ILA— Indian Library Association

 ILA— Indian Library Association

Indian Library Association was founded in 1933 at Calcutta. Although the first effort for the foundation of an association of library personnels in India at national level was done

in 1920, the association was set up named with All India Association of Public Libraries,

in Calcutta, but due to some reasons it could not run. Again in 1933, with the efforts of Dr.

Ranganathan, Indian Library Association was founded on legal basis. Since then ILA has

been running successfully in the country. The ILA aims at establishing high standards of

librarianship and library services in the country.

Activities of ILA

(i) Meetings and Seminars. ILA holds All India conference every year in different

parts of the country. In addition, national seminars on themes of topical interest are also arranged from time to time. The association arranges lectures, round

table discussions, etc., mostly in Delhi. A study circle meeting is held regularly

once in a month at Delhi for discussing technical subjects. It associates itself with

libraries, other library associations, institutions, etc. in the programmes, generally

organised during the National Library Week in November each year.

(ii) Education and Training. ILA undertakes continuing Education Programme for the

benefits of working professionals in different cities on computer application to library

and information activities.

(iii) Professional Issues. ILA takes up with the state governments, the issue of enacting library legislation in order to develop the public library system. It has been sending reminder memorandum persuading the governments to initiate action on legislation about the libraries. It has been pursuing with the governments, UGC and other management at all levels on matters relating to betterment of salary, grades, service conditions and status of library professionals. A number of resolutions are usually passed on matters of professional interest and concern in its meetings held every year for taking up with appropriate authorities for implementation.

(iv) Projects. The ILA completed successfully a project for technical processing of about 35,000 volumes of a special collection for the Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) National Academy of Administration, Mussourie. UNESCO also assigned two projects to this association, being influenced by its working and achievements. The projects are

(a) Rendering of Asian Names, 

(b) Directory of Asian Periodicals. Under the chairmanship of Dr. Ranganathan (1948-53) the association caused to be acquainted at international level also. ILA also founded a Research Group.

(v) Relation with Other Associations. ILA is the member of IFLA and COMLA. ILA also organised the UAP seminar in 1985 and FID/CR Regional Seminar in November, 1985 in Delhi.

ILA also represents in Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Good Office Committee, National Bureau of Standards, Executive Committee-2 (NBS), Section Committee on Documentation Standards, UNESCO National Commission and National Book Trust, World Book Fair Committee.

ILA also plays a leading role in the Joint Council of Library Associations in India towards evolving a coordinated approach and a common strategy on professional issues of concern to all library associations. It has also good working relations with IASLIC and state library associations.

(vi) Publications. ILA started the publication of a periodical in 1942 named Library Bulletin, which was continued only upto 1946. And hence a new periodical ABGILA (Annual Bulletin of Government of India Libraries Association) was started in 1949 which was continued upto 1954, and became popular as a research journal. In 1955 it became closed and in place of it, a new journal namely Journal of ILA wass tarted.

Membership

The membership of ILA is open to all individuals and institutions who are interested in

the development of libraries and library professions, such as library staff, library users,

publishers, etc. It has following eight categories of membership:

(i) Patron members 

(ii) Honorary members

(iii) Foreign members 

(iv) Life members

(v) Ordinary members 

(vi) Institutional members

(vii) Library associations 

(viii) Associate members