Public libraries in Bangladesh

Znt. Libr.

Rev.

(1984)

16,

125-141

Public Libraries M.

in Bangladesh

H. KHAN*

Bangladesh is an old country with a new name. In 1947, at the time of partition1 of India the eastern part of Bengal province with Sylhet district of Assam province became East Pakistan. Twenty-four years later, on 16 December 1971 she took the name Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state, after a nine-month war of separation with Pakistan from 26 March to 15 December 1971 .2 Bangladesh, with an area of only 55 598 square miles, is located between 24.34”North latitude and between 88.81” and 92.41” East longitude. She is bounded by the Indian states (north, west and east), Burma (south-east) and the Bay ofBengal (south). The total population of the country according to a current estimate is 85.6 million. The density ofthe population is about 1540 per square mile. The population is increasing at an alarming rate of 2.5% per annum and the total is likely to reach 126.5 million in the year 2000.3 Bangladesh enjoys a typical monsoon climate. Much of the land of this country is low-lying plains. They are watered by a five-river system and are subject to catastrophic floods. Ethnically Bangladesh is said to be a melting pot of many races. Bengalis are not homogenous in their origins. They are a mixture of Aryan, Dravidian, Mongolian, Arabian and Turkish bloods. More than 80% of the population are Muslim. The remaining are Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. The national and official language of Bangladesh is Bengali. Almost 100% of the people ofthis country speak Bengali. Although immediately

*Department

of Library

Science,

Bayero

University,

P.M.B.

301 I, Kane,

Nigeria.

1 In the caseofindependenceofthe Indiansubcontinent from British rule the word “partition”and in the case of Bangladesh becoming a sovereign state independent of Pakistan the word “separation” has been preferred for this paper. 2 For a detailed account see Syed Sajad Husain (1975). Bangladesh. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Macropaedia, 15th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 687-694. Chicago. 3 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (1979). Statistz~alpocket book of Bangladesh, 1979, p. 117. Dhaka. 002@7837/84/020125+

17 $03.00/O

0

1984 Academic

Press Inc.

(London)

Limited

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after the emergence of Bangladesh, Bengali was declared as the state language, English is so deeply rooted that it still holds ground in the c0untry.l Bangladesh is passing through the thirty-eighth year of partition and the thirteenth year of separation from Pakistan. During both the phases of independence quite significant development has taken place in education as in other fields. The rate ofliteracy has increased: the number of educational institutions and their enrolment has also been increased. There had been a tremendous increase in expenditure on education: from 50 million Taka in 1950 to 780 million Taka in 1965 recording an annual rate of 20% .2 After separation, the Government of Bangladesh went further, and decided to spend 20% of the national budget on education.3 But unfortunately very little attention was given to libraries and library development within this expenditure. Libraries and library service seem buried within the category of “others” which apparently include archaeology, archives, libraries, religion, culture, language on such a negative attitude of development, museums, etc. 4 Lamenting the government on libraries, what M. S. Khan observed in 1967 is still true today. He wrote:5 cannot be brushed off with usual The matter of libraries . . . is one sore point which plea of the situation being due to the oft-referred-to start from the “scratch”. Any reasonable view would hold that there should have been many distinct advantages in building up a library system in the country ab initio. But the opportunity for this was not seized and after well-nigh twenty years of overall rigorous existence there is yet a perceptible and sad vacuum in the library field.

Bangladesh has a rich cultural background. It is a meeting place of three cultures: Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim. All of these cultures encourage education, reading and obviously libraries. The Hindu God Visr;lu in one of his 7000 stanzas of Puraqas says that any well meaning person “should make his day successful by reading”.6 The acquisition of knowledge has been emphasized in Buddhism and Islam. In the early days every Buddhist monastery had a library. During the Muslim rule, education was encouraged, books were in demand. Hundreds of scribes were available in every city in order to meet the demands for books and no Muslim noble would be considered cultured unless he possessed a library.7 1 Humayun Azad (1982). BGiglc% bh?+r iatru mitra. S&%hik Vi&& 21 Feb. Dhaka. 2 W. M. Z&i (1968). Educational development in Pakistan, pp. 7,9 and 98. Islamabad. 3 Husain (1975). Og. cit.,p. 693. 4 Banglad’esh B&au of Siatistics (1979). Op. cit.,p. 347. 5 M. S. Khan (1967). Libraries in Pakistan. .i%urnal of Library History 2, 58. 6Quoted in Rajendralal Mitra (1851). G&&i gra&h&y& Vivi&&tha Snigrahn 1,6 (Col. 7 S. M. Ikram (1965). Muslim civil&ion in India, p. 241. New York.

