1. Introduction: In 1954 Indian parliament passed Delivery of Books (Public
Libraries) Act. According to this Act, the publisher of every book, newspaper
or serial must deliver at his own expense a copy of the book within thirty days
from the date of its publication to the National Library at Calcutta (Kolkata)
and one copy each to three other public libraries specified by the Central
Government. The Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Act, 1954: No. 27 of 1954,
amended by the Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Amendment Act, 1956: No. 99
of 1956 and thus it became “The Delivery of Books 'and Newspapers' (Public
Libraries) Act, 1954”. The insertions “and Newspapers” provided by the
Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Amendment Act, 1956 to includes serials as
well. The Delivery of Books (Public
Libraries) Act, 1954 extends to the
whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
2.
Mode of Delivery:
A copy of every book published by a publisher and the publisher of every
newspaper, published in the territories to which this Act extends, shall
deliver at his own expense one copy of each issue of such newspaper as soon as
it is published, shall be delivered by him to the librarian of three public
library either by registered post or through a special messenger. Under the
Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954, the National
Library, Calcutta (presently Kolkata) is entitled to receive a copy of every
publication brought out by anyone anywhere in the country. The other copies
should be delivered to the Connemera Public Library, Madras (Chennai), The Central Library, Town Hall, Bombay (Mumbai), and the Delhi Public Library. The copy to
be delivered to the National Library, Kolkata should be the best of its kind.
3.
Receipt for Books Delivered: The person in charge of a public
library (whether called a librarian or by any other name) or any other person
authorised by him in his behalf to whom a copy of a book is delivered shall
give to the publisher a receipt in writing and send it to the publisher by
registered post and such receipt shall be conclusive proof of the fact that a
copy of the book has been duly delivered to the public library of which he is
the librarian.
4.
Benefit for the Publisher: The Indian National Bibliography is procured by all
leading libraries and learned institutions throughout the English speaking
world and much beyond. The books that are received by way of Delivery of Books and
Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act 1954, 56 are included in the INB. Thus, the
INB provides the publisher or the author with an excellent and unique
opportunity of using the forum of the Indian National Bibliography to give the
widest possible publicity to their publications not only in India but virtually
all over the world. So, Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act
1954, 56 also gives a commercial advantage of publicity to the publisher or
authors.
5.
Penalty: Any
publisher who contravenes any provision of this Act. or of any rule made
hereunder shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees and,
“if the contravention is in respect of a book, shall also be punishable with
fine which shall be equivalent to” the value of the book, and the court trying
the offence may direct that the whole or any part of the fine realised from him
shall be paid, by way of compensation to the public library to which the book
or “newspaper”, as the case may be, ought to have been delivered.
6. Conclusion: The Delivery of
Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954 have the provision to deliver
a copy of every publication brought out by anyone anywhere in the India to the
National Library, Calcutta. Apart from the obligation cast upon publishers
under the law, there is also an advantage they stand to enjoy by depositing
their publications to the National Library. It provides them with an excellent opportunity
of using the forum of the Indian National Bibliography to give the widest
possible publicity to their publications in India and virtually all over the
world.
How to Cite this
Article?
APA Citation, 7th Ed.: Barman, B. (2020). A comprehensive book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications.
Chicago 16th Ed.: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. Guwahati:
New Publications, 2020.
MLA Citation 8th Ed: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications, 2020.

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