During this first five year plan period (1973-78) of Bangladesh, a National Education Commission was set up to examine all aspects of educational system of the country including libraries. The Commission proposed (October, 1974) the establishment of nation-wide network of public library services as a national target. Recommendations emphasized the public library legislation and the establishment of a Government public library at Rajshahi and the development of existing public libraries at Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna. It also suggested the expansion of libraries at district, sub-division and thana levels. The report also proposed the establishment of a new office to prepare for the creation of a Library Directorate (Mannan, 1990 : 114). So long the public libraries had been under the Education Directorate, Ministry of Education. Late in 1974, the Education Ministry was bifurcated into (i) Ministry of Education and (ii) Ministry of Sports, Cultural Affairs and Religion. The public libraries also went under the latter Ministry (Siddique, 1985: 13). Meanwhile, in 1977, the Central Public Library was shifted from the University Campus to its new premises and was opened to the public in 1978. Then, a two year plan 1978-80 was formulated to continue the efforts to reach the first plan targets. But the important issues in previous plan remain untouched except the creation of a post of Chief Librarian of the Bangladesh Central Public Library and allocation of some grants to new government libraries. In 1978-79, a survey of public libraries was carried out by the Ministry of Sports and Cultural Affairs and the British Council of Bangladesh under the general supervision of Mr J Stephen Parker, a UNESCO expert. The survey was evaluated in March 1979 and recommendations were made and compiled in three volumes under the title Bangladesh Public Library Survey: Final Report. This was submitted to the Ministry of Sports and Cultural Affairs in 1981 (Siddique, 1985: 14). This survey covers 176 existing public libraries in Bangladesh and made 31 recommendations for the development of public libraries during the Second Five Year Plan period. Subsequent to the Parker Report, a national seminar on library development in Bangladesh was sponsored by the Government of Bangladesh in collaboration with the British Council. The seminar recommended that high priority be given for the development of library, documentation, archives and information services, particularly during the Second Five Year Plan period, and further suggested that this development should be coordinated at the national level for formulating, amongst other things, national standards for library, and library legislation. (Alam, 1991:24).

Under the Second Five Year Plan period (1980-85) the government took the initiative to complete the remaining works of Central Public Library and also envisaged the completion of Rajshahi Divisional Public Library building, the extension of Khulna Divisional Public Library, development of Thana Public Library-cum-Auditorium and construction of a new building for the Chittagong Divisional Public Library (Rahman, 1992: 23). In this plan training programme for librarians and book for all libraries also included.

The Ministry of Sports and Cultural Affairs took the responsibility of Public Library sector of the country. On the other hand, information centres of Bangladesh Parishad and Bureau of National Reconstruction (BNR) whose responsibilities included providing book lending service to the people ultimately amalgamated with the public library sector. However, in 1983, a Department of Public Libraries was established by absorbing the government public libraries of the country including Bangladesh Central Public Library (Rahman, 1993: 174). According to the official source of Department of Public Libraries, up to May, 1998, the department has now in its administrative control some 68 libraries with Bangladesh Central Public Library as its headquarters. This public library network extends in all the district headquarters except two districts, Shariatpur and Narshingdi. Of the 68 government libraries, 19 are housed in their own accommodation, 42 in rented private buildings and the remaining 7 in accommodations allowed by the local district administration. It is to be mentioned here that among these 66 government libraries the following four libraries at divisional headquarters are considered to be the divisional libraries:

— Bangladesh Central Public Library (Now Sufia Kamal National Public Library) established in 1958) at Dhaka;

— Chittagong Divisional Public Library (established in 1962, but became operational in its present spacious building since July,1989);

— Khulua Divisional Public Library (established in 1965);

— Rajshahi Divisional Public Library (since June 1983).

Among the remaining 64 government libraries, 2 out of 4 branch libraries are located in Dhaka, one in Mymensingh, one in Rajshahi, and rest 60 libraries are situated in other districts.

During the Third Five Year Plan period (1985-90), the major programmes in the field of library activities in the country were development of Chittagong Divisional Public Library, development of 17 district public libraries, and establishment of 7 new district public libraries. Training programmes for the librarians were also included (Planning Commission, 1985). Actually the Third Five Year Plan intended to materialize the incomplete task of Second Five Year Plan (1980-85). But unfortunately no significant development was visible through the whole period of plan. Within this plan period, the cultural affairs division formed its own Ministry as Ministry of Cultural Affairs with the Government and Non-Government public libraries. National Library and Archives.

During the Fourth Five Year Plan period (1990-95) no major library development projects were included except providing grants to the Non-Government public libraries through National Book Centre of Bangladesh and to arrange a training programme of library personnel from Government and Non-Government Public Libraries of the country. During the fifth Five Year Plan period (1995-2000) the following programmes were taken:

— Development of Public Libraries Second phase, under which government public libraries would be established at remaining two districts (Shariatpur and Narsingdi) and accommodation and other physical facilities would be created for eight other district government Public Libraries. The plan also included introduction of modern technology like computers in these libraries and in Bangladesh Central Public Library (Dhaka); and

— Further development of Chittagong Muslim Institute and Chittagong Public Library. The plan included introduction of computers and other facilities in Chittagong divisional library.

A Twenty Years Perspective Plan was also submitted to the government in this period, which includes the (i) development of country-wide public library network upto root level, (ii) enactment of Library Legislation (which is yet to be enacted) and (iii) modernization of Public Library services. Meanwhile a National Book Policy was framed in 1993 which made following recommendations:

— Enactment of Public Library Legislation;

— Expansion of Public Library network up to union level;

— Employment of professionals in the library service;

— Up-grading the service standard of college and university
libraries, etc.

