The West Bengal Public Libraries Act 1979

The West BengalWest Bengal Bengal derived its name from Vedic king Vanga (Son of Vali). Banga was part of the Magadha Kingdom of Jarasandha and later Nanda dynasty. After the Garuda Dynasty ( history lost) the region was named Gouda Bhumi. Districts North 24 Parganas South 24 Parganas Bankura Birbhum CoochBihar Dakshin Dinajpur Darjeeling Hooghly Howrah Jalpaiguri Jhargram Kalimpong Kolkata Malda Murshidabad Nadia Paschim Burdwan Purba Burdwan Paschim Medinipur Purba Medinipur Purulia Uttar Dinajpur Alipurduar Govt Site Calcutta High Court KMC Public Libraries Act, 1979

West Bengal Act 39 of 1979

7th January, 1980

Assent of President of IndiaIndia Hind/ hend >hindia. Bharat Varsha (Jambudvipa used in Mahavamsha) is the name of this land mass. The people of this land are Sanatan Dharmin and they always defeated invaders. Indra (10000 yrs) was the oldest deified King of this land. Manu's jurisprudence enlitened this land. Vedas have been the civilizational literature of this land. Guiding principles of this land are : सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः । The place also been called Hindusthan in Pesia. The word Hendu is mentioned in Avesta. Read more first published in the Calcutta Gazette, Extraordinary, Part I dated the 7th January, 1980.

An Act to provide for the establishment of public libraries in the State of West Bengal and to regulate, guide, control and supervise the libraries as also to provide for a comprehensive rural and urban libraryLibrary (1) Chinese Library Classification (2025 Current Version), (2) Library of Congress Classification (3) Vatican Apostolic Library (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana) and information service in the State of West Bengal;

Whereas it is expedient to provide for the establishment of public libraries in the State of West Bengal and to regulate, guide, control and supervise the libraries as also to provide for a comprehensive rural and urban library and information service in the State of West Bengal;

It is hereby enacted as follows. –

CHAPTER I

Preliminary.

1. Short title, extent and commencement-(1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Public Libraries Act, 1979.
(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal.
(3) This section shall come into force at once and the remaining sections shall come into force on such date or dates as the State GovernmentGovernment HM Govt consists of the Prime Minister, their Cabinet, and junior ministers, supported by the teams of non-political civil servants that work in government departments. The American Federal Government consists of the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches. may, by notification in the OfficialOffice Αξίωμα > Officer > Office-bearer (1593) > Opus, officium, ex officio (Latin). Box-office (Cash Box). Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different sections of this Act.

