Kerala Granthasala Sangham Lakshyam Nediyo? (Keralathile Granthasala Prasthanam - 2)

The second part of the series examines in general the functioning of thousands of village libraries that exited of Kerala and the aims and objectives of the organization named Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS) which coordinated the library movement in Kerala. The working of the largest public libraries in Kerala controlling the major document resources of the State including Trivandrum Public Library, Quilon Public Library etc which could not form part of the system coordinated by KGS are examined. Critically evaluates library bills prepared in Kerala, the attempts to enact them and the attitude of the KGS which hindered their enactment in order to retain the existing system and its control. The Library and Information Science experts limiting their activities inside academic library systems and not involving in public library development is also criticized. The concept of modern library system and principles of library legislation accepted all over the world are discussed in detail against the existing system and the system for which KGS wanted give legal base. The paper opines that KGS was successful as a coordinator of cultural movement or a mechanism for training people in democratic form of government. But it failed as a system for providing information services to the community. One reason for this failure identified by the study is non application of library and information science principles and proved methods in legislation and system development