Accordingly a draft proposal of Library Legislation has been prepared and submitted by the Department of Public Libraries to the Government in 1995. The proposal is still under consideration.

According to the official records (1998) of the Department of Public Libraries, the total manpower strength of the government public libraries throughout the country up to may, 1998 is 376 of which 46 are professionals, 200 para and semi-professionals and remaining 130 nonprofessionals. The total budget for the Department of public libraries were:

In revenue heads       In development heads
Year (in lakh taka) (in lakh taka)

1995-96       382.82                    280.00

1996-97      344.00                      324.00

1997-98*    336.95                       250.00

* The present value may be changed in the revised budget.

It is true that the Non-Government public libraries were the fore-runners of public library service and had immense contribution to the spread of education and knowledge in this country. But the recent trend in most Non-Government public libraries of the country shows the deterioration of the glorious past of the library movement in Bangladesh. Most Non Government public libraries were started with public contribution and through voluntary donation in cash or kind from the philanthropists or zamindars of those days. But after the abolition of zamindary system, the government has been playing the role of the zaminders. The membership fees and the government grants are so minimal that those libraries cannot afford the salaries of the staff, nor even the book budget or maintenance of the accommodation. As a result, most of them are not functioning well. Observation made on those libraries in the inspection report of the then OSD library. Public Library Survey Report by J S Parker, and sample survey by the Department of Public Libraries in 1988 bear the accuracy of this statement (Rahman, 1993: 172-73). But, this is to be mentioned here that there are few Non-Government public libraries which are supported by donations from individuals, who, by their personal endeavour, created some trusts or funds for meeting the establishment and other costs, including book purchase and maintenance. Among those Jessore Institute Public Library is notable. The book bank and mobile book loan service of the Jessore Public Library deserve special mention. According to Mannan and Sattar (1994: 158) there are approximately 369 Non- Government libraries more or less operating in the country. Rahman (1993: 175) says in this correction:

Starting from the First Five Year Plan many of these libraries are getting yearly recurring and development grants from the Government. The grant is now distributed directly by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the National Book Centre, an organization whose charter does not cover the controlling of the Non-Government public libraries of the country. The centre has recently been entrusted also with the task of implementing a development project by the title ‘Assistance to the Non-Government Public Libraries at the District and Thana level with a total outlay of Taka 598.76 lakh. The project started in July 1991 and supposed to have been completed in 1995. The main objective of the project is to supply books, furniture and library equipment primarily to the 430 Non-Government public libraries already enlisted by National Book Centre through a survey.

In conclusion, it may be mentioned here that in spite of inadequacies, failures and inconsistencies the library system under one integrated order has now taken a more or less specific form. The establishment of the Department of Public Libraries by the Government with its all inadequacies is a proper step in the direction and with this effort, at least a sustainable framework of public library service up to district level has been established. Now it depends on the concerned authorities and the professionals to follow up and make a public library service in the truest sense of the term for the country.

Academic Library

Academic Libraries are those, which are attached to any academic institution. The basic function of the academic library is to aid the institution in carrying out its objectives.

In Bangladesh, Academic Library includes the libraries of the school, madrasha, college. University and other educational institutions.

School

In Bangladesh there are three types of schools e.g. (a) Primary (b) Junior Secondary and (c) Secondary schools. Regarding primary, according to the BANBEIS (1993:1-13) study, there are 49.942 (all types) primary schools in the country but it is a fact that there is no library in any primary schools and even no attempt has been made to establish a library in primary schools in any development programme. At present there are about 317Government, 9,145 Non-Government secondary schools and about 2,288 Non-Government junior high schools in the country. It is true that library can play an important role to influence the development of the character of the student, but unfortunately in our country almost all schools do not have any worth mentioning library. In reality, there are only a few ‘Zila School have books and some forms of libraries. However, steps have been taken to develop the condition of the bilateral and multilateral school libraries, but no significant result has yet been achieved (Chowdhury,1993: 164).

According to Ahmed, (1994: 58) the libraries in secondary schools are not functioning well for various reasons. However, a number of steps were taken by appointing full time librarians with qualification of Higher Secondary Certificate and short term library training course for 22 pilot schools. Education extension Centre donated necessary books to those schools. However, the condition of other secondary school libraries is cry discouraging, because of a lack of accommodation, reading materials, sufficient grants and trained librarians, A few secondary schools were brought under Government Development Programme. They received some grants for purchasing books and also received books from some NGOs. Moreover, a few teachers of those school have been given short- term training from Library Association of Bangladesh and Education Extension Centre. But due to shortage of fund and books their training has not been ultimately utilised.

The Commission on National Education observed that Library is the heart of the school, but the government paid very little attention to the development of libraries in schools in Bangladesh. Moreover, the Reorganization Committee formed by the Martial Law Regime abolished the post of Librarian almost in all schools, so that the school libraries are not functioning from that period. (Chowdhury, 1993: 164).

Madrasha

In Bangladesh we have another system of education besides the general system known as Madrasha education which imparts religious instruction to the Muslim students. According to BANBEIS (1993: 1-13), there are about 5,819 madrashas including Kamil, Dakhil, Alim and Fazil level in the country. At present most madrashas have no library except a small collection of holy books and other eligious materials. However, the madrashas are gradually being integrated with the general education system and a good number of such institutions now offer science courses of Secondary and Higher Secondary level in addition to their normal courses. But regarding the library, the condition is almost the same as with the secondary schools. Steps should be taken on a national priority basis to establish a modern library in each school and madrasha of the country to ensure quality education.

Library history
BNR, Calcutta Public Library, Council for National Integration, history of ancient Indian libraries, history of cultural development, library development in Bangladesh, nation-wide network of public library, National Education Commission, public library legislation