2. Definitions-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, –

(aa) “Calcutta Metropolitan Library” means the DistrictDistrict India has 800 districts under 29 federal states and 8 union territories. Adilabad Agar-Malwa Agra Ahilyanagar Ahmedabad Aizawl Ajmer Akola Alappuzha Aligarh Alipurduar Alirajpur Alluri Sitharama Raju Almora Alwar Ambala Ambedkar Nagar Amethi Amravati Amreli Amritsar Amroha Anakapalli Anand Ananthapuramu Anantnag Anjaw Annamayya Anugul Anuppur Araria Ariyalur Arvalli Arwal Ashoknagar Auraiya Aurangabad Ayodhya Azamgarh Bagalkote Bageshwar Baghpat Bahraich Bajali Baksa Balaghat Balangir Baleshwar Ballari Ballia Balod Balodabazar-Bhatapara Balotra Balrampur Balrampur-Ramanujganj Banas Kantha Banda Bandipora Banka Bankura Banswara Bapatla Bara Banki Baramulla Baran Bareilly Bargarh Barmer Barnala Barpeta Barwani Bastar Basti Bathinda Beawar Beed Begusarai Belagavi Bemetara Bengaluru Rural Bengaluru Urban Betul Bhadohi Bhadradri Kothagudem Bhadrak Bhagalpur Bhandara Bharatpur Bharuch Bhavnagar Bhilwara Bhind Bhiwani Bhojpur Bhopal Bichom Bidar Bijapur Bijnor Bikaner Bilaspur Bilaspur Birbhum Bishnupur Biswanath Bokaro Bongaigaon Botad Boudh Budaun Budgam Bulandshahr Buldhana Bundi Burhanpur Buxar Cachar Central Chamarajanagar Chamba Chamoli Champawat Champhai Chandauli Chandel Chandigarh Chandrapur Changlang Charaideo Charkhi Dadri Chatra Chengalpattu Chennai Chhatarpur Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Chhindwara Chhotaudepur Chikkaballapura Chikkamagaluru Chirang Chitradurga Chitrakoot Chittoor Chittorgarh Chumoukedima Churachandpur Churu Coimbatore Cooch Behar Cuddalore Cuttack Dadra And Nagar Haveli Dahod Dakshin Bastar Dantewada Dakshin Dinajpur Dakshina Kannada Dhenkanal Dholpur Dhubri Dhule Dibang Valley Dibrugarh Didwana-Kuchaman Dima Hasao Dimapur Dindigul Dindori Diu Doda Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema Dumka Dungarpur Durg East East Garo Hills East Godavari East Jaintia Hills East Kameng East Khasi Hills East Siang East Singhbum Eastern West Khasi Hills Eluru Ernakulam Erode Etah Etawah Faridabad Faridkot Farrukhabad Fatehabad Fatehgarh Sahib Fatehpur Fazilka Ferozepur Firozabad Gadag Gadchiroli Gajapati Ganderbal Gandhinagar Ganganagar Gangtok Ganjam Garhwa Gariyaband Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi Gautam Buddha Nagar Gaya Ghaziabad Ghazipur Gir Somnath Giridih Goalpara Godda Golaghat Gomati Gonda Gondia Gopalganj Gorakhpur Gumla Guna Guntur Gurdaspur Gurugram Gwalior Gyalshing Hailakandi Hamirpur Hamirpur Hanumakonda Hanumangarh Hapur Harda Hardoi Haridwar Hassan Hathras Haveri Hazaribagh Hingoli Hisar Hnahthial Hojai Hooghly Hoshiarpur Howrah Hyderabad Idukki Imphal East Imphal West Indore Jabalpur Jagatsinghapur Jagitial Jaipur Jaisalmer Jajapur Jalandhar Jalaun Jalgaon Jalna Jalore Jalpaiguri Jammu Jamnagar Jamtara Jamui Jangoan Janjgir-Champa Jashpur Jaunpur Jayashankar Bhupalapally Jehanabad Jhabua Jhajjar Jhalawar Jhansi Jhargram Jharsuguda Jhunjhunu Jind Jiribam Jodhpur Jogulamba Gadwal Jorhat Junagadh Kabeerdham Kachchh Kaimur (Bhabua) Kaithal Kakching Kakinada Kalaburagi Kalahandi Kalimpong Kallakurichi Kamareddy Kamjong Kamle Kamrup Kamrup Metro Kancheepuram Kandhamal Kangpokpi Kangra Kannauj Kanniyakumari Kannur Kanpur Dehat Kanpur Nagar Kapurthala Karaikal Karauli Karbi Anglong Kargil Karimganj Karimnagar Karnal Karur Kasaragod Kasganj Kathua Daman Damoh Dangs Darbhanga Darjeeling Darrang Datia Dausa Davanagere Deeg Dehradun Deogarh Deoghar Deoria Devbhumi Dwarka Dewas Dhalai Dhamtari Dhanbad Dhar Dharashiv Dharmapuri Dharwad Dhemaji Katihar Katni Kaushambi Kendrapara Kendujhar Keyi Panyor Khagaria Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai Khairthal-Tijara Khammam Khandwa (East Nimar) Khargone (West Nimar) Khawzawl Kheda Kheri Khordha Khowai Khunti Kinnaur Kiphire Kishanganj Kishtwar Kodagu Koderma Kohima Kokrajhar Kolar Kolasib Kolhapur Kolkata Kollam Kondagaon Koppal Koraput Korba Korea Kota Kotputli-Behror Kottayam Kozhikode Kra Daadi Krishna Krishnagiri Kulgam Kullu Kumuram Bheem Asifabad Kupwara Kurnool Kurukshetra Kurung Kumey Kushinagar Lahaul And Spiti Lakhimpur Lakhisarai Lakshadweep District Lalitpur Latehar Latur Lawngtlai Leh Ladakh Leparada Lohardaga Lohit Longding Longleng Lower Dibang Valley Lower Siang Lower Subansiri Lucknow Ludhiana Lunglei MAUGANJ Madhepura Madhubani Madurai Mahabubabad Mahabubnagar Mahasamund Mahendragarh Mahesana Mahisagar Mahoba Mahrajganj Maihar Mainpuri Majuli Malappuram Malda Malerkotla Malkangiri Mamit Mancherial Mandi Mandla Mandsaur Mandya Munger Murshidabad Muzaffarnagar Muzaffarpur Mysuru Nabarangpur Nadia Nagaon Nagapattinam Nagarkurnool Nagaur Nagpur Nainital Nalanda Nalbari Nalgonda Namakkal Namchi Namsai Nanded Nandurbar Nandyal Narayanpet Narayanpur Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur(M C B) Mangan Mansa Marigaon Mathura Mau Mayiladuthurai Mayurbhanj Medak Medchal Malkajgiri Meerut Meluri Mirzapur Moga Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chouki Mokokchung Mon Moradabad Morbi Morena Mulugu Mumbai Mumbai Suburban Mungeli Narmada Narmadapuram Narsimhapur Nashik Navsari Nawada Nayagarh Neemuch New Delhi Nicobars Nirmal Niuland Niwari Nizamabad Noklak Noney North North 24 Parganas North And Middle Andaman North East North Garo Hills North Goa North Tripura North West Ntr Nuapada Nuh Pakke Kessang Pakur Pakyong Palakkad Palamu Palghar Pali Palnadu Palwal Panch Mahals Panchkula Pandhurna Panipat Panna Papum Pare Parbhani Parvathipuram Manyam Paschim Bardhaman Paschim Medinipur Pashchim Champaran Patan Pathanamthitta Pathankot Patiala Patna Pauri Garhwal Peddapalli Perambalur Peren Phalodi Phek Pherzawl Pilibhit Pithoragarh Poonch Porbandar Prakasam Pratapgarh Pratapgarh Prayagraj Puducherry Pudukkottai Pulwama Pune Purba Bardhaman Ranipet Ratlam Ratnagiri Rayagada Reasi Rewa Rewari Ri Bhoi Rohtak Rohtas Rudraprayag Rupnagar S.A.S Nagar Sabar Kantha Sagar Saharanpur Saharsa Sahebganj Saitual Sakti Salem Salumbar Samastipur Samba Purba Medinipur Purbi Champaran Puri Purnia Purulia Rae Bareli Raichur Raigad Raigarh Raipur Raisen Rajanna Sircilla Rajgarh Rajkot Rajnandgaon Rajouri Rajsamand Ramanagara Ramanathapuram Ramban Ramgarh Rampur Ranchi Ranga Reddy Sambalpur Sambhal Sangareddy Sangli Sangrur Sant Kabir Nagar Saraikela Kharsawan Saran Sarangarh-Bilaigarh Satara Satna Sawai Madhopur Sehore Senapati Seoni Sepahijala Serchhip Shahdara Shahdol Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar Shahjahanpur Shajapur Shamator Shamli Sheikhpura Sheohar Sheopur Shi Yomi Shimla Shivamogga Shivpuri Shopian Shrawasti Siaha Siang Siddharthnagar Siddipet Sidhi Sikar Simdega Sindhudurg Singrauli Sirmaur Sirohi Sirsa Sitamarhi Sitapur Sivaganga Sivasagar Siwan Solan Solapur Sonbhadra Sonepur Sonipat Sonitpur Soreng South South 24 Parganas South Andamans South East South Garo Hills South Goa South Salmara Mancachar South Tripura South West South West Garo Hills South West Khasi Hills Sri Muktsar Sahib Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore Sri Sathya Sai Srikakulam Srinagar Sukma Sultanpur Sundargarh Supaul Surajpur Surat Surendranagar Surguja Suryapet Tamenglong Tamulpur Tapi Tarn Taran Tawang Tehri Garhwal Tengnoupal Tenkasi Thane Thanjavur The Nilgiris Theni Thiruvallur Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvarur Thoothukkudi Thoubal Thrissur Tikamgarh Tinsukia Tirap Tiruchirappalli Tirunelveli Tirupathur Tirupati Tiruppur Tiruvannamalai Tonk Tseminyu Tuensang Tumakuru Udaipur Udalguri Udham Singh Nagar Udhampur Udupi Ujjain Ukhrul Warangal Wardha Washim Wayanad West West Garo Hills West Godavari West Jaintia Hills West Kameng West Karbi Anglong West Khasi Hills West Siang West Singhbhum West Tripura Wokha Y.S.R. Yadadri Bhuvanagiri Yadgir Yamunanagar Yavatmal Zunheboto Umaria Una Unakoti Unnao Upper Siang Upper Subansiri Uttar Bastar Kanker Uttar Dinajpur Uttara Kannada Uttarkashi Vadodara Vaishali Valsad Varanasi Vellore Vidisha Vijayanagara Vijayapura Vikarabad Viluppuram Virudhunagar Visakhapatnam Vizianagaram Wanaparthy Library in Calcutta declared by the State Government as such;

(bb) “CorporationCorporation A legally established entity that can enter into contracts, own assets and incur debt, as well as sue and be sued—all separately from its owner(s). The term covers both for-profit and nonprofit corporations and includes nonstock corporations, incorporated membership organizations, incorporated cooperatives, incorporated trade associations, professional corporations and, under certain circumstances, limited liability companies.” means the Calcutta Municipal Corporation established under the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980;

(bbb) “Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council” means the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council constituted under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Act, 1988;

(c) “Director” means the Director of Library Services appointed under section 6;

(d) “District” means a district of West Bengal and includes Calcutta as defined in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980;

* * * * * * *

(ddd) “District Library Officer” means the person appointed to be called the District Library Officer under section 16;

* * * * * *

(f) “Government” means the Government of the State of West Bengal;

(ff) “Library” means a public library,

(g) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

(h) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

* * * * * *

(j) “Public Library’ means a library open to the public, and includes –

(i) a Government Public Library,

(ii) the State Central Library,

(iii) a sponsored public library declared as such under section 16A, or

(iv) such other library as the Government may declare to be a public library;

(j1) “Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad” means the Mahakuma Parishad for the sub-division of Siliguri in the district of Darjeeling constituted under section 185B of the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973;

CHAPTER II

The State Library Council.

