Library Association of Bangladesh

Establishment of LAB: A history

About two third province of Bengal became the Eastern part of Pakistan due to partition of Indian subcontinent in to India and Pakistan in 1947. Bangladesh then called East Bengal , later East Pakistan received no share of books and other library materials from important libraries of Bengal as the division of the provincial assets. However the library movement in Bangladesh was started in 1850 with the establishment of 4 public libraries during the period of British role in India . The year 1850 is known as the milestone in the history of librarianship in Bangladesh . Since then no more significant libraries were established till 1954. As we knew that Pakistan Bibliographical Working Group (PBWG) was formed in the year 1950 under patronization of then Pakistan Government at the suggestions of UNESCO. The Group was reorganized in 1953, in it’s meeting which was held on 6 July 1954 , constituted an ad hoc Committee to form a National Association. Thus Pakistan Library Association (PLA) came into being in July 1956. The representative of erstwhile East Pakistan (now The People’s Republic of Bangladesh ) was in the ad hoc Committee. So that Karachi led in founding the All Pakistan Association. Few meetings were held in Karachi .

There was a complete vacuum in East Pakistan . Dhaka University Library was the only library worth mention fell in part of East Pakistan . The Registrar of the University was part-time Librarian. A few subscription libraries having few fictions were called public libraries. Semi government organizations and autonomous bodies had small libraries. In 1954, then the East Pakistan Central Public Library was established in Dhaka , the capital city. In this situation absence of a Library Association was keenly felt. Therefore seven practicing librarians of Dhaka assembled in 1954 in Plassey Barracks and discussed the importance of Association and about library situation in East Pakistan and resolved to popularize library movement. They are in the person of Mr. A.R. Mirdah, Mr. A.E.M. Shamsul Huq, Mr. Rakib Hossain, Mr. Siddiq Ahmed Chawdhury, Mr. Jamil Khan, Khandkar Abdur Rab and Mr. Tofazzal Hossain. Their effort took the shape of a library movement in East Pakistan . In 1955, an ad-hoc committee with Professor Dr. Nafiz Ahmad, Part-time Librarian of Dhaka University as convener. Mr. Ahmad Husain, Librarian, Central Public Library, Mr. Rakib Hossain, Librarian, USIS and Ms. Nargis Zafar, Reference Librarian, USIS was formed. Meanwhile, in June 1956, Late Mr. Mohammad Siddique Khan joined Dhaka University as Librarian. Immediately after his return from UK and joining as Librarian he joined the Association. Mr. M.S. Khan’s inclusion and active participation gave a new lease of life and spirit to this nascent Association. A constitution drafting subcommittee consisting of Mr. Ahmad Husain, Mr. A.R. Mirdah and Mr. Rakib Hossain was soon formed. They were assisted by Mr. Shamsuzzoha Ansari, a reader in Department of Law, Dhaka University . East Pakistan Library Association (EPLA) was formed on the basis of that constitution in 1956. At 5 P.M. on Sunday 30 June 1957 , the historic Annual General Meeting of the newly born Association was held in the United States Information Services (USIS) auditorium to adopt the constitution. Most of the member Librarians of Dhaka City attended the meeting. The office bearers of the Association were also elected top run the affairs and carry forward the ideals of the Association. They were:

Sl. #	Position	Name and Designation of the office bearers
1.	President	Mr. M.S. Khan, Librarian, Dhaka University
2.	Vice President-2	Mr. Ahmad Husain, Librarian, Central Public Library
2.	Vice President-2	Mr. A.E.M. Shamsul Huq, Keeper of Records, Secretariat Records and Secretariat Library, East Pakistan
3.	Secretary	Mr. Rakib Hossain, Chief Librarian, USIS, Dhaka
4.	Treasurer	Mr. A.R. Mirdah, Assistant Librarian, Dhaka University
5.	Assistant Secretary-2	Mr. A.M. Motahar Ali Khan, Assistant Librarian, Central Public Library, Dhaka
5.	Assistant Secretary-2	A.Z. Nur Ahmad, Reading Room Superintendent, Dhaka University Library
6.	Councillors-8	Dr. Nafis Ahmed
		M.C. Chanda, Dhaka University Library
		Nargis Zafar, USIS Library
		Abdullah-al-Abedin, Central Public Library, Dhaka
		K.A. Rab, Dhaka , College Library
		S.A. Chawdhury, East Pakistan Statistical Board
		B. Rahman Faruq

