The Mizoram Public Libraries Act, 1993

Regd. No. NE 907 The Mizoram Gazette EXTRA ORDINARY Published by Authority Vol XXII Aizawl, Wednesday 10.3.1993 Phalguna 19. S.E. 1914 Issue No. 42 NOTIFICATION No. H. 12018/12 91-LJD, the 5th March. 1993, The foilowing Act of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly which received the assent of the Governor is hereby published for general information. The Mizoram Act No 4 of 1993 diaCo The Mizoram Public Libraries Act, 1993 (Received the assent of Governor of Mizoram on the 25th February, 1993) AN ACT to provide for the establishment, maintenance and development of comprehensive public libraries system in the State of Mizoram. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram in the Forty- Fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows :- CHAPTER-II PRELIMINARY Short title, extent 1.

(1) This Act may be called the Mizoram Public Libraries Act, 1993. and commencement. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Mizoram. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette appoint. Defination 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires :- (a) "Council" means State Library Council; (b) "Department" means the Department of Education and Human Resources; (c) "Director" means the Director of Public Libraries appointed as csuch; (d) "Government" means the State Government of Mizoram; (e) "Notification" means a Notification published Mizoram Official Gazette; (f) "prescribed" means prescribed by the Rules made under this Act .; (g) "Public Library" means a Library which serves the general public and includes State, District, Sub-Divisional and village Libraries;

(h) "Rules" means the Rules made under this Act; (i) "State" means the state of Mizoram; "Year"means the financial Ver CO CHAPTER-II THE STATE LIBRARY COUNCIL Constitution of State Library Council 3. There shall be constituted, by notification, the State Council consisting of :- (a) the following ex-officio members - The Minister of Education & Human Resources who shall be the (i) ChairmanConstitution of 'State Library Council."3."Stat"Council consisting of-"shall be the chairman; (ii) The. Secretary of Education & Human Resources who shall be the Secretary of the council; (iii) The Director of Art & Culture; (iv) The Director of School Education; (v) The Director of Higher & Technical Education; (vi) The Direcior of Adult Education; (vii) The Director SCERT; (viii) The Director ofInformation & Public Relations;

(ix) The Station Director, AIR (x) The Director of Public Libraries; (xi) The Librarian, NEHU, Mizoram Campus, Aizawl; and (xii) The State Librarian. (b) Other members, such as - (i) Two members of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly to be nominated by the Government; (ii) One representative of the Mizoram Library Association; (iii) One representative of Central YMA. (iv) One representative of Mizo Academy of letters; and (v) One representative of Mizoram Publication Board. Term ofoffice of 4. The term of office of the members of the Council shall be a period of three years. the Council the Council Membership of 5. If a member ceases to hold the position by virtue of which he was so nominated or elected, he shall automatically cease to be a member of the Council. Vacancy in the 6. A vacancy in the office of a nominated member of the Council shall be filled by membership of nomination and the new member shall hold office only for the rmaining period o term.

theCouncil Meeting of the 7. (1) The Council shall meet at least twice in a year. council and the quoram (2) In the absence of the Chairman, members present at a meeting shall elect chairman for that meeting from amongst themselves. (3) Six members shall form a quorum. Council Duties of the 8. (1) The Council shall advise the the Government on all matters relating to Libraries arising out of the provisions of this Act and also in regards to promotion and devlopment of Library Services in the State. (2) The Council shall take suitable steps to establish and promote a Public Library System. CHAPTER 1II DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES Constitution of 9. (1) On the commencement of this Act, the Department of Public Libraries shall Public Library be constituted with a Director at its head. (2) The Director shall be assisted by the Joint Director, the Deputy Director, and other necessary supporting staff.

Appoinment of 10. The appoinment of Officers and the supporting staff shall be made by the Gov- Officers and Staff ernment in accordance with the provisions of the rules made under this Act. Conditions for 11. The existing Library Staff, for the purpose of absorption shall have to obtain absorption of ex- necessary qualitication within a limit of time as may be prescribed. isting staff CHAPTER-IV CATEGORIES OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES taleshay LIBRO Year Categories of 12. The Public Libraries in the State shall be divided into four categories as follows :- Public Libraries (i) State Library; (ii) District Library; (iii) Sub-divisional Library; and (iv) Village Library. State Library 13. (1) There shall be a State Library located in the Capital of the State. (2) The State Library shall consist of the following sections :- (i) Bureau of copy right (ii) State Library for the blind;

(iii) Inter Library Loan (iv) State Bibliographical Bureau (v) Technical Services and (vi) Mobile Services. Function State 14. The State Library shall function as Library as well as reservoir of books. Library District Library 15. There shall be a, District Library in every District headquarters of the State. Sub-divisional 16. There shall be a Sub-divisional Library in each sub-divisional headquarters. Library Village Libraries 17. Ther shall be recognised Village Libraries in such Villages as may be found and considered deserving and suitable by the Government from time to time. CHAPTER V FINANCIALASSISTANCE TO RECOGNISE VILLAGE LIBRARIES Grand-in-aid to 18. The Government may sanction Grant-in-aid to recognised Village libraries in ac- Recognised Vil- cordance with the rules made under this Act.

lage Libraries CHAPTER VI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS State Library As- 19. (1) The Council may recognise any one body as the State Library Association, sociation the constitution of which shall be approved by the Council. (2) The Director shall consult Library Association on important matters relating to the Libraries and Librarian of the State. Power to make 20. (1) The Government may, by notification, make rules to carry out the purpose rules of this Act. liau (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely- (a) the requisite qualifications for appointment as the Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director, State Librarian, the District Librarian, Sub-divisional Librarian and other supporting staff, (b) the mode of payment in respect of the financial assistance and the special grant-in-aid to the recognised libraries ;

and (c) Such other rules as the Government may deem it necessary. (3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram while it is in session for a total period of seven days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions ; and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram makes any modification in the rule or decide that the rule should not be made, the rule shall therreafter have effect as the case may be so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule Dr. H.C. Thanhranga, Secretary to the Govt. of Mizoram, Law, Judicial & Parliamentary Affairs Department Published and Issued by Controller, Printing & Stationery Department, Government of Mizoram Printed at the Mizoram Government Press, Aizawl.

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