Mysuru: For the first time in the state, the department of public libraries has decided to hand over the management of public libraries to private agencies. As a pilot project, the department had decided to privatise one city central library in Mysuru City and if it’s a success, more libraries will be handed over to private agencies.Despite the severe staff crunch, the department of public libraries runs 17 branch libraries, 13 service centre libraries including libraries at Karnataka State Reserve Police, Central Armed Reserve Force, District Armed Reserve Force and Mysuru Central Prison, six study centres, E-library, children library and mobile library in the city.The number of libraries in the city is increasing every year. Now, there are 33 libraries and government has not revised the sanctioned posts of technical staff of 17 posts from the past 20 years. Each technical staff manages two or three libraries with the support of temporary staff.Due to pressure from elected representatives and corporators, new libraries are being constructed by Mysuru City Corporation, Mysuru Urban Development Authority in wards and are handed over to the department. Recently, civic agency constructed two library buildings at Gokulam and Gangotri Layout.City Central Library deputy director B Manjunath said that due to pressure from public representatives, civic agencies construct library buildings. “While civic agencies have yet to pay Rs 19 crore pending due from library cess to the department, by constructing new libraries and handing over buildings to the department for service has burdened staff. The civic agencies don’t take the consent or opinion of the department before constructing library buildings. Therefore, it was decision to hand over the libraries to private agencies for management,” he said.Manjunath said the department will provide the library building, furniture, books and other equipment and agencies would maintain the library.“The concept has been approved in the city library authority headed by the mayor and the department has discussed it. This will also help the department start libraries in all 65 wards as opposed to 28 wards which now have them,” he said.

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