Kerala Granthasala Niyamam Chila Prarambha Chinthakal (Keralathile Granthasala Prasthanam - 3)

Based on the discussion in the earlier articles in this series, the earlier Library Bills of Kerala, suggestions on legislation given by experts like S.R. Ranganathan and from the experience of the working of other existing State library legislations; the present article provides necessary recommendations on the Library Legislation to be enacted in Kerala. It provides guidelines for developing a need based public library system in Kerala. The question of representation in the governing of library system to make it a truly democratic system is discussed in detail. The paper reminds that while enacting legislation we should have a clear objective. Should we give legal base to a traditional system which was popular or to a functional system which can extend all types of information services to the community is the basic question to be considered. The system envisaged by the suggested legislation is a democratic system with involvement of library and information science experts also. It will have a pattern which can be easily accommodated as a unit in the national library system.