3. State Library Council and its functions-(1) The Government shall constitute a State Library Council (hereinafter referred to as the Council) for the purpose of advising the Government on’ the management of the State Central Library, on matters relating to policies and programmes for the developmentDevelopment ανάπτυξη and management of public libraries and public library system and on such other matters as may be referred to it.

(2) The Council shall advise the Government on any scheme prepared by a Local Library Authority under section 15 and also on the principles governing the aid to a library under this Act.

(3) The Council shall exercise such powerPower The amount of energy transferred or converted per unit of time. In the International System of Units, the unit of it is the watt, equal to one joule per second. The capacity of energy infrastructure is rated using watts, which indicate its potential to supply or consume energy in a given period of time. A Power-plant rated at 100 MW has the potential to produce 100 MWh if it operates for one hour. and perform such duties as may be prescribed.

4. Composition of the Council-(1) The Council shall consist of, –

(a) the Minister-in-charge of Library Services who shall be the Chairman of the Council;

(b) four persons to be elected by the members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from amongst themselves;

(c) five persons representing the interest of education, social work, cultural, literary or artistic activity, or literacy or scienceScience επιστήμη movement, to be nominated by the Government;

(d) two representatives of the BengalWest Bengal Bengal derived its name from Vedic king Vanga (Son of Vali). Banga was part of the Magadha Kingdom of Jarasandha and later Nanda dynasty. After the Garuda Dynasty ( history lost) the region was named Gouda Bhumi. Districts North 24 Parganas South 24 Parganas Bankura Birbhum CoochBihar Dakshin Dinajpur Darjeeling Hooghly Howrah Jalpaiguri Jhargram Kalimpong Kolkata Malda Murshidabad Nadia Paschim Burdwan Purba Burdwan Paschim Medinipur Purba Medinipur Purulia Uttar Dinajpur Alipurduar Govt Site Calcutta High Court KMC Library Association to be nominated by Executive Committee of the said Association from amongst its constituted members;

(e) two representatives of the employees of the libraries that will come under the purview of this Act to be elected in the manner prescribed;

(f) two persons to be nominated by the Government from amongst the members of the Local Library authorities;

(g) one District Library Officer to be ruminated by the Government;

(h) one Librarian of a District Library to be nominated by the Government;

(i) the Secretary to the Government in the Mass Education Extension Department or his nomineeNominee S/he is an individual or legal person instructed by another individual or legal person (“the nominator”) to act on their behalf in a certain capacity regarding a legal person.;

(j) the Director of Public Instruction, West Bengal or his nominee;

(k) four persons to be nominated by the Government who in its opinionOpinion A judge's written explanation of a decision of the court. In an appeal, multiple opinions may be written. The court’s ruling comes from a majority of judges and forms the majority opinion. A dissenting opinion disagrees with the majority because of the reasoning and/or the principles of law on which the decision is based. A concurring opinion agrees with the end result of the court but offers further comment possibly because they disagree with how the court reached its conclusion. are experts in library science and library service;

(l) the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (Social Education), West Bengal;

(m) the Director of Culture or his nominee;

(mm) the Director of Mass Education Extension or his nominee;

(n) the Librarian, State Central Library;

(o) the Director of the National Library, Calcutta, or his nominee;

(oo) the Director of the Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation or his nominee;

(p) the Director who shall be the ex officio Member-Secretary of the Council.

(2) The members, other than the ex officio members shall hold officeOffice Αξίωμα > Officer > Office-bearer (1593) > Opus, officium, ex officio (Latin). Box-office (Cash Box). for a period of four years:

Provided that if a nominated or an elected member ceases to hold the position by virtueVirtue Aristotelian model: Excess Mean Deficiency >Irascibility Gentleness Spiritlessness >Rashness Courage Cowardice>Shamelessness Modesty Diffidence>Profligacy Temperance Insensitiveness>Envy Righteous Indignation Malice>Greed Justice Loss>Prodigality Liberality Meanness>Boastfulness Honesty Self-deprecation>Flattery Friendliness Surliness>Subservience Dignity Stubborness>Luxuriousness Hardness Endurance>Vanity Greatness of Spirit Smallness of Spirit>Extravagance Magnificence Shabbiness> Rascality Prudence Simpleness. of which he was so nominated or elected, he shall automatically cease to be a member of the Council.

5. Functions of public library-A public library shall perform such functions and discharge such duties as the Government may determine.

6. Appointment and functions of Director-The Government shall appoint a Director of Library Services in accordance with the rules made under this Act and the Director shall, subject to the control of the Government, discharge the following functions :-
(a) maintain a register of public libraries and recognised libraries;

(b) manage the State Central Library and the public libraries established or maintained by the Government and superintendent and direct all matters relating to such libraries;

(bb) supervise and control, subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, all other public libraries;

(c) declare, by notification, from timeTime χρόνος. Judicial: Where any expression of it occurs in any Rules, or any judgment, order or direction, and whenever the doing or not doing of anything at a certain time of the day or night or during a certain part of the day or night has an effect in law, that time is, unless it is otherwise specifically stated, held to be standard time as used in a particular country or state. (In Physics, time and Space never exist actually-“quantum entanglement”) यमः , पुं, (यमयति नियमयति जीवानां फलाफलमिति । यम् + अच् । विश्वे च कलयत्येव यः सर्व्वायुश्च सन्ततम् । अतीव दुर्निवार्य्यञ्च तं कालं प्रणमाम्यहम् ॥यमैश्च नियमैश्चैव यः करोत्यात्मसंयमम् । स चादृष्ट्वा तु मां याति परं ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥ to time the names and addresses of the public libraries in the State;

(d) superintend and direct all matters relating to the work of all Local Library Authorities under this Act and take such steps as he may consider necessary, if any action taken by a Local Library Authority is in violation of any direction of the Government or is in contravention of any provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder;

(dd) disapprove any action or decision of a Local Library Authority, if such action violates any direction of the Government or such decision is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, and report the factFact Something तथ्य (In-formation) that truly exists or happens or some-thing that has actual existence. Circumstances: a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is. Indian Evidence Act: It means and includes— (i) anything, state of things, or relation of things, capable of being perceived by the senses; (ii) any mental condition of which any person is conscious. “facts in issue” means and includes any fact from which, either by itself or in connection with other facts, the existence, non-existence, nature or extent of any right, liability or disability, asserted or denied in any suit or proceeding, necessarily follows. of such disapproval in the subsequent meeting of the Council;

(e) submit to the Government and to the Council the annual report and other reports from time to time on the working of all public libraries and Local Library Authorities;

(f) inspect or cause to be inspected periodically through officers authorised in this behalf all the public  libraries;

(g) take steps for removal of defects in the working of any such library as the reports on inspection of the libraries by the officers authorised under clause (f) may disclose and take measures for enforcing the rules as may be made in this behalf and in appropriate cases obtain approval of the Government for de-recognition of the library or discontinuance of financial and other assistance to such library in the event of persistent failure to abide by the rules made under this Act or otherwise which in his opinion warrants such action;

(h) guide, control and supervise the functioning of the public libraries;

(hh) convene the meetings of the Council, keep the records of the proceedings thereof and report to the Council the decisions of the Government on all matters relating to public libraries and public library system;

(i) take appropriate steps for prosecution of persons responsible for any loss or injury caused to any public library;

(ii) implement the decisions of the Council after such decisions are approved by the Government and report to the Council about such implementation from time to time;

(j) perform such other duties and exercise such other powers in accordance with this Act or the rules made thereunder.