1).

PUBLIC BRITISH

LIBRARIES PERIOD,

IN

BANGLADESH

127

1851-1947

However, the public library movement in Bangladesh dates back only to the middle of the nineteenth century. There is no doubt that the idea of establishment of public libraries is essentially Western, and the spread of the public library movement in that part of the world is the direct result of the impact of Western culture. The introduction of printing in 1777l by the Europeans in Bengal brought about a revolution in literary production. As a result, works consisting of revival of Indian arts, science and literature as well as treatises in Western sciences, arts and literature began to be introduced in Bengal. A large number of books, pamphlets, newspapers, etc. estimated as early as 1860 to be half a million copies a year were issued from the press.2 The large number of these books published in Bengal was gaining attention both at home and abroad. The need for bibliographic control of these materials was very much felt. As a result, the establishment of a Bengali library “to contain ail the most important and interesting books published in the vernacular” was proposed.3 The Bengal Library Catalogue,4 a quarterly list of publications under the “Printing Presses and Newspaper Act”5 started to appear with effect from September 1867. Long before this, the Calcutta Public Library had started its operation in 1835.6 The establishment of the Calcutta Public Library and the proposal of a depository library, were just the beginning. Gradually, a library movement originated. Several Europeans and Bengalis were pioneers in this field. J. Bailey in Mednipur, the Rev. James Long in Calcutta, Gopal La1 Mitra in Birbhum, ’ Hodgson Pratt, Kalidas Maitra and Ramlochan Ghosh ofKrishnanagar8 were prominent in this movement. As a result of their voluntary efforts twelve libraries were established in Mednipur, Krishnanagar and Jessore by 185 1.9 The speeches that were delivered by the last three mentioned persons in connection with the establishment of libraries were published in a book in 1855. lo This is the 1 For details see M. H. Khan (1976). History of printing in Bengali characters up to 1866. PhD thesis, Univ. of London. z James Long (1860). Address . at the anniversary meeting of the Family Literary Club, May 25, 1860. The Third Anniversary Report of the Family Literary Club, p. 15. Calcutta. 3 J. Wegner (1865). A Catalogue of Sanscrit andBengalee Publications Printed in Bengal, p. iii. Calcutta. 4 For details about this catalogue see J. D. Pearson (ed.) (1975). World Bibliogwzphy of Oriental Bibliographies. Oxford: T. Besterman. sBenga1 Act No. XXV of 1867. 6 The Sam%& darpan, 14 Nov. 1835. In Brajendranath Bandyopadhaya (1949). Samundpatre sekaZ& kathc, vol. 2, p, 117. Calcutta. ‘Mitra (1851). Op. cit.,pp. &8. * Srinath Dey (Comp.) (1855). Vakt+. Serampore. 9 Mitra (1851). Op. cit.,p. 8. lo Dey (1855). Op. tit.

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first book or publication related to librarianship ever published in the Indian subcontinent. About four years before the publication of this book, in 1851, Rajendralal Mitra, editor of the Viuidhart/za Suligruha, wrote in his own journal an article on the usefulness of libraries and the ways and means by which a public library can be established through subscripti0ns.l This was again, the first article on libraries ever published in any periodical in the Indian subcontinent. This library movement, initiated jointly by the natives and the British civil servants, received much encouragement. As a result, in Bangladesh, the Jessore Public Library was established as early as 185 1. Three others, Woodburn Public Library at Bogra, Barisal Public Library at Barisal and Rangpur Public Library at Rangpur, were established by 1854. These examples were soon followed by others. As a result, many public libraries came into being in the different towns of Bangladesh. Among them, Rajshahi (187 l), Dhaka (1874), Comilla ( 1885)) Pabna ( 1890)) Noakhali ( 1897)) Sylhet Price Memorial ( 1897)) Chittagong Municipal ( 1904)) Cox’s Bazar ( 1906)) Jessore Ram Narain ( 1907)) Munshiganj ( 1908)) Rangpur ( 1909)) Kishoreganj ( 1909?), Faridpur (1914), Kushtia (1914), Khulna (1914), Mymensingh (1930) and Dinajpur (1930) public libraries still survive. However, the momentum of this enthusiastic start was not sustained. All of these libraries, mentioned above, were generally established by one or more philanthropists and supported by public subscriptions and assisted by a very small financial grant either from the government or local zaminders. The condition of these libraries was not very good. Hunter,2 in his account has described the state ofone such public library at Rampur Boalia, Rajshahi. The condition as described by him at the end of 1871-72 was: The number subscribed divided into per mensem. take books extensively maintained. institution,

