National Mission on Libraries

About the National Mission on Libraries

• It was  launched by the President of India in 2014
• Ministry: It is an initiative of the Ministry of Culture to modernise and digitally link public libraries across the country.
• NML was set up in pursuance of a report of the National Knowledge Commission, which recommended a total revamp of the Library and Information Service sector to serve the changing needs and expectations of the users and give a fillip to the library movement in the country.
• The Mission aims to upgrade infrastructure of selected libraries and upgrade technology in 35 State Central Libraries and 35 District Libraries (to be identified by State Governments) and 6 Libraries under the Ministry of Culture. 
• Further, 629 district libraries across the states would be provided network connectivity.  
• The chief objectives of NML are to create a world class library system, foster reading habits, facilitate research work and provide information to people in a timely and convenient manner which is also universal and equitable.
• In the revamped libraries, cataloguing will be done not only of books and journals but also of all policies of the government in the public domain to facilitate easy access and research work.  
• Besides upgrading the infrastructure of public libraries, a major component of NML is to initiating need-based training programmes to develop managerial skills and IT competencies of their personnel in tune with demands of the Internet era.
• Nodal agency: Kolkata-based Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) is the nodal agency for the implementation of NML, a 10-member body headed by Prof. Deepak Pental, former Vice Chancellor of Delhi University.
• Nine important constituents of the NML include: Upgradation of infrastructure, digitization and modernisation, census of libraries and their development as knowledge centres and transformation of libraries into empowering and inclusive institutions.

The components of the National Mission on Libraries (NML)

Following are the components of NML:

• Creation of National Virtual Library of India (NVLI)
• Setting up of NML model libraries 
• Quantitative and Qualitative Survey of Libraries and 
• Capacity Building.  

 Six Libraries under the Ministry of Culture are : 

1. Delhi Public Library, Delhi
2. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna
3. National Library, Kolkata 
4. Central Secretariat Library
5. Rampur Raza Library, Uttar Pradesh 
6. Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvati Mahal Library, Tamil Nadu.