GUWAHATI, May 14 ? The State Government has decided to ?rename? the District Library, Guwahati as the State Central Library. However, the Government notification issued in this connection made it clear that this renaming would be ?without modification of the pay scale of any of the posts therein?. The notification (No AR 35/2000/1, dated Dispur, the 14th August/2001) said that this step was taken in the ?interest of public service?. It also did not mention anything about a separate District Library that the city has a legitimate claim to for its being a district headquarters. The Government decision however is viewed as a queer one by the conscious circles here. Several circles here have been resenting the fact that since the 1970s the State is not having its State Central Library. But, the State Government without going for serious steps to set up a State Central Library has gone for ?renaming? the District Library at Guwahati as the State Central Library!
It is learnt that the State Directorate of Library Services, about 11 years back proposed to the State Government that the District Library at Guwahati should be converted into the State Central Library. It is also learnt that at present, about 42 posts are lying vacant in the State Library Services. These include nine posts of librarians in the district libraries. There are instances that one librarian is looking after two to four district libraries. This is going on since the State Level Empowered Committee was constituted a few years back, to look after the affairs of the State Library Services, said knowledgeable circles here.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Library Services here has submitted a comprehensive scheme under the special non-matching fund of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRLF) for infrastructural development of the Directorate. The scheme includes a proposal for setting up new district and sub-divisional libraries necessitated by the carving out of the new districts and sub-division in the State. The proposal entails an estimated investment of Rs 21,32,640 for implementation. The new district library proposed under the scheme is Bongaigaon District Library (Rs 1,95,840) and the sub-divisional libraries are ? Nazira, Kaliabor, Bokakhat, Bajali, Bijni, Margherita, Gohpur, Bilasipara, Lakhipur and Bokajan (Rs 19,36,800).
Moreover, the scheme also includes proposals for establishment of children libraries in the block areas (estimated investment of Rs 108,45,120), training of librarians (Rs 2 lakh), procurement of furniture and storage materials for rural libraries (Rs 19.20 lakh for 192 rural libraries), modernisation of State Central Library with building (Rs 56.05 lakh) and modernisation and upgradation of existing science and technology section of the State Central Library which is functioning from the District Library, Guwahati (Rs 25 lakh).
Altogether 17 district libraries of the State will be provided with computer facilities and other facilities like colour TV, PA system and Intercom for making the library services more effective and result oriented, under the award of the Eleventh Finance Commission, the sources said. Meanwhile, the RRLF has provided some components of computer in the Directorate of Library Services and a computer unit has also been started in the Directorate, the sources said. Library professionals, including some librarians of the district libraries, have also been deputed for various crash courses with a view to training them in modern library management. Besides, an orientation course for the rural librarians has also been planned, said the sources.