of books of all kinds in the library is 3247, and six periodicals are for. The subscribers number 18 (6 Europeans and 12 natives), who are three classes, paying Rs. 2-8-O (5s), Rs. 1-8-O (3s), and eight annas (1s) The subscribers have the right to receive the periodicals in turn, and to from the library for perusal at their homes. The latter privilege is used. The library is open for six hours daily and a paid librarian is Want of funds, however, is a great obstacle in the usefulness of the as the subscriptions barely cover the current expenses.

Most of these libraries were housed either in rented or loaned quarters. There was no continued and consistent support, either from the government or local bodies. As a result, even a long established library could not flourish, but managed to survive somehow. For example, 1 Mitra (1851). 2 W. W. Hunter

Op. cit., pp. 6-8. (1876). A statistical

accowt

of Bengal, vol. 7, pp. 91-92.

London.

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IN BANGLADESH

129

Bogra Public Library founded in 1854, a century after its establishment, in 1956, had only about 1060 Bengali and 1300 English bo0ks.l Many reasons may be attributed to this slow or non-existent development of libraries. The establishment and organization of libraries was not one of the responsibilities of the government or local councils. They were only voluntary private enterprises-and they were inconsistent. As a result, after they had been established for about a hundred years, Bangladesh inherited these libraries, at the time of partition in 1947, in a very sad state.2 PAKISTAN

PERIOD,

1947-1971

On 14 August 1947, the newly born Pakistan, especially her eastern wing, now Bangladesh, found herself without many essentials for her existence and further development. In the field of libraries, as we have already discussed, she started with almost a clean slate except the University Library at Dhaka. The other libraries, as described by M. S. Khan, were “small . . . raggle taggle collections built on gifts, discards, ephameralias and a few purchases and manned by enthusiastic but inept volunteers.“3 On the other hand, Bangladesh lost her share of the priceless collections of the Imperial Library at Calcutta, The leaders or the administrators of the new-born state not being library-minded bibliophiles4 neither negotiated the division of this collection nor felt the necessity of building such an institution immediately. Consequently it took over a decade to establish only one library in Bangladesh after partition. LIBRARIES

IN DEVELOPMENT

PLANS,

195 I- 19 70

Bangladesh, to mention it again, at that time (1947-70), as one of the provinces of Pakistan, was dependent on the total national policy which planned development. A six-year development plan5 undertaken in 195 1 but abandoned in 1955 to be replaced by the first five-year plan6 1955-60 was the first attempt in that direction. The second, 1960-65’ and a third, 1965-70* followed consecutively. Unfortunately, none of these plans considered libraries as part of the development of the 1Kazi Muhammad Miser (1957).Bagu+ 2M. S.Khan (1967).0~. cit.

itik&inZ,

p. 337.

Bogra.

3 Ibid. 4 Ibid.

5Pakistan.National PlanningBoard(1951).&year developmentplan, 1951-57.Karachi. 6Pakistan.National PlanningBoard (1957). Firstjveyearplun, 1955-60.Karachi. 7Pakistan.PlanningCommission(1960).SecondJiveyearplan, 1960-65.Karachi. 8Pakistan.PlanningCommission(1965). Thirdjiwyearplan 1965-70.Karachi.

