Libraries at the mercy of ULBs for survival

Urban local bodies collect library cess along with property tax but are tight-fisted

A funds crunch has hit over 6,700 libraries across the State simply because over 200 urban local bodies have denied funds to the Department of Public Libraries for the last five years or more.

The impact has been so bad that most gram panchayat libraries can only afford to purchase two newspapers and a few monthly magazines.

Libraries are largely funded by library cess — 6% of the amount paid as property tax — which is used for local purchases, development, and maintenance of libraries.

The urban local bodies collect the library cess along with property tax in their jurisdiction.

Pending dues

The pending dues from ULBs to the Department of Public Libraries has touched ₹257 crore as on March 2017. The department blames the ULBs for the neglect of libraries.

Despite repeated requests from the department, sources said, the State’s richest ULB — Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) — has not paid ₹219 crore for the past five yeas while the Mysuru City Corporation has not cleared ₹9 crore.

Employees of the department complain that basic amenities such as furniture, computers, and books can only be provided after receiving the cess, and “it would be a great help, if industries and Good Samaritans adopt libraries for promoting the reading habit among the public.”

There are 5,766 gram panchayat libraries in the State. The government had granted ₹19 crore for purchase of books in 2016-17. However, the amount was not sufficient to purchase quality books published by reputed publishers.

Staff shortage

Renovation work of many libraries in the district have not been taken up due to paucity of funds. Further, staff shortage remains a concern, the official said.

The councils of ULBs don’t tell us how much tax is collected. They release payments irregularly after the department pleads with them to do so, another official of the department said.