Lok Sabha Question No. 365 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Modernisation of Libraries
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: RAMESH BIDHURI, MEENAKASHI LEKHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †365 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## MODERNISATION OF LIBRARIES

## †365. SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  libraries  being  maintained  by  the  Government  across  the  country including Rajasthan;
- (b) the expenditure incurred per annum on such libraries during the last three years;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  on  any  scheme  to  modernize  these libraries including Delhi Public Library and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  open  any  extension  branch  of  Delhi  Public Library; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## ANSWER

- (a) Most of Govt. Public Libraries function under the administrative control of the respective state library authorities.  There are six libraries under administrative control of Ministry of Culture namely:
- i. National Library
- ii. Central Secretariat Library
- iii. Central Reference Library
- iv. Delhi Public Library
- v. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library
- vi. Rampur Raza Library

There is no library in Rajasthan under the control of Ministry of Culture.

(b) The annual expenditure incurred on the libraries under Ministry of Culture during the last three years is at Annexure I.

(c)  Every  year  grant-in-aid  general  for  purchase  of  books,  preservation/conservation, digitization, office expenses etc., grant-in-aid for creation of capital assets is provided to all libraries under the administrative control of Ministry of Culture including Delhi Public Library. Grants released to all these libraries during last three years is at Annexure I.

National  Mission  on  Libraries  under  its  Model  Library  scheme  provides  financial assistance to one State Central Library and one District Library in each State/UT and also to the  six  libraries  under  the  administrative  control  of  Ministry  of  Culture  for  the  following purposes:

- i. Improvement of infrastructure
- ii. Up-gradation of Technology & Modernization of Services
- iii. Creation of facilities for specially abled groups
- iv. Procurement of Reading resources to meet local need and Advocacy and Outreach programmes

(d) & (e) There are at present 35 branches and 62 mobile library points under Delhi Public Library in Delhi. Delhi Public Library proposes to open two branches - one at Ashok Vihar Phase-2 and one at Bawana in Delhi after completion of construction of library buildings.

Annexure - I Annexure referred in reply to Part (b) & (c) of the Unstarred Question No. †365 for 18.12.2017

on Modernisation of Libraries.

(Rs. in Lakhs)

|   S. No. | Name of the Library                  |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |
|----------|--------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|        1 | National Library                     |   3713.92 |   3807.79 |   4112.33 |
|        2 | Central Secretariat Library          |    201.67 |    208.94 |    194.5  |
|        3 | Central Reference Library            |    271.64 |    253.69 |    358.18 |
|        4 | Delhi Public Library                 |   2476.05 |   2700.78 |   2838.13 |
|        5 | Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library |    403.75 |    432.15 |    593.35 |
|        6 | Rampur Raza Library                  |    788.54 |    544.2  |    473.81 |

******