With the state government deciding to increase the funds given to public libraries in the state by 50 per cent, as many as 605 public libraries and those that receive government aid in the district will undergo an inspection before availing of the benefits.
Currently, the state gives Rs 75 crore to these libraries. The amount would go up by 50 per cent, taking the state grant to Rs 112.5 crore for 9,624 libraries in the state.
An inspection of the libraries will be conducted between May 21 and 25. The libraries will be checked for different parameters under the Maharashtra Public Libraries Rules, 1970. In the district, Haveli taluka has the maximum number of libraries — 107, while Mulshi has 18 libraries. The data will be ready by month-end.
“The funding would go up by Rs 37.5 crore for the libraries in the state. The revenue department has been asked to check the functioning of these libraries before allocating the amount,” said Ravindra Kulkarni, deputy collector and coordinator of the drive.
A training programme will be held from May 17 for revenue officials who will participate in the drive.
An online data of all the libraries will be prepared giving details such as number of journals subscribed by the library, its maintenance, etc. Public libraries are recognised and are given grant-in-aid by the Directorate of Libraries under the Maharashtra Public Libraries (Recognition for Grant-in-Aid and Building and Equipment Grants) Rules, 1970. Libraries are divided into A, B, C and D categories on the basis of books, stocks and periodicals.
With discrepancies surfacing regarding maintainance and functioning of these libraries, the state government wants to keep a tab on the funds allocated to these libraries, officials said. “All the details will be available with the directorate of libraries at the click of a mouse,” said Kulkarni.
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