the future.

(1) Library planners, both foreign experts and local librarians, have been idealistic in
their recommendations. Foreign consultants have tended to base
recommendations on the library situation in their own countries, assuming a
similar pattern in the formulation of indigenous plans for Pakistan.
(2) Plans have been prepared single handedly. Even the last plan, Public Library
Facilities in Pakistan, which is said to be the result of a group effort, is based
almost exclusively on the input of a single individual.
(3) In a majority of cases these plans have been prepared in isolation and without
consideration of earlier schemes.
(4) All plans have advocated library development along vertical lines, at a time when
there is no effective central library authority at the pinnacle. Some of the plans
have made no provisions for library services for the rural population, which
comprises two-thirds of the country’s population.
(5) There is an absence of effective library legislation, despite the fact that there
have been calls for the enactment of such legislation at various conferences and
seminars.
(6) There is a lack of cooperation, with no central library authority to coordinate
library services at the various levels. There is a Department of Libraries,
Government of Pakistan, and there is a Directorate of Libraries, Punjab, but the
scope of their activities is not known; and other provinces lack even these
facilities.
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