7. Directorate of Library Services-(1) There shall be a “Directorate of Library Services” to be constituted by the Government for the purposes of this Act with such numberNumber Αριθμός of officers and employees as may be prescribed.
(2) The officers and staff of the Directorate of Library Services shall be wholetime Government employees and the terms and conditions of their services shall be such as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER III

Local Library Authorities.

8. ConstitutionConstitution The Constitution encompasses the global system of rules governing constitutional authority. Simply reading selected provisions of the written text may be misleading. Understanding the underlying principles, such as federalism, democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, and respect for minorities, is crucial. Democratic institutions must allow for ongoing discussion and evolution, reflected in the right of participants to initiate constitutional change. This right entails a reciprocal duty to engage in discussions. Democracy involves more than majority rule, existing within the context of other constitutional values. Therefore, a profound understanding of these principles informs our appreciation of constitutional rights and obligations. Read more of Local Library Authorities-(1) For the purpose of organizing and administering public libraries in the State, there shall be constituted by the Government Local Library Authority for each district except the district of Darjeeling where there shall be a Local Library Authority for each of the areas within the jurisdictionJurisdiction Authority by which courts receive and decide cases. Limited Jurisdiction: the authority over only particular types of cases, or cases under a prescribed amount in controversy, or seeking only certain types of relief, the District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. Original Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction of the first court to hear a case. of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad.

(2) Each Local Authority except the Local Library Authority for each of the areas within the jurisdiction of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, shall consist of :-

(i) the District Magistrate of the district (other than Calcutta) or his nominee not below the rank of Sub-divisional Officer or, in the case of Calcutta, the Director, shall be the Chairman;

(ii) the District Library Officer, who shall function as ex officio Member-Secretary of the Local Library Authority;

(iii) the District Mass Education Extension Officer;

(iiia) the District Information Officer;

(iv) two representatives of the employees of different public libraries to be elected from amongst themselves in the manner prescribed;

(v) two members to be nominated by the Government from amongst the Commissioners of the municipalities, or Councillors of the Corporation, within the district;

(vi) two representatives of the district branch of the Bengal Library Association to be nominated by the Executive Committee of the said Association;

(vii) one person to be nominated by Sabhadhipati from amongst the members of the Zilla Parishad in the district or, in the case of Calcutta to be nominated by the Mayor of the Corporation from amongst the Councillors of the Corporation;

(viii) two persons nominated by the Government from amongst the members of the Panchayat Samitis in the district or, in the case of Calcutta, from amongst the persons interested in library services;

(ix) two persons nominated by the Government from amongst the members of the managing committees of public libraries;

(ixa) four persons representing the interest of education, social work, cultural, literary or artistic activity, or literacy or science movement, to be nominated by Government;

* * *

(xiii) two M.L.As. of the district to be nominated by the Government;

(xiv) the Librarians of District Libraries.

(2A) The Local Library Authority for the area within the jurisdiction of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad (hereinafter referred to in this sub-section as the area) shall consist of –
(i) the District Magistrate of the district of Darjeeling or his nominee, not below the rank of Sub-divisional Officer, who shall be the Chairman of the Local Library Authority;

(ii) one District Library Officer to be nominated by the Government from amongst the District Library Officers appointed under section 16, who shall function as the ex officio Member-Secretary of the Local Library Authority;

(iii) the District Mass Education Extension Officer;

(iv) the District Information Officer;

(v) two representatives of the employees of different public libraries in the area to be elected from amongst themselves in the manner prescribed;

(vi) two members to be nominated by the Government from amongst the Councillors of the Municipalities, or the Councillors of the Municipal Corporation, within the district of Darjeeling;

(vii) two representatives of the district branch of the Bengal Library Association to be nominated by the Executive Committee of the said Association;

(viii) one person to be nominated by the Sabhadhipati of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad from amongst the members of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad;

(ix) two persons to be nominated by the Government from amongst the members of the Panchayat Samitis in the area;

(x) two persons to be nominated by the Government from amongst the members of the managing committees of the public libraries in the area.

(xi) four persons representing the interest of education, social work, cultural, literary or artistic activity, or literacy or science movement, to be nominated by the Government;

(xii) two Members of the Legislative Assembly from the area, to be nominated by the Government;

(xiii) the Librarians of the District Libraries in the area.

(2B) The Local Library Authority for the area within the jurisdiction of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (hereinafter referred to in this sub-section as the area) shall consist of –
(i) the Principal Secretary of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, who shall be the Chairman of the Local Library Authority;

(ii) the District Library Officer who shall function as the ex officio Member-Secretary of the Local Library Authority;

(iii) the District Mass Education Extension Officer;

(iv) the District Information Officer;

(v) two representatives of the employees of different public libraries in the area to be elected from amongst themselves in the manner prescribed;

(vi) two members to be nominated by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council from amongst the Councillors of the Municipalities within the area;

(vii) two representatives of the district branch of the Bengal Library Association to be nominated by the Executive Committee of the said Association;

(viii) one person to be nominated by the Chairman of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council from amongst the Councillors of the Daijeeling Gorkha Hill Council;

(ix) two persons to be nominated by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council from amongst the members of the Panchayat Samitis in the area;

(x) two persons to be nominated by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council from amongst the members of the managing committees of the public libraries in the area;

(xi) four persons representing the interest of education, social work, cultural, literary or artistic activity, or literacy or science movement, to be nominated by the Government;

(xii) two Members of the Legislative Assembly from the area, to be nominated by the Government on the recommendation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council;

(xiii) the Librarians of the District Libraries in the area.

(3) The members, other than the ex officio members, shall hold office for a period of four years or till the Local Library Authority is reconstituted, whichever is earlier:
Provided that if a nominated or an elected member ceases to hold the position by virtue of which he was so nominated or elected, he shall automatically cease to be a member of the Local Library Authority.

9. Local Library Authority shall be a body corporate-Every Local Library Authority shall be a body corporate, by the name of the area for which it is constituted, shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and may sue or be sued in its corporate name, and shall have the right of acquiring, holding or transferring property, movable or immovable, of entering into contracts and of doing all things necessary, proper or expedient, for the purposes for which it is constituted.

