Public libraries matter.
A large majority of Indians are not truly included in the world’s largest democracy. Amid political polarisation, communal divisions and glaring inequality – social, economic and historic – our constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of freedom and equality are still denied. However, these ideals can move from abstract to real guarantees, with unhindered access to information and knowledge and with informed residents exercising democratic rights thus actively shaping their societies.
A robust public library infrastructure can go a long way in creating this mass of aware and active societies. Libraries provide access to information, knowledge, voices from the past and imaginations of the future. Libraries are spaces for communities to come together, think and shape our society together. Public libraries act as cultural centers which keep our histories alive. Critically, they can also connect residents, citizens and communities to the State and vice versa.
This is why we need policy and legislation that is committed to creating an active, inclusive, and free public library infrastructure. We need our governments, policies and laws to :-
- Recognize free & excellent library services for the people as a matter of right and access
- Drive implementation of free & excellent public libraries in all states, districts, villages.
- Provide a committed statutory source of funding for public library infrastructure
- Promote accountability by providing clear data and information on public libraries – where they are, how many there are, resources they house, information on libraries community outreach programs etc.
Free Libraries Network-FLN is drafting a People’s National Library Policy (PNLP-2024) – a rubric to invigorate and make public libraries relevant to India’s billion-plus population, with a focus on reaching those who have been excluded throughout history & in the current age. The PNLP-2024 imagines a free, autonomous, accessible and excellent public library system that becomes a foundational pillar of India’s education & information ecosystems.
Read the draft People’s National Library Policy (PNLP) 2024 document here. Please note that this is work-in-progress, requiring collaborative inputs from different domain experts. If referring to or reproducing this on any other platform, please request consent from FLN by emailing us at freelibrariesnetworkfln@gmail.com.
Read the Press Release here.
Reading Resources – About FLN and Public Libraries Infrastructure
FLN in media
- In Assam, This Transwoman’s Free Libraries Are Changing How Villages See Queer People Dec 2023| Teena Freeze | The Better India
- Can Free Public Libraries Catalyse Communities? Aug 2023| Purnima Rao | IDR
- Free libraries are a big hope in need of policy support: Aug 2023| Mridula Koshy | Livemint
- Free libraries for all: Community Library Project’s appeal to government, Aug 2023| Udbhav Seth | Indian Express
- Why free libraries are crucial for a democracy Aug 2023| Asiri Amin | Mint Lounge
- Bullish on India | Vision 2047: Free, inclusive and accessible public libraries for all residents of India Aug 2023 | Madhumita Rajan | MoneyControl
- ‘Look at reading from a rights perspective’: Why library activists want free public libraries Interview with Purnima Rao, Director FLN, Aug 2023 | Sayari Debnath | Scroll
- PUBLIC LIBRARIES MUST BE FREE! FREE LIBRARIES NETWORK (FLN) AT THE G20https://kafila.online/2023/07/31/public-libraries-must-be-free-free-libraries-network-fln-at-the-g20/, Jul 2023| Nivedita Menon | Kafila
- Why are Libraries Liberating Spaces? Jun 2023 | Purnima Rao | Indian Express
- Our Public Libraries need attention. Here is why we should we care. Feb 2023| Madhumita Rajan | Citizen Matters
- Classroom libraries in Bengaluru and Hyderabad open up the world of books for all kids Feb 2023| Shahnaz Sultana | Citizen Matters
- On The Community Library Project and the Free Libraries Network: Oct 2022 |Mridula Koshy, Purnima Rao and Zoya Chadha | India Cultural Forum
Resources- Library Practices and Reform
FLN Papers
- Paper on National Mission on Libraries (2014 ) – Presented in Indian Library Congress, Kannur
- Paper on Comparative Analysis of Library Legislations in three Indian States – Presented in India Library Congress, Kannur
- FLN Recommendations on converting Gram Panchayat Libraries into Information Centers in Karnataka
Videos:
- TCLN Youtube Channel : Watch videos on Role of Free Libraries in a crisis and many many videos on library programs that create free, inclusive, community owned libraries.
- FLN’s Youtube Channel – See webinar on Indian Library policy and legislation and also view our conversations with authors and publishers
Other Resources
- Video: https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/videos/report-launch-and-roundtable-discussion-putting-the-public-back-in-public-libraries-restructuring-the-governance-of-public-libraries-in-maharashtra/) Mar 2022 | Launch of Vidhi Report on Maharashtra public libraries
- Article: How much is India spending on its Public Libraries, Jun 2019 |Predeep Balaji, Mohan Raju J.S, Vinay M.S. | India Spend
- Research Paper: A Policy Review of Public Libraries In India, Mar 2018 |Preedip Balaji, Mohan Raju J.S, Vinay | IIHS
- Article: Public Libraries in India are doing well. Thank You | Feb 2014 |Spend