Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF)
The Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) is the primary national agency in India dedicated to the promotion and support of public library services and systems. Established in May 1972 by the Department of Culture, Government of India, RRRLF functions as a central autonomous organization with the mission to spread library services across the country. It works in close association and active cooperation with state governments and union territory administrations to achieve its goals. Professional associations like the Indian Library Association (ILA) are also represented on the RRRLF.
1. Objectives and Role
RRRLF serves as a promotional agency, an advisory and consultancy organization, and a funding body for public library development in India. Its key objectives include:
- Promoting the library movement across the country.
- Enunciating a national library policy and helping to build a national library system.
- Providing both financial and technical assistance to libraries.
- Publishing relevant literature and acting as a clearinghouse for ideas and information on library development in India and abroad.
- Advising the Government of India on all matters related to public library development.
2. Administrative Structure
The Foundation is a central autonomous organization fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
- Governing Body: Its supreme policy-making body, "the Foundation," consists of 22 members nominated by the Government of India, including eminent educationists, librarians, administrators, and senior officials. The Minister of the Department of Culture, or a nominee, serves as the Chairman.
- State-Level Cooperation: RRRLF coordinates with states and union territories through a machinery called the State Library Planning Committee (SLPC) or State Library Committee (SLC), which is set up in each state at the Foundation's instance.
- Headquarters and Zonal Offices: The headquarters are located in Kolkata, with four zonal offices in Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chennai.
3. Financial Assistance Programmes
RRRLF provides financial support to public libraries through various matching and non-matching grant schemes. To participate, state and union territory governments are required to contribute a certain amount fixed by the foundation.
3.1 Matching Assistance Schemes
Assistance under these schemes is funded from resources shared between RRRLF and the State/Union Territory on a matching basis. The ratio of contribution varies:
- 50:50 for developed states.
- 60:40 for developing and lagging states.
- 90:10 for North-Eastern states.
These schemes provide assistance for:
- Building up an adequate stock of books and other reading materials.
- Developing Rural Book Deposit Centres and Mobile Library Services.
- Purchasing storage materials, reading room furniture, and equipment like photocopiers.
- Increasing library accommodation (buildings).
- Acquiring computers and accessories for library applications, as well as educational equipment like TVs and DVD players.
- Organizing seminars, workshops, training courses, book exhibitions, and library awareness programs.
3.2 Non-Matching Assistance Schemes
These schemes are funded directly by RRRLF without requiring a matching contribution from the state. They support:
- Building book stocks through central selection.
- Voluntary organizations (NGOs) that provide public library services.
- Public libraries celebrating Golden, Diamond, or Platinum Jubilees.
- The establishment of special sections for children, senior citizens, and neo-literates.
- Professional organizations and university LIS departments for organizing seminars and conferences.
- Collection and compilation of library statistics.
- Centrally sponsored libraries.
- The establishment of RRRLF Children's Corners.
4. Promotional Activities and Other Initiatives
Beyond providing grants, RRRLF engages in several activities to foster the qualitative improvement of library services.
- National Policy: It played a major role in the preparation of the National Policy on Library and Information System (NAPLIS).
- Awards and Fellowships: The Foundation institutes several awards to encourage excellence, including the annual Raja Rammohun Roy Award for the best article on public library development, awards for the best State Central and District Libraries, and the RRRLF Best Rural Library Award for each state. It also offers the "RRRLF Fellowship" to honour individuals who have made significant contributions to the library movement.
- Research and Publications: Its research cell undertakes projects and provides advisory services. Key publications include the Directory of Indian Public Libraries, the biannual journal Granthana, and the RRRLF Newsletter.
- Digital Initiatives: RRRLF has undertaken a digital library initiative to digitize rare books, pre-independence newspapers, and other valuable documents to create a National Digital Repository for public access.
- Skill Development: The Foundation is developing training modules for working librarians at senior, middle, and operational levels, covering strategic planning, ICT skills, and day-to-day library routines.