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country. The six-year plan was entirely silent about libraries, while the first development plan expressed the belief that the community should be encouraged to give adequate support to 1ibraries.l The second fiveyear plan, however, provided for the establishment of two libraries in Bangladesh, one at Khulna and the other at Chittagong.2 But the third plan, except for a passing reference to the establishment of a national’ library, made no mention of library services in the country.3 KEY REPORT,

1955

Fortunately, however, in 1955 the Government of Pakistan appointed L. C. Key, an Australian librarian, as Library Consultant in order to survey the existing condition of libraries and prepare a plan of library development. In his submission ,4 Mr Key designed a four-year project involving 36 libraries. Beside a national library at Karachi and two provincial libraries at Dhaka and Lahore his recommendation included three public libraries at Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi in Bangladesh, as the first step towards the establishment of a library network throughout the country. Though not a very comprehensive scheme, the report provided a practicable plan for library development which could indeed provide the basis of an elaborate countrywide system for the future. The proposals in the Key report, it was stated, were in line with the recommendations of the 1955 UNESCO seminar on the development of public libraries in Asia held in New Delhi.5 LIBRARY

AUTHORITY

During the Pakistani period, libraries and library services were the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. Under this ministry there was a Directorate of Archives and Libraries. At the provincial level, in Bangladesh (former East Pakistan) the Education Directorate had the responsibility of looking after libraries. The Directorate of Archives and Libraries at the central level could not convince the national planning machineries to come up with a sizeable plan for a nationwide public library system. From the period of establishment in 1952 to December 1971 the Directorate just main1 Pakistan. 2 Pakistan. 3 Pakistan. 4 L. C. Key library service 5 UNESCO

National Planning Board (1957). Op. cit., p. 588. Planning Commission ( 1960). Op. cit., p. 35 1. Planning Commission (1965). Op. cit., p. 207. (1956). Report and proposal on the establishment in Pakistan. Mimeo. Karachi. (1956). Public librariesfor Asia. Paris.

and improvement

of libraries

and

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

IN BANGLADESH

131

tained Pakistan Central Secretariat Library, a Central Archives and supervised Liaqat Memorial Library at Karachi. l On the other hand, the Education Directorate offormer East Pakistan for the first time in 1952 realized the role of “libraries and club” and spent a sum of 500 Taka for this purpose alone.2 Spending on libraries, however, increased to 10 000 Taka during the financial year 1953-54.3 The Directorate established the Central Public Library at Dhaka and two more public libraries at Khulna and Chittagong. It also gave grants-in-aid to 105 libraries managed by local people. A scheme of establishment of a public library at Rajshahi, 15 other district libraries, 36 subdivisional and 100 thana libraries were underway.4 THREE

IMPORTANT

PUBLIC

LIBRARIES

Among the three important public libraries established out of government funds, Bangladesh Central Public Library, with a present collection of about 80 000 volumes of books, is the largest. The.library was opened to the public in 1958 with an initial collection of 20000 volumes including a gift of 4000 books received from the British government under the Colombo Plan. 5 Although implied by the name, from its inception it was never a public library in the true sense of the term because of the fact that the library was designed to be a copyright deposit library “as all national libraries are” and “primarily a reference library” with the facility of on-the-premises reading and research.6 However, the library never enjoyed copyright deposit facilities. On the other hand, the building of the library was given away to the University of Dhaka in 1961 and a new building, under “rehabilitation scheme” had to be constructed. As a result, normal growth of this library suffered. After about fifteen years in such a condition the library was moved to its yet to be completed building in 1977. The rehabilitation scheme for this library has, however, expanded its function to include “development of public libraries in the country, their inspection and affiliation”, etc. in addition to its services as a national library.7 1 Pakistan. Ministry ofEducation (1967). Report on theprogress of education in Pakistan, 1966-67, p. 9. Islamabad. * East Pakistan. Education Directorate (1958). Report on the Public Zmtructions in East Pakistan, 1952-53, p. 9. Dhaka. 3 East Pakistan. Education Directorate (1959). Report on the Public Znstmctions in East Pakistan, 1953-54, p. 45. Dhaka. 4Ahmad Husain (1965). Planning pubIic libraries. Pakistan Libmrianrhij, 1963-64, p. 53. Dhaka. 5 East Pakistan. EducationDirectorate (1960). Rejmrton t~lJUblzcInstluctzoR(Ln~~tPakistan, 1955~ 56, p. 48. Dhaka. s Bangladesh. Education Directorate. File of the establishment of the Central Public Library, ’ Pakistan. Planning Commission (1966). Rehabilitation of the Central Public Library. Mimeo, p. A-l. Dhaka.

