S R Ranganathan And Madras Public Libraries Act (Rules, Criticism, Letter & Reforms)

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Madras Public Libraries Act, 1948, is one of the first acts to be enacted for the development of Public Libraries. However, due to inherent problems the act could not be implemented in its totality. The Public Library system in Tamilnadu is being run in the charge of Ex-officio Directors or Officers-on-Special Duty. The author with first hand knowledge as the first and only professionally trained Director of Public Libraries for ten years, provided vivid account of various facets of the Act. The book has nine chapters dealing with various facets of the Act. First chapter gives a very brief account of Dr SR Ranganathan. The second chapter deals with library legislation and the Madras Library Association. Chapter three discusses the Madras Public Libraries Act. Evaluation of the Act has been discussed at length in chapter four, while chapter five covers the Ex-officio Directors of Public Libraries, including Special Officers. Chapter six discusses the only Professional Director of Public Libraries (The Author) and his contributions to the Public Libraries cause. Chapter Seven deals with the Officers-on Special Duty who looked after the duties of the Director of Public Libraries, while chapter eight is a message to Libraries. The Model Act 1948 is given in chapter 9. which also includes references and correspondence of Dr SR Ranganathan with Author on the Madras Public Libraries Act.

V Thillainayagam holds MA (Economics) from Nagpur University and MLS from Delhi University. He also possesses Bachelor of Training Born on 15 July 1925 in Chinnamanur of Madurai District, he had wide and varied experience in the field. He is referred to as the first Director of Public Libraries (only) professional to hold the post). Tamilnadu during July 1972 to August 1982. Prior to this he held many positions including Head, ILS and Librarian, Connemera Public Library, Madras, Deputy Librarian, Annamalai University and Librarian, Directorate of Public Instruction. He drafted many schemes for organisation of libraries at various levels; served on Staff Selection Committees at local, state and national levels and as member on many state and national committees besides winning the prestigious Ranganathan-Kaula Award and many awards from Tamilnadu government. He authored more than 18 books on various aspects of library science as well as in other fields. He has authored and presented about 600 papers in various forums. He is one of the members of the Review Committee on the Madras (Tamil Nadu) Public Libraries Act, 1948 appointed recently by Tamilnadu Government.

Dr. S.R. Ranganathan disciples, (students) are accused of not doing enough, on their own, to continue blazing research and quality service Dr. SRR initiated and inspired. For the Annual Dr. SRR's Birthday meeting on 12-8-1997, RRT chose Shri Thillainayagam, as he wrote a most pulsating article on the implementation of the Madras Library Act, at ILA Bangalore Conference 1994, which was declared the best article of the Seminar. I never knew that it is only the tip of the iceberg! Because of many unforeseen artificial compulsions in 1996, cancellation of ticket ensued by sheer misunderstanding, which not even airways could remedy. With no uncertainty RRT persisted in 1997 and succeeded to have Shri Thillainayagam as one of the speakers, the other being Shri P. Jayarajan, Head of British Council libraries at Delhi. After going through the script of Thillainayagam, I realise that if a mountain exists, rainshadow region is next to it. Dr. SRR is great by all counts, but Thillainayagam is also great, unfortunately in the rainshadow region. The method of work of the pre- independence generation of India, he personifies. Dates and events as milestones, he builds the history of the Madras Library Act, come alive, as an experience. I did talk to Dr. SRR, wrote to him, but I am sure so much of intimate detail went behind his memory. Thillainayagam brings it out, in Membership of committees, their notings, the process and procedures, the play of democracy in decision making at the legislature, and Dr. SRR's letters on the subject to him. At 75 years, what meticulous care! And rendering the history with life pulsation. Nay, you can hear the heart beat, though 50 years after! In all humility, there is no parallel to such effort of excellence, historically held aloft. Greatmen are overshadowed by Greatermen. But the brand to which Thillainayagam belongs, his love and admiration overcame the ego, and turned to service to the Greaterman, without any clash. Dr. SRR had the good fortune of getting help and sacrifice from really Great talented men, no less dedicated, but their names will remain in the shadows, unless the present generation identifies them through Research.

The Friendship of the Good, when continually cultivated is like the beauty of a Book when studied again and again' (Thirukkural Couplet 783) read in white letters on the black board, when VETHI entered into class room of standard 3 on the first day of the reopening of the school, after summer vacation in 1933, made him to understand efficacy and efficiency of the book! The address of K.S. Srikantan in Chinnamanur Panchayat Board on 20 May 1936 listened by VETHI as the 'library legislation is a progress of potential factor to foster the library movement which is the key to the advancement of Education for the the way to the wonderful world of books. of India' showed The receipt and study of Five Laws of Library Science given by librarians A G Solomon and Mrs. Hess, while studying in the Madurai American College during 1944-48, unwinded' the potency and opportunity for social service through library service around the world. The advice given and read by VETHI in one of the articles of Melvil Dewey on the first day of entering the library profession on 18.7.1949 in the Madras University, that 'every professional must write three books atleast-one on the fundamentals of the profession, second on the history of profession, and the third on the biographies of pioneers of the profession' made an indelible mark on the mind to fulfil the same in the course of his career. The address of SRR on libraries in South Indian Association, Madras in June 1951, which ended in oft quoted anecdote of 'Librarian alone will have the opportunity to go to Heaven, as his service alone is unselfish nowadays' pointed out, that the library profession was something worthy than any other profession! The Correspondence with SRR (50 letters out of 117 letters) concerning the Madras Public Libraries Act made VETHI to dive deep to read, understand and assimilate the perception and precept of him on the origin, development, progress and effect etc., disclosed an interesting story to unwind for the benefit of others. The invitation of CVS, the President of Ranganathan Research Trust, Delhi in his letter No.CVS/SRR Day/Ve Thi/97 dated 24.4.97 to VETHI to talk and present the same in white and black on 'Madras Public Libraries Act and Dr. SRR's perception of its work, and experiences on the ground, concerning the Act on the basis of conversations and corrspondences, with SRR made the presentation of the same positive! The impressions VETHI had with the Act from 18.7.49 to Date as Number One Man of the Public Library System of Tamil Nadu, are presented here for the consideration of contemporary colleagues in the profession, and a warning to the junior professionals with reference to their work under State Public Libraries Act, with salutations to the personalities who contributed their mite for the improvement of library service to the people. VETHI is indebted to Shri C V Subba Rao and his colleagues involved in the Ranganathan Research Trust for all that they are striving to make our people conscious of SRR and his work, for the cause of library movement.

**Contents and Sample Pages**