National Mission on Libraries

Why is in news? National Mission on Libraries (NML) scheme provides financial assistance to state central library and district library

Ministry of Culture through its National Mission on Libraries (NML) scheme provides financial assistance to state central library and district library in each State and Union Territory.

For development of Library Sector in the country, Ministry of Culture through its National Mission on Libraries (NML) Scheme, under ‘Setting up of NML Model Library’ component, provides financial assistance to 1 State Central Library and 1 District Library in each State and Union Territory, as per the recommendation of the State Authority concerned, and 6 libraries identified by Ministry of Culture, for modernization and infrastructure development.

The objective of National Policy on Library and Information System (NAPLIS), as envisaged by the Committee, formed in 1985 under the chairmanship of Prof. D. P. Chattopadhyaya .

Objectives:

to foster, promote and sustain the organizations, availability and use of information and

to take steps for mobilizing and upgrading the existing Library and Information system and services, taking advantage of the latest advances of the technology;

and training of library & information personnel, have been fulfilled with the implementation of National Mission on Libraries (NML), especially through National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) component, under which Indian Culture Portal (ICP) was developed and launched.

National Mission on Libraries:

The National Mission on Libraries is an initiative of the Ministry of Culture under the Government of India, works to modernise and digitally link nearly 9,000 libraries across India to provide readers access to books and information.

Under the Scheme, the Mission will upgrade infrastructure of selected libraries and upgrade technology in 35 State Central Libraries and 35 District Libraries (to be identified by State Governments) and 6 Libraries under the Ministry of Culture.

Salient features:

This mission is designed for the students, researchers, scientists, professionals, children, artists and differently abled persons.

The Government of India appointed the Kolkata-based Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) as nodal body to implement this mission.

Under this mission, the National Virtual Library will be created to facilitate a comprehensive database on digital resources, carry out a census on the resources available in the libraries and conduct a study on the reading habits in different regions of the country.

Components:

Creation of national Virtual Library of India (NVLI)

Setting up of NML model libraries

Quantitative and Qualitative Survey of Libraries

Capacity Building for revamping the Public Library System & Services