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K’hulna Public Library The second most important public library in the country is the Khulna Public Library at Khulna. It was opened to the public with about 20 000 books in June 1965. l This library is supposed to act as a regional library for the Khulna division of Bangladesh in the proposed public library system. The present collection of this library is about 40 000 volumes. Chittagong Public Library The Chittagong Public Library, the third in importance, was es: tablished in 1962 about three years before the one in Khulna. Unfortunately, this library could not develop as much as Khulna because of its lack of accommodation. Up till now the library is housed in a temporary site.2 The library is open to the public with its limited services of reading and reference. The present collection of this library is about 12 000 volumes. Other libraries In addition to these three libraries established by the Government of erstwhile East Pakistan and 25 libraries established during the British period, some 80 libraries came into being between 1947 and 197 1. All of these libraries, to be discussed below, were subscription libraries established by voluntary contributions. PUBLICITY

AND INFORMATION

CENTRES

In addition to the “public libraries” discussed above, the Government of Pakistan also established six other libraries in different towns of Bangladesh under the umbrella of the Pakistan Council for National Integration which came into being in 1962. The council, an organ of the central Ministry of Information, was possibly modelled after the British through knowledge” was the theme of the council. Council. “Unity Objectives of the council, among others, include “to set up libraries, research centres, and reading rooms at appropriate places in the country and to organize mobile libraries for the rural areas and the supply of appropriate books to school and colleges”.3 Bureau of National Reconstructions The Bureau of National Reconstructions, another organ of the provincial Ministry of Information had also been trying to mobilize public 1 Husain (1965). Op. cit., p. 53. z Pakistan. Planning Commission (1966). Rehabilitation of Chittagong Public Library, mimeo, p. 2. Dhaka. 3 Pakistan Council for National Integration (1967). About Pakistan Council, p. 19. Rawalpindi.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

IN BANGLADESH

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opinion and educate people towards national integration through libraries. The Bureau had set up some 61 “Information centres” in different parts of Bangladesh. These centres had been providing reading materials on history, culture and tradition. l BANGLADESH

ERA,

1972-

After a nine-month bloody war of separation Bangladesh came into being on 16 December 1971. At the time of inception, she inherited about 175 “public libraries” and “information centres” established during the British and Pakistan period. A NATIONAL

LIBRARY

IN THE MAKING

In addition to these libraries, as discussed above, Bangladesh also inherited some professional and non-professional librarians who used to work in the then West Pakistan but then opted for Bangladesh. Some of them happened to be in the Directorate ofArchives and Libraries which has already been discussed. It was a coincidence that the Director, Deputy Director and a number of other staff were Bangladeshis. Since they opted for Bangladesh they had to be repatriated. On their return from Pakistan, they were posted to their former positions. Consequently, the creation of a Directorate of Archives and Libraries became almost automatic. Immediately after establishment, the Directorate embarked upon the establishment ofa National Library for Bangladesh. The legacy of the National Library of Bangladesh goes with the legacy of Pakistan. The absence of a national library was keenly felt in Pakistan after partition in 1947. As a result, several plans for such a library were taken up. Several sites were selected on several occasions and rejected. At last Liaqat Memorial Library at Karachi was taken up as the nucleus of the National Library of Pakistan. A building plan was adopted, and construction was started at Karachi but later abandoned because of the shifting of the capital to Islamabad. 2 Finally, according to the Ministry of Education, implementation of the scheme for the establishment of the National Library at Islamabad was in progress.3 But Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, on the grounds ofits peculiar geographic location, was demanding a duplicate national library. As a result, the central government proposed a Central Library at Dhaka 1 M. H. Khan (1968). Library development in Pakistan. Morning JGws, Dhaka 21 June, p. 12. Dhaka. 2 Pakistan. Ministry of Education (1967). Second Five Year Plan Deuelopment Projwts and Their Evaluation, p. 25. RawaIpindi. 3 Pakistan. Ministry of Education (1967). Report on the Progress of Education in Pakistan, 196647, p. 9. Islamabad.