The first conference of the East Pakistan Library Association was held jointly with the third annual conference of Pakistan Library Association in between 24 and 28 December 1960 at Dhaka. Lt. General Mohammad Azam Khan, Governor of East Pakistan was the Chief Guest. The most important achievement of this conference was that the East Pakistan librarians were able to persuade the West Pakistani Librarians to shift head quarter of the Pakistan Library Association in Dhaka . It was decided that PLA head-quarter would rotate between Karachi , Dhaka and Lahore every three years.

East Pakistan was the host to the fifth annual conference of the Pakistan Library Association for the second time in 1963 when the second conference of the East Pakistan Library Association was also held. Since the PAL head Quarter was in Dhaka at that time, there was great enthusiasm and encouragement among the East Pakistan Librarians. EPLA had no house of its own, no paid worker and no adequate ways and means beyond the voluntary contribution of its members. Sincere and honest service of its members was the only resources.

Having only seven members at the outset, fifteen in 1958, eighteen in 1959, eleven in 1961 and never exceeding thirty on average the EPLA was quite alive towards development of librarianship in the country.

After the Victory of Liberation War on 16 December 1971 , the Association was renamed as Library Association of Bangladesh (LAB). Later, the LAB was registered under the Social Welfare Registration Act xxxxvi of 1961. Now it’s head quarter in Dhaka .

Library Development:

LAB has endeavored a lot to give a new face-lift to professionalism in Bangladesh . Presently there are associations, and societies representing different types of libraries and information centers. There are 68 public libraries including Central Public Library in Dhaka that managed by the Directorate of Public Libraries under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, about 12 private public libraries that aided by the Government, 677 special libraries, 23 Public University libraries, 53 private university libraries, and few number college libraries and institutional libraries in Bangladesh

Aims and Objectives:

Promotion of library services to the people of the country.
Provision and promotion of facilities for training for librarianship and of research in library science.
Cooperation with libraries, library organizations and with such Associations as may have similar aims and objects in and outside the country, in furtherance of the cause of service to the people in the field of librarianship.
Improvement of the status and service conditions of library personnel and
To take over the assets of any association or institutions having objectives similar to be objects of the Association.

Activities of LAB

The LAB is committed to:

affirms that access to information is a fundamental right of the citizen;
establish a comprehensive library and information systems and services that advance the social, economic, cultural and education development of the nation;
provide technical advice and assistance in developing effective services;
enables its every member to achieve and maintain the highest professional standards;
bargain with the different agencies of the Government, NGOs, as well as academic institutions in regard to improve the status, salary of the professionals;
improve the existing library services;
conduct research and training programs for the professionals;
implement the Government policy organizing seminars, rally, and workshops;
take active part in improving literacy program;
help Government and it’s agencies in developing and implementing plans and policies; and
create greater awareness about the importance of libraries and needs of information.

Library System:

The library and information services in Bangladesh may be categorized into 4 groups:
1. National library systems
2. Public library systems
3. Academic library systems consisting of university, college, schools, madrasa and institutional libraries
4 Research and special types of libraries

The libraries of Bangladesh are financed by the organizations that belongs to and by the government. The libraries have the professional librarians except National Library and Central Pubic Library; Government selects the persons worked here.