10. Power of a Local Library Authority-A Local Library Authority may –
(a) provide suitable lands and buildings for public libraries and also the furniture, fittings, materials and conveniences requisite therefor;

(b) stock public libraries with different kinds of printed, audio-visual and reprographic materials and any other thing suitable for the purpose of public libraries;

(bb) maintain a register of the public libraries within its jurisdiction and inspect or cause to be inspected all such libraries;

(c) employ from time to time the officers and staff of the sponsored public libraries declared as such under section 16A in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed or directed by the Government;

(d) with the previous sanction of the Government, close or discontinue any public library organised or run by it or change the site thereof;

(e) recommend to the Director for withdrawal of recognition of, or discontinuance of Government grant to, any sponsored public library declared as such under section 16A;

(f) accept, with the previous section of the Director, any gift of booksBook Council of Trent (1545–1563) the Catholic Church created a Congregation of the Index, to declare a writing dangerous and to burn it, till it exists without notice. For Christians, the Bible, and for Muslims Quran, is only good for human guidance and nothing else. After Jesus, St. Peter and St. Paul are the most educated persons in the Christian world., or, with the previous sanction of the Government, any other gift or endowmentEndowment Donation (investment) of big funds in charity for School, College, Hospital, Development or Regime change. November 22, 1983, the US Congress passed the NED Act. for any purpose connected with its activities;

(ff) implement the decisions of the Government an submit to the Government the annual report and other reports from time to time on the working of the public libraries and the public library system within its jurisdiction;

(g) provide for lectures and seminars on topical subjects and the holding of classes, and

(gg) advise the public libraries about different service to be rendered and implement the directions of the Government regarding standards of public library services;

(ggg) develop and integrate public library system within its jurisdiction through supervision, control and inter-library co-operative programmes and activities;

(gggg) organize bookBook Council of Trent (1545–1563) the Catholic Church created a Congregation of the Index, to declare a writing dangerous and to burn it, till it exists without notice. For Christians, the Bible, and for Muslims Quran, is only good for human guidance and nothing else. After Jesus, St. Peter and St. Paul are the most educated persons in the Christian world. fairs, seminars, exhibitions and other similar programmes in different areas within its jurisdiction to popularize library services and to grow reading habits;

(ggggg) organize library services for neo-literates and children;

(h) in general, do everything necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

10A. Control and supersession of Local Library Authority-(1) If, at any time, the Government is of opinion that a Local Library Authority has failed to perform its functions or has exceeded or abused any of the powers conferred on it by or under this Act or the rules made thereunder, the Government may communicate the particulars thereof to that Local Library Authority asking it to remedy such failure, excess or abuse or to submit to the Government a satisfactory explanation for such failure, excess or abuse, within such time as may be fixed by the Government, and if the Local Library Authority does not remedy such failure, excess or abuse or submit the explanation to the Government within the time so fixed or if the explanation submitted by the Local Library Authority is not found satisfactory, the Government may, in consultation with the Council, by order supersede the Local Library Authority for such period as the Government may consider expedient:

Provided that such supersession shall not be for a period of more than one year and such period may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended by a period not exceeding one year.

(2) When a Local Library Authority is superseded under sub-section (1), then, with effect from the date or the order of supersession, –
(a) all the members of the Local Library Authority shall be deemed to have vacated their offices;

(b) the Government may appoint an Administrator or an Ad-hoc Committee consisting of such persons and in such manner as the Government may think fit, and, thereupon, the Administrator or the Ad-hoc Committee, as the case may be, shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the Local Library Authority.

(3) The Government may, at any time during the period of supersession, reconstitute the Local Library Authority in accordance with the provisions of section 8, and upon such reconstitution of the Local Library Authority, the Administrator or the Ad-hoc Committee, as the case may be, shall cease to exist and the Local Library Authority shall function in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

11. Vesting of properties in Local Library Authority-All properties, movable or immovable, acquired or held for the purpose of any sponsored public library declared as such under section 16A in any area shall vest in the Local Library Authority for that area without liabilities, if any, of such sponsored public library.

12. Regulations by Local Library Authority-Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, a Local Library Authority may, with the previous approval of the Government, make regulations generally to carry out the purposes of this Act and, without prejudice to the generality of this power, such regulations may provide for –
(a) the admission of persons to public libraries in its area on such conditions may Specify;

(b) requiring from persons desiring to use such libraries, any guarantee or security against injury to, or misuse, destruction or loss of the property of such libraries;

(c) the manner in which the property of such libraries shall be used to ensure the protection of such property from injury, misuse, destruction or loss; and

(d) authorise its officers and employees to exclude or remove from any such library any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder.

13. Power to Government to cancel or modify regulations-(1) If, at any time, the Government is of opinion that any regulation made under this Act by a Local Library Authority should be cancelled or modified either wholly or in part, it shall cause the reasons for such opinion to be communicated to such Local Library Authority, and shall specify a reasonable period within which such Local Library Authority may make any representation with regard thereto which it may think fit.
(2) After receipt and consideration of any such representation, or, if in the meantime no such representation is received, after the expiry of the specified period, the Government may, at any time, by notification cancel or modify such regulation, either wholly or in part.
(3) The cancellation or modification of a regulation under sub-section (2) shall take effect from such date as the Government may in the said notification direct, or if no such date is specified, then from the date of publicationPublication It includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public. of the said notification except as to anything done or suffered or omitted to be done before such date.

14. Committee or Committees of Local Library Authority-A Local Library Authority may appoint a committee or committees consisting of such of its members as it may deem fit to assist the Local Library Authority in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

15. Preparation of scheme-(1) As soon as possible after a Local Library Authority is constituted, and thereafter if required by the Government, every Local Library Authority shall prepare a scheme for establishing libraries and for spreading library service within its area and submit it to the Government for sanction. The Government may, in consultation with the Council, sanction it with such modifications and additions, it any, as he may think fit and the Local Library Authority shall give effect to the scheme as may be sanctioned by the Government.
(2) The Director may suo motu or on an application by the Local Library Authority concerned modify any scheme sanctioned under sub-section (1) or replace it by a new scheme.

15A. Power to give direction to the Local Library Authority-The Government may, from time to time, give such direction to a Local Library Authority as it may consider necessary for the purposes of this Act.

16. District Library Officer-The Government shall appoint a person to be called the District Library Officer on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. The District Library Officer shall exercise such power and perform such duties as may be prescribed.

16A. Sponsored public library-(1) Any library (other than a Government public library) functioning as a district library or sub-divisional library or town library or area library or rural library or primary unit library and receiving aid from the District Magistrate or the District Mass Education Extension Officer or the District Library Officer or any other officer of the Government towards the payment of salaries of its employees or for any other purpose, may be declared by the Government as a sponsored public library and thereupon the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall apply to such library.
Explanation-For the purposes of this sub-section, a “district library”, “sub-divisional library”, “town library”, “area library”, “rural library” or “primary unit library” shall respectively mean a library functioning as a district library, sub-divisional library, town library, area library, rural library or primary unit library in a district, by whatever name called, and recognised by the Government as such.
(2) Any library which is not a Government public library may, on application in the prescribed manner, be declared by the Government as a sponsored public library and thereupon the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall apply to such library.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), the Government may, if it considers necessary so to do, sponsor any library and declare it to be a sponsored public library and thereupon the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall apply to such library.

