Reforms required in Kerala Public Library Act 1989

The paper opines that public library systems in federal countries will be effective only if they are planned as national systems. Kerala Public Library (Kerala Granthasala Sangham) Act (KPLA), 1989 is evaluated taking the Model Public Library Act 1972 of Dr. S.R. Ranganathan as a measuring rod. The clauses evaluated in detail are those related to Preamble, State Library Authority, State Library Committee, Kerala State Library Council (KSLC) and its composition, Local Library Authority, administration of the system, State Central Library (SCL), library co operation and finance. The study reveals that KPLA has serious deficiencies which will detain the library system of Kerala from becoming an active part of the National Library and Information System and from extending to people the services intended by that. The study suggests that as provided in the Model Act and library Acts of other countries which give due importance to information services to the people, the Minister for Education should be the State Library Authority, KSLC should be made adequately representative and comprehensive in scope so as to include all interests and shades of opinions, Trivandrum Public Library the biggest Library in the State should be designated as the SCL to make its rich collection useful to the people living throughout the State and also that public library standards should be fixed. Provision for State Library Service, separate Department of Libraries and qualified Director and State Librarian are other major recommendations. Concludes by stressing that these amendments are required if KPLA is to enable an effective library and information system in the State