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with similar objectives to those of a national library-but on a smaller scale. Now renamed as the National Library of Bangladesh, the Central Library at Dhaka started its function as a copyright deposit office in 1968. It continued to receive copyright materials that were to be deposited under the Copyright Ordinance, 1962. Functions of the National Library of Bangladesh include collection of national writings, collection of materials on Bangladesh published abroad, maintenance of an encyclopaedic collection, compilation of a national bibliography and a national union catalogue, serving as a clearing house for interlibrary loans, co-ordination of library services for the nation, international exchanges, etc. Two National Libraries or One? It appears from the above discussion that the functions of both the Central Public Library, Dhaka and the National Library of Bangladesh are more or less the same. Originally, when the plan of the Central Public Library was prepared, apparently the model before them was the then Imperial Library at Calcutta (now the National Library of India). As a result, the role and functions as enunciated in the plan were more or less close to the then Imperial Library. Therefore, very little thought was given to public library service in the city of Dhaka in particular, and the country as a whole. In the 1960s when a national library for the Eastern wing of Pakistan was not forthcoming the planners went ahead in developing the Central Public Library as a national library for the then East Pakistan. But, after the emergence of Bangladesh the new government, without looking at the plan of the Central Public Library went ahead with a new plan for a national library. If the government had wanted, it could easily have rehabilitated the repatriated staff of the Directorate of Archives and Libraries in the Central Public Library which in turn could immediately start a nationwide library service. Books and other materials of the Central Public Library as yet fill about half of the present incomplete building. On the other hand, the government has by now spent several millions on rent for a library which acquires barely a thousand volumes of books a year by way of copyright deposits. Money spent on rent in turn could have been utilized to complete the building of the Central Public Library. As has already been stated, the National Library ofBangladesh is now functioning in rented quarters. A building for the library is under construction. It has been functioning as a copyright deposit library and publishing the National Bibliography of Bangladesh since 1972. It has also published an index of articles published in all of the newspapers in Dhaka by language and subject up to 1975. Regular reference and other

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services are yet to be provided because of lack of accommodation. The present collection of the library is around 20000 volumes including bound volumes of periodicals. OVERALL

CONDITION

OF LIBRARIES

IN THE COUNTRY

Libraries, numbering 175 established in Bangladesh before or after partition, are mainly situated either in the metropolis of Dhaka or in other towns. They are either at the divisional, district or subdivisional headquarters. Only a few libraries exist at the thana level which is close to the rural areas. The National Library, the Central Public Library, Khulna Public Library and Chittagong Public Library are directly administered and financed by the government. The other libraries are basically run by voluntary organizations. The general condition of them is summarized below. Libraries at the district headquarters, including Rajshahi which is also a divisional headquarters, are still subscription libraries. Loan of books is restricted only to the members; one small reading room however, is open to non-members also. They are usually run by untrained undergraduates, and in some cases graduates without any professional training. But the present trend is to engage professional librarians. The other staffof these libraries are mostly part-time. Some of these libraries have high-school graduates trained by the Library Association of Bangladesh. Collections of books in these libraries vary and range from five thousand to fifteen thousand. These libraries are financed out of subscriptions of members, local donations, grants from local bodies like district councils, and grants from the government. At the subdivisional level, part-time workers or sometime volunteers manage these small libraries of various size: collections rarely exceed four thousand. Some of these libraries are still combined with recreational clubs. Accommodation in many cases is rented and is not satisfactory. There are a few small libraries at the thanas which are the headquarters of rural areas. The status of these libraries is more or less the same as those in the subdivisions. But they are smaller in size: collections rarely exceed 2000. TOTAL

BOOK RESOURCES

One of the most interesting but shocking aspects of library service in Bangladesh is the poor book resources. Ifwe compute the figures ofall of the existing public libraries it will reveal that the total collection does not

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exceed 300 000 volumes. This figure stands against a nation of about 90 million people. If 25% of the people of that country are literate we may discover about 22.5 million readers. Hence about 7500 people to only one volume! This is possibly one of the lowest in the world! A

LIBRARY

NETWORK

PLAN

This unhappy situation of public libraries and their services was realized by the educationalists of Bangladesh. But there was no way out. Fortunately, the newly emerged state from the outset put maximum emphasis on education. In order to reorganize its educational system, the government set up a national commission on education. The educationalists seized this opportunity to give proper emphasis to libraries side by side with the system of education as a whole. The report submitted in May 1974 devoted a complete chapter to libraries. l The commission dealt at length with the condition of primary, secondary, college, university, public and national libraries and recommended a standard for each of them. As regards public libraries, the commission came up with a countrywide public library system. Although, according to the commission itself, the recommended in standard for public libraries was “lower than those maintained of public libraries all progressive countries” it envisaged a “network If implemented, the commission thought that “one over the country”. may not have ordinarily to walk more than a mile from one’s residence in order to get a book either from a public library or a branch or from a mobile unit of it”.2 The commission, among others, recommended that the Central Public Library may be converted into the National Library of Bangladesh, the present national library working in rented quarters should be merged with the Central Public Library and a National Archives and a Directorate of Libraries be established.3 But, unfortunately, the national targets and standards prescribed by the Commission on National Education were overlooked and not a single word of the commission was translated into practice. PROBLEMS