Explanation-For the purpose of this sub-section, a library established under a scheme referred to in section 15 shall be deemed to be a sponsored public library.
(4) Any library, not being a public library, registered or deemed to have been registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961, or any library, not being a public library, established or managed by any society or association of individuals, registered or deemed to have been registered under that Act shall, on being declared to be a sponsored public library, cease to be a library registered or deemed to have been registered under that Act or a library established or managed by such society or association of individuals and thereupon the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall apply to such library.
(5) The sponsored public libraries shall be managed m the manner prescribed.
(6) The employees of the sponsored public libraries, as approved by the District Magistrate or the District Mass Education Extension Officer or the District Library Officer or the District Advisory Council for Social Education or the Director of Public Instruction or the Local Library Authority or the Director of Library Services, shall be deemed to be the employees of the Local Library Authority and the terms and conditions of service of such employees shall be such as may be prescribed.

16B. Dissolution of Local Library Authority for former district or any committee appointed by it upon creation of more than one district by dividing former district-(1) If and when the Government creates more than one district by dividing any existing district (hereinafter referred to as the former district) under any lawLaw νόμος:  Positive command of sovereign or divine. One can be ruled either by a Statute, a Statue, or a Statement. Legislation is the rule-making process by a political or religious organisation. Physics governs natural law. Logical thinking is a sign of a healthy brain function. Dharma is eternal for Sanatanis. Judiciary > Show me the face, and I will show you the law. Some people know how to bend the law rather than break it. Law Practice. Read a scholarly article for the time being in force, the Government shall dissolve the Local Library Authority for the former district with effect from such date as the Government may be notification appoint.
(2) Upon the dissolution of the Local Library Authority for the former district under sub-section (1). –
(a) the members of the said Local Library Authority shall be deemed to have vacated their respective offices, and

(b) any committee appointed by the said Local Library Authority under section 14 shall stand dissolved, and the members of the said committee shall be deemed to have vacated their respective offices, forthwithForthwith In Rao Mahmood Ahmad Khan v. Ranbir Singh , has held that the word ‘forthwith’ is synonymous with the word immediately, which means with all reasonable quickness. When a statute requires something to be done ‘forthwith’ or ‘immediately’ or even ‘instantly’, it should probably be understood as allowing a reasonable time for doing it. The interpretation of the word ‘forthwith’ would depend upon the terrain in which it travels and would take its colour depending upon the prevailing circumstances which can be variable. (Shento Varghese v. Julfikar Husen & Ors [2024] 6 S.C.R. 409). Anwar Ahmad v. State of UP [1976] 1 SCR 779 : AIR (1976) SC 680; Nevada Properties (P) Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra & Anr. [2019] 15 SCR 223 : (2019) 20 SCC 119; State of Maharashtra v. Tapas D. Neogy [1999] Supp. 2 SCR 609 : 1999 INSC 417; Ravinder Kumar & Anr. v. State of Punjab [2001] Supp. 2 SCR 463 : (2001) 7 SCC 690; Bhajan Singh and Ors. v. State of Haryana [2011] 7 SCR 1 : 2011 INSC 422; HN Rishbud v. State of Delhi [1955] 1 SCR 1150 : (1954) 2 SCC 934; Sk. Salim v. State of West Bengal [1975] 3 SCR 394 : (1975) 1 SCC 653; China Apparao and Others v. State of Andhra Pradesh [2002] Supp. 3 SCR 175 : (2002) 8 SCC 440; Navalshankar Ishwarlal Dave v. State of Gujarat [1993] 3 SCR 676 : 1993 Supp. 3 SCC 754; Rao Mahmood Ahmad Khan v. Ranbir Singh [1995] 2 SCR 230 : (1995) Supp. 4 SCC 275; Bidya Deb Barma v. District Magistrate [1969] 1 SCR 562 : (1968) SCC OnLine SC 82. .

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, the Local Library Authority for the former district or any committee appointed by the said Local Library Authority under section 14 shall, until the said Local Library Authority is dissolved under sub-section (1), continue to exercise all the powers, discharge all the duties and perform all the functions of the Local Library Authority or the committee, as the case may be, under this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder as if the former district has not been divided into more than one district.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, –
(a) anything done or any action taken by the Local Library Authority for the former district under this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder prior to the dissolution of the said Local Library Authority under sub-section (1), and

(b) any regulations made or orders issued under the provisions of this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder,

