The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Dearth of funds, staff affect libraries

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 03, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Dearth of funds, staff affect libraries

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, DEC. 2. Shortage of staff and delay in release of library cess by local bodies, including municipal councils, are the two reasons that are affecting the smooth functioning of libraries in the district.

Out of 135 sanctioned posts, 40 posts ranging from librarian to watchman are lying vacant. According to official sources, one Grade-I librarian, six Grade-III librarian, four record assistant, five attender, 11 rural librarian and one watchman posts have remained unfilled.

Libraries are being run with the assistance of attenders and also watchman where the librarian post is vacant. Readers are facing problems as watchmen generally are not qualified and lack knowledge of books and periodicals.

The problem can be overcome to an extent by appointing as many as 17 rural librarians on part-time basis, says the district Grandhalaya Samstha Chairman, Akula Sankar. "I am exhausted by writing letters to the Government on the issue,'' he adds.

Librarian posts at Bichkunda, Yellareddy, Kotagiri, Renjal, Bibipet, Machareddy, Argul, Gandhari, Kamarpally and Nagireddypet mandal headquarters have been lying vacant over the years. Except sub-staff recruitment, that too under the physically handicapped quota, all other recruitments have come to a grinding halt.

According to the district Grandhalaya Samstha secretary, T. Pullaiah, as per the Act 2/94, the services of those who have completed 10 years as part-timers have to be regularised.

"With five to six librarian posts falling vacant, we have tried in vain to get appointed part-timers in the regular posts,'' he says, and adds that "our recommendation has been pending with the Government for three years.''

Cess release

Local bodies, including panchayats and municipal councils, are supposed to release 8 per cent of their income as cess to libraries. However, barring a few, none is bothered to release the amount regularly. As a result, a number of libraries, particularly in rural areas, are going without important newspapers, magazines and periodicals.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh