| Dr. Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan was a visionary | | | | Assembly in 1933, through Mr. Basher Ahmed Sayeed, |
| who realized the importance of library legislation for the | | | | the member of the Assembly an enthusiast of public |
| promotion and development of library movement in | | | | library system. |
| India. He was a far-sighted person fully devoted to the | | | | Salient features of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan's Model |
| cause of library and information science. He was fully | | | | Library Act are: - |
| aware regarding the role of libraries in the | | | | Except the Kerala Public Libraries Act, 1989, all the |
| enhancement of education in any society. He | | | | Acts, which have passed in India during the years 1948 |
| understood the impact of educational advancement | | | | to 1990, have the influenced of Model Public Libraries |
| for the development of country and the effectiveness | | | | Act drafted by Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. |
| and utility of libraries to promote education. | | | | Dr. S. R. Ranganathan made persistent efforts for |
| In 1924, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan visited a number of | | | | getting the library Acts passed by various States in |
| public libraries during his stay in United Kingdom. These | | | | India and dreamt of having it a land of libraries. He |
| visits enabled him to study the system, functioning, | | | | prepared a number of Model Bills for various States. |
| funding and services of various libraries. As a | | | | Following is a list of them: - |
| consequence he was convinced that library legislation | | | | He also prepared a Model Union Library Bill in 1948 and |
| alone would provide a systematic, well-knit and | | | | redrafted it in 1957. |
| efficient public library service. Since public libraries are | | | | India got the first Public Library Act through the |
| informal agencies of education, therefore it is obligatory | | | | ceaseless efforts of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. For the |
| for a welfare state to provide, maintain and develop a | | | | first time the Public Library Act was passed by the |
| network of public libraries to meet the needs of the | | | | Madras Legislature in 1948. There is an interesting |
| masses. A public library being essential a peoples' | | | | story behind the success of getting the Library Bill |
| institution is to be maintained out of public funds, which | | | | enacted in the third attempt in 1946 although the two |
| have to be collected most equitably. Only the | | | | attempts made earlier had failed. The first attempt |
| government has got the power and authority to | | | | was made by Janab Basher Ahmed Sayeed when he |
| impose and collect taxes through legal sanction, hence | | | | introduced the Bill in Madras Legislature in 1933 but it |
| library legislation is essential to collect the library cess. | | | | could not get through as the Madras Legislature was |
| Thus it is apparent that it is imperative for the | | | | dissolved in 1935. A second attempt was made in 1938 |
| government to enact library legislation for the | | | | but later on the World War-II began and the Bill could |
| establishment and smooth functioning of a network of | | | | not be adopted. In 1946, Mr. Avinashalingam Chettiar, |
| public libraries to cater to the educational needs of the | | | | who was an old student of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, |
| general public. | | | | became the Education Minister in Madras State. One |
| Dr. S. R. Ranganathan was the first person in India | | | | day, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan took a copy of the Model |
| who ever thought about the need for library legislation | | | | Library Act and went to meet the Minister at his house |
| in 1925 after returning to India from England. He drafted | | | | after his usual morning walk. The Minister was |
| a 'Model Library Act' and presented it for discussion at | | | | surprised to see his "Guru" early in the morning and |
| the First All Asia Educational Conference, which was | | | | enquired about the purpose of his visit. Dr. S. R. |
| held in Banaras on 27-30 December 1930. The | | | | Ranganathan replied that he came to demand his |
| participants of the conference were fully convinced | | | | "Gurudakshina". When the Minister promised to offer |
| with the advantages of draft legislation and the views | | | | the same, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan gave a copy of |
| of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. This 'Model Library Act' was | | | | Model Act and expressed his wish to have it enacted |
| published by the Madras Library Association during the | | | | into a law during his tenure as Minister. Mr. |
| year 1936. He later on amended the draft Act twice- | | | | Avinashalingam Chettiar piloted the Bill and got it |
| once in 1957 and again in 1972. This Model Library Act | | | | enacted in 1948. |
| was introduced in the shape of Bill in the Madras | | | | |