and continuing in force immediatelyForthwith In Rao Mahmood Ahmad Khan v. Ranbir Singh , has held that the word ‘forthwith’ is synonymous with the word immediately, which means with all reasonable quickness. When a statute requires something to be done ‘forthwith’ or ‘immediately’ or even ‘instantly’, it should probably be understood as allowing a reasonable time for doing it. The interpretation of the word ‘forthwith’ would depend upon the terrain in which it travels and would take its colour depending upon the prevailing circumstances which can be variable. (Shento Varghese v. Julfikar Husen & Ors [2024] 6 S.C.R. 409). Anwar Ahmad v. State of UP [1976] 1 SCR 779 : AIR (1976) SC 680; Nevada Properties (P) Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra & Anr. [2019] 15 SCR 223 : (2019) 20 SCC 119; State of Maharashtra v. Tapas D. Neogy [1999] Supp. 2 SCR 609 : 1999 INSC 417; Ravinder Kumar & Anr. v. State of Punjab [2001] Supp. 2 SCR 463 : (2001) 7 SCC 690; Bhajan Singh and Ors. v. State of Haryana [2011] 7 SCR 1 : 2011 INSC 422; HN Rishbud v. State of Delhi [1955] 1 SCR 1150 : (1954) 2 SCC 934; Sk. Salim v. State of West Bengal [1975] 3 SCR 394 : (1975) 1 SCC 653; China Apparao and Others v. State of Andhra Pradesh [2002] Supp. 3 SCR 175 : (2002) 8 SCC 440; Navalshankar Ishwarlal Dave v. State of Gujarat [1993] 3 SCR 676 : 1993 Supp. 3 SCC 754; Rao Mahmood Ahmad Khan v. Ranbir Singh [1995] 2 SCR 230 : (1995) Supp. 4 SCC 275; Bidya Deb Barma v. District Magistrate [1969] 1 SCR 562 : (1968) SCC OnLine SC 82.  before such dissolution, shall, upon the constitution under sub-section (1) of section 8 of the Local Library Authority for the districtsDistrict India has 800 districts under 29 federal states and 8 union territories. Adilabad Agar-Malwa Agra Ahilyanagar Ahmedabad Aizawl Ajmer Akola Alappuzha Aligarh Alipurduar Alirajpur Alluri Sitharama Raju Almora Alwar Ambala Ambedkar Nagar Amethi Amravati Amreli Amritsar Amroha Anakapalli Anand Ananthapuramu Anantnag Anjaw Annamayya Anugul Anuppur Araria Ariyalur Arvalli Arwal Ashoknagar Auraiya Aurangabad Ayodhya Azamgarh Bagalkote Bageshwar Baghpat Bahraich Bajali Baksa Balaghat Balangir Baleshwar Ballari Ballia Balod Balodabazar-Bhatapara Balotra Balrampur Balrampur-Ramanujganj Banas Kantha Banda Bandipora Banka Bankura Banswara Bapatla Bara Banki Baramulla Baran Bareilly Bargarh Barmer Barnala Barpeta Barwani Bastar Basti Bathinda Beawar Beed Begusarai Belagavi Bemetara Bengaluru Rural Bengaluru Urban Betul Bhadohi Bhadradri Kothagudem Bhadrak Bhagalpur Bhandara Bharatpur Bharuch Bhavnagar Bhilwara Bhind Bhiwani Bhojpur Bhopal Bichom Bidar Bijapur Bijnor Bikaner Bilaspur Bilaspur Birbhum Bishnupur Biswanath Bokaro Bongaigaon Botad Boudh Budaun Budgam Bulandshahr Buldhana Bundi Burhanpur Buxar Cachar Central Chamarajanagar Chamba Chamoli Champawat Champhai Chandauli Chandel Chandigarh Chandrapur Changlang Charaideo Charkhi Dadri Chatra Chengalpattu Chennai Chhatarpur Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Chhindwara Chhotaudepur Chikkaballapura Chikkamagaluru Chirang Chitradurga Chitrakoot Chittoor Chittorgarh Chumoukedima Churachandpur Churu Coimbatore Cooch Behar Cuddalore Cuttack Dadra And Nagar Haveli Dahod Dakshin Bastar Dantewada Dakshin Dinajpur Dakshina Kannada Dhenkanal Dholpur Dhubri Dhule Dibang Valley Dibrugarh Didwana-Kuchaman Dima Hasao Dimapur Dindigul Dindori Diu Doda Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema Dumka Dungarpur Durg East East Garo Hills East Godavari East Jaintia Hills East Kameng East Khasi Hills East Siang East Singhbum Eastern West Khasi Hills Eluru Ernakulam Erode Etah Etawah Faridabad Faridkot Farrukhabad Fatehabad Fatehgarh Sahib Fatehpur Fazilka Ferozepur Firozabad Gadag Gadchiroli Gajapati Ganderbal Gandhinagar Ganganagar Gangtok Ganjam Garhwa Gariyaband Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi Gautam Buddha Nagar Gaya Ghaziabad Ghazipur Gir Somnath Giridih Goalpara Godda Golaghat Gomati Gonda Gondia Gopalganj Gorakhpur Gumla Guna Guntur Gurdaspur Gurugram Gwalior Gyalshing Hailakandi Hamirpur Hamirpur Hanumakonda Hanumangarh Hapur Harda Hardoi Haridwar Hassan Hathras Haveri Hazaribagh Hingoli Hisar Hnahthial Hojai Hooghly Hoshiarpur Howrah Hyderabad Idukki Imphal East Imphal West Indore Jabalpur Jagatsinghapur Jagitial Jaipur Jaisalmer Jajapur Jalandhar Jalaun Jalgaon Jalna Jalore Jalpaiguri Jammu Jamnagar Jamtara Jamui Jangoan Janjgir-Champa Jashpur Jaunpur Jayashankar Bhupalapally Jehanabad Jhabua Jhajjar Jhalawar Jhansi Jhargram Jharsuguda Jhunjhunu Jind Jiribam Jodhpur Jogulamba Gadwal Jorhat Junagadh Kabeerdham Kachchh Kaimur (Bhabua) Kaithal Kakching Kakinada Kalaburagi Kalahandi Kalimpong Kallakurichi Kamareddy Kamjong Kamle Kamrup Kamrup Metro Kancheepuram Kandhamal Kangpokpi Kangra Kannauj Kanniyakumari Kannur Kanpur Dehat Kanpur Nagar Kapurthala Karaikal Karauli Karbi Anglong Kargil Karimganj Karimnagar Karnal Karur Kasaragod Kasganj Kathua Daman Damoh Dangs Darbhanga Darjeeling Darrang Datia Dausa Davanagere Deeg Dehradun Deogarh Deoghar Deoria Devbhumi Dwarka Dewas Dhalai Dhamtari Dhanbad Dhar Dharashiv Dharmapuri Dharwad Dhemaji Katihar Katni Kaushambi Kendrapara Kendujhar Keyi Panyor Khagaria Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai Khairthal-Tijara Khammam Khandwa (East Nimar) Khargone (West Nimar) Khawzawl Kheda Kheri Khordha Khowai Khunti Kinnaur Kiphire Kishanganj Kishtwar Kodagu Koderma Kohima Kokrajhar Kolar Kolasib Kolhapur Kolkata Kollam Kondagaon Koppal Koraput Korba Korea Kota Kotputli-Behror Kottayam Kozhikode Kra Daadi Krishna Krishnagiri Kulgam Kullu Kumuram Bheem Asifabad Kupwara Kurnool Kurukshetra Kurung Kumey Kushinagar Lahaul And Spiti Lakhimpur Lakhisarai Lakshadweep District Lalitpur Latehar Latur Lawngtlai Leh Ladakh Leparada Lohardaga Lohit Longding Longleng Lower Dibang Valley Lower Siang Lower Subansiri Lucknow Ludhiana Lunglei MAUGANJ Madhepura Madhubani Madurai Mahabubabad Mahabubnagar Mahasamund Mahendragarh Mahesana Mahisagar Mahoba Mahrajganj Maihar Mainpuri Majuli Malappuram Malda Malerkotla Malkangiri Mamit Mancherial Mandi Mandla Mandsaur Mandya Munger Murshidabad Muzaffarnagar Muzaffarpur Mysuru Nabarangpur Nadia Nagaon Nagapattinam Nagarkurnool Nagaur Nagpur Nainital Nalanda Nalbari Nalgonda Namakkal Namchi Namsai Nanded Nandurbar Nandyal Narayanpet Narayanpur Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur(M C B) Mangan Mansa Marigaon Mathura Mau Mayiladuthurai Mayurbhanj Medak Medchal Malkajgiri Meerut Meluri Mirzapur Moga Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chouki Mokokchung Mon Moradabad Morbi Morena Mulugu Mumbai Mumbai Suburban Mungeli Narmada Narmadapuram Narsimhapur Nashik Navsari Nawada Nayagarh Neemuch New Delhi Nicobars Nirmal Niuland Niwari Nizamabad Noklak Noney North North 24 Parganas North And Middle Andaman North East North Garo Hills North Goa North Tripura North West Ntr Nuapada Nuh Pakke Kessang Pakur Pakyong Palakkad Palamu Palghar Pali Palnadu Palwal Panch Mahals Panchkula Pandhurna Panipat Panna Papum Pare Parbhani Parvathipuram Manyam Paschim Bardhaman Paschim Medinipur Pashchim Champaran Patan Pathanamthitta Pathankot Patiala Patna Pauri Garhwal Peddapalli Perambalur Peren Phalodi Phek Pherzawl Pilibhit Pithoragarh Poonch Porbandar Prakasam Pratapgarh Pratapgarh Prayagraj Puducherry Pudukkottai Pulwama Pune Purba Bardhaman Ranipet Ratlam Ratnagiri Rayagada Reasi Rewa Rewari Ri Bhoi Rohtak Rohtas Rudraprayag Rupnagar S.A.S Nagar Sabar Kantha Sagar Saharanpur Saharsa Sahebganj Saitual Sakti Salem Salumbar Samastipur Samba Purba Medinipur Purbi Champaran Puri Purnia Purulia Rae Bareli Raichur Raigad Raigarh Raipur Raisen Rajanna Sircilla Rajgarh Rajkot Rajnandgaon Rajouri Rajsamand Ramanagara Ramanathapuram Ramban Ramgarh Rampur Ranchi Ranga Reddy Sambalpur Sambhal Sangareddy Sangli Sangrur Sant Kabir Nagar Saraikela Kharsawan Saran Sarangarh-Bilaigarh Satara Satna Sawai Madhopur Sehore Senapati Seoni Sepahijala Serchhip Shahdara Shahdol Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar Shahjahanpur Shajapur Shamator Shamli Sheikhpura Sheohar Sheopur Shi Yomi Shimla Shivamogga Shivpuri Shopian Shrawasti Siaha Siang Siddharthnagar Siddipet Sidhi Sikar Simdega Sindhudurg Singrauli Sirmaur Sirohi Sirsa Sitamarhi Sitapur Sivaganga Sivasagar Siwan Solan Solapur Sonbhadra Sonepur Sonipat Sonitpur Soreng South South 24 Parganas South Andamans South East South Garo Hills South Goa South Salmara Mancachar South Tripura South West South West Garo Hills South West Khasi Hills Sri Muktsar Sahib Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore Sri Sathya Sai Srikakulam Srinagar Sukma Sultanpur Sundargarh Supaul Surajpur Surat Surendranagar Surguja Suryapet Tamenglong Tamulpur Tapi Tarn Taran Tawang Tehri Garhwal Tengnoupal Tenkasi Thane Thanjavur The Nilgiris Theni Thiruvallur Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvarur Thoothukkudi Thoubal Thrissur Tikamgarh Tinsukia Tirap Tiruchirappalli Tirunelveli Tirupathur Tirupati Tiruppur Tiruvannamalai Tonk Tseminyu Tuensang Tumakuru Udaipur Udalguri Udham Singh Nagar Udhampur Udupi Ujjain Ukhrul Warangal Wardha Washim Wayanad West West Garo Hills West Godavari West Jaintia Hills West Kameng West Karbi Anglong West Khasi Hills West Siang West Singhbhum West Tripura Wokha Y.S.R. Yadadri Bhuvanagiri Yadgir Yamunanagar Yavatmal Zunheboto Umaria Una Unakoti Unnao Upper Siang Upper Subansiri Uttar Bastar Kanker Uttar Dinajpur Uttara Kannada Uttarkashi Vadodara Vaishali Valsad Varanasi Vellore Vidisha Vijayanagara Vijayapura Vikarabad Viluppuram Virudhunagar Visakhapatnam Vizianagaram Wanaparthy created by dividing the former district, be applicable to the Local Library Authority for each such district and shall continue in force in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder until they are repealed or amended.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, –
(a) the properties, fundsFund The term refers to assets of every kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, however acquired, and legal documents or instruments in any form, including electronic or digital, evidencing title to, or interest in, such assets. and liabilities of the Local Library Authority for the former district, and