Organogram of LAB

As per Constitution of LAB as amended in 2005, 21 members Executive Council has formed by a direct election. The election is held after three years. The Executive Council is as follows:

1. President Position 1

2. Vice President Position 3

3. General Secretary Position 1

4. Treasurer Position 1

5. Joint General Secretary Position 1

6. Organizing Secretary Position 1

7. Researches and Publication Secretary Position 1

8. Women Affairs Secretary Position 1

9. Councilors (5 from Central and 6 from Divisions) Position

( Refers to the Constitution )

Power and Duties of the EC:

The Council of the Association shall be its executive body and its powers and duties shall include the following, subject to the relevant provisions of the Constitution and in consonance with the objects of the Association:

• To draw up programs, to undertake projects and to executive decisions of the General Body;

• To frame rules of procedure for itself and the General Body subject to the approval of the General Body in the latter case;

• To frame bye-laws under the provisions of the constitution subject to the approval of the General Body, and to make regulations in order to put into full effect the provisions of the constitution and the bye-laws;

• To arrange proper custody of funds, their accounting and audit and circulation of audited accounts to members;

• To convene sessions of the General Body and the Council when due and necessary;

• To arrange election of the successor Council when due and fill through cooption casual vacancies on the Council;

• To appoint committees and sub-committees for specific purposes;

• To encourage and guide in formation of library associations outside Dhaka and to facilitate them in accordance with terms of affiliation or to disaffiliate them in the case of contravention;

• To obtain for the association affiliation of such regional or international associations as may be of benefit to association;

• To conduct a course or courses of training in librarianship;

• To publish professional journal(s) and to undertake other useful publications;

• To hold seminars, symposia, discussions, receptions, etc. of professional importance;

• To own, hold, administer and invest property, to institute necessary and appropriate legal action on behalf of the Association and to contest any legal action against it;

• To allocate duties to the Councilors;

• To take disciplinary action against derelict members; and

• To take such other actions as may be necessary for the fulfillment of the objects of the Association.

( Refers to the Constitution )

Finance:

The policies, rules and powers relating to financial management of the Association are prescribed in the constitution. These includes, the operation of accounts, approval process, and internal and external audit matters and also the powers of EC in incurring expenditures. It is mentionable here that since the LAB has no regular income, accept tuition fees from the students of 6 month's Certificate Courses. Therefore, no formal annual budget is prepared. Cash balances of the Association shall be funded in accounts with any of the schedule banks.

The President, General Secretary and Treasurer operate the Accounts of the Association jointly. The Treasurer is responsible to keep the records and to submit the audit reports at the General Meeting.

( Refers to the Constitution )

Sources of Income:

The sources generated from the membership are neither sufficient nor regular. A better source of income is the fees of the students of 6 month's Certificate Courses. Other sources include the sale of publications. But most of the LAB activities are dependent on availability of funds from the different donor and advertisements. ( Refers to the Constitution )

Program and Services:

Despite its meager resources and constraints, LAB has played a vital role in the development of librarianship by holding seminars, conferences and observing different national and international days and occasions.

LAB has been involved in organizing training courses, and workshops for the betterment of profession.

Publications:

LAB has a journal The Eastern Librarian , a Bengali newsletter Upatta , and published seminar proceedings and issue based booklets. LAB also published a `Directory of Librarians of Bangladesh' and Textbook on Library Science in Bangla.

Policies and Procedure:

All internal operations and the relationship with the other external community is generally governed by LAB Constitution.

Advocacy:

As a strategy for advocacy, right from the very inception, LAB has focused to attract and involve Government and other appropriate agencies in LAB activities and programs. For instances, Prime Ministers, Ministers, Vice Chancellors, Secretaries and other high officials of the Government in different times.

Conclusion:

The history of librarianship in Bangladesh is a glorious. Its history begins from 1850. But it appears that LAB had not a smooth going during the years of its existence. Even though, some remarkable achievements have been made. A highest national award ``Sadhinata Padak'' (Independent Award) has given to Late Mohammad Siddique Khan, the first President of LAB and founder Chairman of the Department Information Science and Library Management at Dhaka University as an outstanding educationist and father of Librarianship in Bangladesh. On the other hand, The Prime Minister of the present Government of Bangladesh has declared ``2002 as Year of the Books'', ``2003 as Year of the Library'', 2004 as Year of the Children's Literature'' and ``2005 as Year of the Science Books''.

In fine, it is for the good of the LAB and more so for the profession as a whole that LAB should become a stronger, viable, and dynamic in approach for addressing the library problems with which the nation faced.