Haryana now has a library policy

CHANDIGARH - For the first time, a library policy has been formulated in Haryana for the proper management and organisation of the reading material among students, a senior official said here Wednesday.

The policy, formulated by the higher education department, is aimed to ensure optimum utilisation of the resources available in the libraries of the government colleges.

Director General Higher Education Dheera Khandelwal said the policy aimed at inculcating reading habits among the youth.

“Reading grooms the personality and gives best utilisation of spare time. The policy would ensure an easy access to maximum number of students to the books available in the college library, which is otherwise difficult for them. The policy would discourage retention of books by the borrower indefinitely,” Khandelwal said.

Giving details of the policy, she said a maximum of 15 books could be issued to the principals and lecturers for a period of one month for each book. Post-graduate students could also be issued five books for a period of 14 days for each book. Under-graduate students would be issued three books for 14 days for each book, she added.

She said reference and rare books and periodicals would not be issued to the students. These would be available for consultation in the library itself.

Not returning the books within the stipulated time would entail a penalty of Re.1 per day per book, Khandelwal said.