(b) the officers and staff of the public libraries employed by the said Local Library Authority under clause (e) of section 10 and holding office immediately before the dissolution of the said Local Library Authority,

shall be determined and apportioned between the Local Library Authorities constituted under sub-section (1) of section 8 for the districts created by dividing the former district, in such manner as may be prescribed, and such determination and apportionment shall be final.

CHAPTER IV

Finance and AccountsAccounting It is the process of recording, summarizing, analyzing, and reporting financial transactions of a business or individual. Types of Accounts > Assets- Things you own (cash, property) Liabilities- Things you owe (loans, bills) Equity- Owner’s stake in the business Revenue- Money you earn (sales, services) Expenses- Costs to run the business .

17. Library FundFund The term refers to assets of every kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, however acquired, and legal documents or instruments in any form, including electronic or digital, evidencing title to, or interest in, such assets.-(1) Every Local Library Authority shall maintain a library fund out of which payments under this Act shall be met.
(2) There shall be credited to the library fund the following sums –
(a) contributions, gifts and income from endowments made to the Local Library Authority for the benefit of public libraries;

(b) grants which the Government may make for the general maintenance or for any specific purpose connected with libraries or social educations;

(c) any amount collected by the Local Library Authority under any rules or regulations made under this Act.

17A. Government grant-The Government may from time to time make such grant to a Local Library Authority or a library for management (including payment of salaries of employees), maintenance, improvement and development of library services or for any other purpose as it may think fit.

17B. Power to Local Library Authority or library to incur expenditure-A Local Library Authority or a library may incur expenditure out of the library fund for carrying out the purposes of this Act:
Provided that no expenditure shall be incurred by a Local Library Authority or a library without the prior approval of the Government for any purpose other than a purpose for which a grant has been made by the Government under section 17A.

18. Accounts and audit-(1) An account of all assets and liabilities of each Local Library Authority and of all contributions, gifts and income from endowments, grants made by the Government, any amount collected by the Local Library Authority under any rules made under this Act shall be maintained in the prescribed manner.
(2) The account shall be audited annually in such manner and by such officer or authority as may be prescribed. A copy of the audit report shall be submitted to the Government in the prescribed manner.

CHAPTER V

Miscellaneous

19. Validation of acts-No act of the Council or of a Local Library Authority shall be deemed to be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy, initial or subsequent, or any defect, in the constitution of the Authority.

20. Reports and returns-Every Local Library Authority and every person-in-charge of a public library shall submit such reports and returns and furnish such information to the Director or any person authorised by him in this behalf as the Director or the person so authorised may, from time to time, require.

21. Inspection of public libraries-The Director or any person authorised by him in this behalf may inspect any public library or any institution attached thereto for the purpose of satisfying himself the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder are duly carried out.

22. Penalty-(1) Whoever contravenes any prevision of this Act or of any rules made thereunder shall, if so other penalty is provided therefor in any other Act, be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees or if having been previously convicted of such offence is again convicted of an offence under this Act, with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
(2) No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except on a written complaint made by the Director or by any person authorised by the Director in this behalf.

23. Power to make rules-(1) The Government may, in consultation with the Council, by notification, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the matters which may be or are required to be prescribed or made by rules.
(3) All rules made under this section shall, as soon as may be, after they are made, be laid before the House of the State Legislature for 14 days and shall be subject to such modification as the State Legislature may make during the session in which they are so laid.

24. Amendment to the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867-The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, shall, in its application to the State of West Bengal, be amended as follows :-
(1) for clause (a) of the first paragraph of section 9, the following clause shall be substituted :-
“(a) in any case, within one calendar month after after the day on which any book shall first be delivered out of the press, three such copies and:”

(2) in section 11, for the first paragraph, the following paragraph shall be substituted :-
“Out of the three copies delivered pursuant to clause (a) or the first paragraph of section 9 of this Act, one copy shall be sent to the Central Library, and the remaining copies shall be disposed of in such manner as the Government may from time to time determine.”

NOTE

The Minister – in – charge of Mass Education Extension & Library Services , Government of West Bengal looks after the affairs of library and information services State Library Council (SLC) is the chief advisory committee to advise the Government on the policies and programmes concerning library services in the State. The Minister – in – Charge is the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee

Connected Laws

Setting up of New Library in West Bengal Rules

West Bengal Sponsored Public Library Management Rules 2005