Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha and Saumen Datta COLLECTION AND SERVICES OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN TRIPURA: A SURVEY Dr. MANOJ KUMAR SINHA SAUMEN DAT TA Professor, Head and Dean Senior Librarian Dept. of Library and Information Science Tripura Public Service Commission (Swami Vivekananda School of Library Sciences) Agartala-799001 Assam University (A Central University), Tripura- West, Silchar-788 011, Assam E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT The first part of the present paper discusses the status of the public libraries of Tripura, India. A complete list of the public libraries in the state with its year of establishment is listed. Highlight the district wise distribution of document collection, facilities and library services. Questionnaire combined with interview and observation were the instruments used for data collection and administered to both library professionals as well as users. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency. It is seen that five libraries in West Tripura has maximum documents. More number of people visits Birchandra State Central Library than the other district public libraries. A wide variety of library and information services are provided but none of the district public libraries are providing career guidance, internet facility, and reprographic facilities. Suggestions are given in brief. Key words : Library Services, Library Collection, Public Libraries-Tripura, District Libraries - Tripura, State Central Library-Tripura, Tripura –Libraries. 1. Introduction rivers. Located in the rugged and hilly terrain Public library is regarded as a social of the tropical forests, the erstwhile princely institution and means of vital social force. It is state of Tripura in north-eastern part of the a living force to education, indigenous country was abode of about 1 million people knowledge and to preserve the cultural in 1949 when it merged with Independent heritage customs prevalent in rural areas. A India as a Union Territory. It was granted public library is regarded as a public statehood in 1972. It has an area of institution, which is expected to convert the 10,492 sq.km and bounded by Bangladesh on potential readers into actual readers. It is also three sides sharing about 80% of its boundary regarded as a social institution. With the of its perimeter. The remaining 20% of its information explosion and creation of boundary is shared with the states of Assam knowledge, the library has acquired a key and Mizoram through land routes, and have position as the indispensable institution for a narrow corridor with Assam to link the state equipping the people with necessary with rest of the country. accumulated knowledge. As per the 2011 census, the state has a Tripura, a small state of North-Eastern population about 3.2 millions comprising tribal part of India, is a land of forests, hills and and non-tribal. Nearly two-third of the area of 22 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 Collection and Services of Public Libraries in Tripura: A Survey the state is hilly and about 59% of its total library. A great significant incident led to the area is covered with green forests. Agriculture bifurcation of the Place Library. In June, 1897 is the main source of livelihood. Severe an earthquake shook the entire North-Eastern constraints of cheap and convenient modes India and demolished almost all the important of transport, geographic isolation and poor buildings of Agartala. At that time the library economic growth have not deterred the people collection was temporary shifted in a of the state from acquiring education, and separated shed. The public in general were have a literacy rate of 97% as per recent for the first time got a chance to use the library. record. Subsequently important collections were housed in the Palace Library. After several 1.1. Public Libraries in Tripura shifting, the State Central Library was housed Tripura has its great and glorious past in a newly constructed building during the of the King Dynasty. The kings of Tripura were reign of Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya great patron of arts, culture and literature. Bahadur in the year 1924. Library was kept The subsequent kings like Dhanya Manikya open for the four hours daily. (C.1490-1520A.D.), Rajdhar Manikya (C.1586- 2. Review of Literature 1680A.D.), Kalayan Manikya(C.1624 1660A.D.), Ramdev Manikya (C.1673- There are studies on the public libraries 1660A.D.), Ramganga Manikya (C.1804- in Tripura but recent ones are less. It is to be 1809A.D.) and their successors established noted that the first braille library in Tripura many institutions of public utility. was established in 2017 (Sengupta) on the campus of Turnstone global, a private Birchandra Public Library institute in Agartala and not in a public Maharaja Birchandra Manikya (1862- library. The status of public libraries in 