AND

PROSPECTS

“Public libraries” discussed in this paper, are not actually libraries in the modern sense of the term. The term in Bangladesh 1 The text of the report is in Bengali. An “English rendering of the chapter (Library) of the Report of the Bangladesh Education Commission dated May Husain has been published in the Eastern Librarian (1976) X, 171-193. 2 Ibid., p. 184. 3 Ibid., pp. 185-187.

public is used

30-GranthagZr 1974” by.Ahmad

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IN BANGLADESH

137

in a very loose sense. They are the libraries which permit members of the public to use materials for reference or to borrow on payment of fees or subscriptions. In this sense all kinds of libraries can be described as public libraries. Actually these libraries are “subscription libraries”. Even government managed libraries are yet to give a proper service. Some of them have only a reading-room service for a limited number of hours a day. Some have a borrowing privilege in exchange for fees or caution money. But, according to the UNESCO manifesto for public libraries, “as a democratic institution operated by the people for the people, the public library should be established and maintained under clear authority of law; supported wholly or mainly from public funds; open for free use on equal terms to all members of the community, regardless of occupation, creed or race”. But the libraries in Bangladesh, as has already been stated, have failed to measure up to the internationally accepted yard-stick for public libraries. As a developing country, Bangladesh has many problems at the root of this. They can be precisely enumerated below.

LEGISLATION Absence of library legislation is one of the major causes of the poor state of libraries in Bangladesh. Legislation is a prerequisite for public library development and especially for the establishment of a network of libraries throughout the length and breadth of the country. Legislation will create one public library authority which will be responsible for even and equitable public library services.

FINANCE One of the advantages of a library law is that it can harness revenue. Duplication of expenditure by different bodies can be avoided through an Act. If necessary the library law can levy taxes for the organization and management of libraries. In addition, at least a portion of the Education Budget ofthe government should be spent on library services. Money spent by other organizations for similar purposes can be transferred to the library authority created under the authority of law, for proper utilization. Government is spending a huge sum of money for development projects. Expenditure in education is about 480 million a year. At least ten percent of the total expenditure of education should be allocated for library services.

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LEADERSHIP

A young profession like librarianship in Bangladesh needs strong leadership. At the time of partition in 1947 there were no professionally trained librarians to give a lead ab ini&. Even the largest library, the Library of the University of Dhaka was run by a non-professional librarian. Fortunately, the then Government of East Bengal realized this need. As a result, in 1954, the University of Dhaka and the Education Directorate of the Government of East Bengal sent their Librarian designate,of the University of Dhaka and the Librarian designate of the Central Public Library respectively, abroad for study and training in 1ibrarianship.l They were in the persons of M. S. Khan and Ahmad Husain. After successful completion of their study and training they started to build up these libraries from scratch. The former not only reorganized the University Library, he also started the Library Science study programme leading to a Master’s degree at the University of Dhaka. Whereas, the latter not only organized the Central Public Library but also prepared a plan for country-wide library service. When in 1962, he (Ahmad Husain) joined the Education Directorate as Officer on Special Duty for Library Development, he prepared a library-network plan with a Central Library and three regional libraries at the divisional levels. It was because of him that Khulna and Chittagong Public Library came into being and Rajshahi was underway. He retired in 1969. M. S. Khan, the academic, retired in 1972 and died in 1977. Retirement of these two dynamic personalities has created a vacuum in the field of library movement in Bangladesh. As a result, instead of being implemented, all of the ambitious projects were shelved. In addition, the position of the University Librarian of Dhaka and the Librarian of the Central Public Library have been vacant for over a decade. The former has been managed by a nonprofessional lecturer and the latter by a ju.nior librarian. The Directorate ofArchives and Libraries since its foundation in 1952 had been run by a non-professional director. Unfortunately, Bangladesh inherited the same office and the same system and the same Director without any professional education in librarianship. The non-professional librarians either have no or little concern about libraries and librarianship. They are satisfied if they can just perform their routine work. As a result, the ambitious schemes prepared by the Education Commission, as has already been stated, have been shelved. The services of the Dhaka University Library, the largest library in 1 A. R. Mridha Dhaka.

