The use of this work has been encouraging, since the first edition in 1955.
Perhaps it has remained without a competitor till to date on the subject Public
Library Organization, with special reference to India' and also the valuable
comments on the book made by Mr. Edward Sydney, the UNESCO'S First Consultant on
the Delhi Public Library Project, 1950-51, in the Foreword added to the value
and extensive use of the book. Under these circumstances; the writer has
once again prepared a revision of this work, bearing in mind (1) that the
book has been out of Print since 1980, and (2) the Raja Rammohun Roy
Library Foundation set up in 1972 by the Government of India, its draft on the
National Policy on the Library and Information services, 1984, the Policy
statement of the Indian Library Association, the Planning Commission working
Group Report Modernization of Libraries and Information Services' based on a
system, 1985, and finally the setting up of the Chattopadhyaya Committee, 1986
by the government of India and its Comprehensive Report on the National
Policy on the Library and Information System for India, and its acceptance to a
very large extent by the Government of India are important factors that
influenced this revision.
Foreword
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
1. The Library and the Community Its Purposes and Functions
2. Principles Governing the formation of a Library
3.Public Library Services, Past and Present
4. The Government of a Public Library: Its Legal Basis and Security
5. The Public Library Laws of India: A Comparative Study
6. Library Finance and Other Resources
7. Library Personnel: Their Education and Training; Their Duties and
Responsibilities
8. The library Building; Its Planning and Architecture
9. Library Furniture, Shelving and Equipment
10. Books, Their Choice and Collection
11. Library Rules and Regulations
12. Basic Pattern of Library Service and Service Points
13. The Mobile Library
14. Library Services For Children
15. The Future of the Public Library in India
Selected Bibliography
Appendices
Unesco Public Library Manifesto
Charter of the Book
The Madras Public Libraries Act, 1948(Madras Act XXIV of 1948)
Shoeshine county Library Mobile Library Service Minimum Standards for Public
Library Systems, 1966
Book Production Statistics Language wise
Professor C. G. Viswanathan, an eminent writer of valuable books on various
aspects of Library and Information Science for over the last forty years, is so
familiar in professional circles that any fresh introduction would be a
repetition.Recently,the Andhra University Walt air, where he commenced his
professional career, felicitated him, at the Golden Jubilee of the department of
Library and Information Science in April 1987 by awarding a citation and a
silver plaque. The Indian Library Association at its Golden Jubilee Celebration,
1984, awarded a citation, a silver medal and elected him an Honorary Fellow of
the Indian Library Association in Grateful recognition of his valuable services
to the cause of education of Library and Information Science, and establishing
the library science department at the university level, at Banaras Hindu
University in 1941 and at the Luckhow University in 1972, The Government of
Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with the U. P. Library Association presented a
commemoration volume in two parts on Professor Viswanathan's 75th birthday in
appreciation of his scholarly and valuable Professor Viswanathan that stimulated
hard- pressed colleagues to give up their spare time to assemble the information
that formed the basis of the national reports.' this is stated in relation to
the first issue of Bibliographical Services throughout the World , published by
UNESCO, Paris. Professor Veswanathan has taught an international community of
Library and Information Science students in the United Kingdom, where he had the
privilege of being the first visiting professor of library and information
science from India, at the London University College School of Librarianship and
Archives. The profession of librarianship as a whole is grateful to him for his
valuable literary works and wishes many more years of literary activity.