1896A.D.) was not only an able ruler but a Tripura was studied by Sinha et al. (2016) and great lover of arts, culture and university wits. another study by the same author (Sinha, He established a library at Comilla (now in 2016) discusses the library development in Bangladesh) probably in the year 1896 A.D. North East India. Jeena (2012) presents the which was then within his territorial status of public libraries in Tripura state. In jurisdiction and also a very culturally the book written by Kumar (2011), section 2, enlightened place. This library was popularly part G gives a detailed description of Tripura known as the Place Library. It was started with and the development of various types of the collection of two hundred valuable books libraries in the state.A small description of including manuscripts, palm leave puthy of libraries in Tripura is detailed by Taher (2001) Bangle, hand written Rajmala, Krishnamala, in his book. Many of the other studies deal Champak Vijoy and the other chronicles of the with the libraries in North East India and Royal house of Tripura. Tripura is mentioned, but not in detail. Ujjayanta Palace Library 3. Objectives of the Study The King Radha Krishna Manikya (1896- Following are the main objectives of the 1909A.D.) constructed the Ujjayanta Palace study: Library in 1900 A.D. The establishment of the i) To examine the status of the public Palace Library was the land mark of the libraries in Tripura library movement of Tripura, though the ii) To find out the status of the library library was closed to the common people. collection in public libraries of Afterwards the strictness was relaxed and the Tripura men of letters were permitted to use the said 23 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha and Saumen Datta iii) To examine the services and facilities facilities and services. Interview was provided by the public libraries in conducted in English, Bengali and Hindi. Tripura Kokborak language was also used for better understanding and response. iv) To record the suggestions received from the users and professionals for 5. Analysis of Data improvement of the public libraries in 5.1. Public Libraries in Tripura Tripura. 5.1. Public Libraries in Tripura 4. Research Methodology It is found (table 1) that in Tripura, there is a State Central Library, seven district Questionnaire combined with interview Libraries, eight sub-divisional libraries, six method was adopted as data collection tools. block level libraries, two rural libraries and Data is supplemented with primary, only one town library. Thus Tripura has a total secondary and direct observation. User study of 25 public libraries including the state has been conducted drawing samples from central library. It is to be noted that there is among the public library users. Separate no mobile library in Tripura which is essential questionnaires for library professionals and for the service of the people of rural areas of library users given. The author personally Tripura. A complete list of public libraries in visited the various libraries and noted the Tripura is given in Appendix 1. Table 1 Public Libraries in Tripura at a Glance T ype of Public Library Nos. State Central Library 01 District Library 07 Sub-Divisional library 08 Town Library 01 Block Level Library 06 Rural Library 02 Total 25 5.2. Population Served by Public Libraries in Tripura Table 2 Population Served by the Public Libraries of Tripura Total Population 3671032 Total Public Libraries 25 One library 1,46,841 24 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 Collection and Services of Public Libraries in Tripura: A Survey The total population of Tripura is can say that one library is serving to 3,671,032 as per Census-2011, and there are 1, 46, 841 people of the state. a total of 25 public libraries. Therefore, we 5.3. Year-wise Establishment of Public Libraries in Tripura Table 3 Year-wise Establishment of Public Libraries in Tripura Name of the Library Year of Establishment Birchandra State Central Library 1896 Nazrul Granthagar 1954 North Tripura District Library 1954 Unakoti District Public Library 1954 South Tripura District Library 1955 Sonamura Public Library 1956 Khowai District Public Library 1958 Amarpur Public Library 1960 Bimal Singha Smriti Granthagar 1961 Sabroom Public Library 1961 Bishalghar Public Library 1964 Melaghar Public Library 1967 Dhalai District Library 1973 Ushabazar Public (Town) Library 1973 Teliamura Public Library 1974 Kakraban public Library 1977 Panisagar Public Library 1977 Rajnagar Public Library 1977 Bagafa Public Library 1977 Paharmura Public Library 1989 Kanchanpur Public Library 1989 Baikhora Public Library 1991 Kathalia Public Library 2009 Nazrul Pathagar 2011 Khumulwng Public Library 2011 25 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha and Saumen Datta The history of the public library service from that year the public library system has in Tripura started 120 year long.