(1965).

Fourteen

years

in librarianship.

Pakistan

Librarianship,

1963-64,

p. 43.

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Bangladesh, and the Central Public Library, Dhaka, have been seriously affected and the library movement has come to a standstill. The status and salary of the librarians have been lowered in the postBangladesh pay revisions. Even the status and salary of the University Librarians who used to enjoy professorial status have been downgraded. Consequently, brighter people are not likely to choose librarianship as their profession. Hence the leadership is likely to be weaker in future. Observing such a situation in Punjab (Pakistan) in 1966 the CENT0 of the wealth of report recommended that “the proper organization materials . . . requires more qualified librarians and much stronger leadership if its public is to be served”.’

LIBRARY

EDUCATION

Professional education is very basic to leadership. Lack of professionally educated people is also a problem for Bangladesh. Established in 1958, the only Library School in Bangladesh has produced only about 500 professional librarians in the course of its 22-year existence. But, according to Ahmad ( 1980)2 the present need of Bangladesh is over 4000 qualified librarians to work in all kinds of libraries.

PROFESSIONAL

BODIES

The role of professional associations in the field of librarianship is well known. The newly trained librarians of the then East Pakistan, immediately after return from abroad, formed the East Pakistan Library Association in 1956. Later on, they also joined the All Pakistan Library Association in 1957. The East Pakistan Library Association after the emergence of Bangladesh was renamed as the Library Association of Bangladesh. Similarly Pakistan Special Library Association, established in 1968, the headquarters of which was in Dhaka, was renamed as Bangladesh Granthagar Parishad. In addition to these two major associations, there are also seven such associations3 which are zonal or associations of special groups. Instead of dividing or duplicating efforts, all librarians of Bangladesh should join together to form a single but strong association with a permanent secretariat. In addition to organizing seminars, and meetings of the members of the association, the Library Association of Bangladesh ran a training 1 Central Treaty Organization (1966). Book production importation and distribution in Pakistan. New York. In Eastern Librarian, vol. 2 (1967), p. 10. 2 N. Ahmad (1981). Library education in Bangladesh, International Library Review 13, 113. 3 S. Hossain (1981). Library Associations in Bangladesh. International Library Revizw 13, 323-327.

140

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H.

KHAN

course of subprofessional staff of different libraries. It had also been engaged in publishing bibliographies, reports of conferences and seminars. It had its house-organ styled as the Eastern Librarian which now has ceased publication. It appears from the library literature of Bangladesh and former Pakistan (pre-1972) that the voice of these associations is very feeble. The library literature should be problem oriented-rather than theoretical presentations of only the brighter side of the profession. There should be self criticism and self-analysis in all aspects of the profession: school, field of practice and platform. This is possible only when practitioners write about the profession. At the moment, there are very few such practitioners who can undertake such tasks. Unless the practitioners work actively the actual situation and the problems of the profession will remain unexplored. LIBRARY

MATERIALS

Adequate materials (books, periodicals, etc.) are required for the public libraries to provide their services. The availability of library materials has always been a major problem in Bangladesh. The position of locally produced materials is not encouraging. According to available statistics, only 17 728 titles of books were published in the whole of Pakistan between 1948 and 1966.l In Bangladesh, a total of 6064 books were published between 1969 and 1978: an average of 606 books per year !2 As a result, the country had to depend on imported materials, But the availability of enough foreign currency is a barrier in this respect. James A. Hulbert, a former Director of Library Service of USIS in 1964 suggested the following measures in this respect:3 (1) Encourage and subsidize a nationwide programme of local authorship to write books on different subjects taught in schools and colleges: include textbooks, collateral readings, and general literature. (2) Repeal all import restrictions on books and periodicals. (3) Government should survey its own extensive book and reference needs. FUTURE

OF LIBRARY

SERVICES

In spite of all of the shortcomings discussed in this paper the future appears encouraging for the public library service in Bangladesh. A 1 S. Amjad Ali (1967). Book World of Pakistan, p. 17. Karachi. *Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (1979). Op. cit., p. 439. 3 James A. Hulbert (md.). Library Develofmmt, p. 24. Dhaka.

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library movement is there. The need is to give it momentum. A scheme for a,library network has already been prepared. Libraries are there: no matter in what state. They may be used as bases to build up a public library service in the true sense.