Brief

Delhi Public Library was started as a Pilot Project of UNESCO “For the development of public library services in adult and fundamental education throughout India and in other countries of Southeast Asia”.

UNESCO floated the proposal to start Public Library Pilot Project in Asia and India was the first to respond and express its desire to implement it. Therefore, India was selected for the Public Library Pilot Project to carry out the Policy of UNESCO’s Public Library Manifesto. It started as a Model of UNESCO’s Public Library Manifesto in Asia. An agreement between the UNESCO and the Government of India was made in May 1951; the Terms of Reference for the project were set as: “It shall provide public library service for the people of the city of Delhi and shall be a model for all public library development in India, and in all countries where similar development of public libraries can be undertaken. The library shall be designed to carry out the policy of the UNESCO’s Public Library Manifesto and to serve the needs of popular education”.

Mr. D R Kalia was selected as the first Indian Director of DPL. He was sent to England on a one-year Fellowship in the spring of 1950. Mr. Edward Sydney took up the charge of DPL in December 1950 and continued up to June 1951. Mr. Frank M Gardener, the Librarian of the Luton Public Library, U K joined as the Consultant of the DPL Project in November 1951 and served DPL up to June 1952. He authored the text of “The Delhi Public Library Project”, published by Education Clearing House, UNESCO, Paris, 29th December 1952. (Occasional papers in education. UNESCO/ED/Occ./16). This is the master document, which provided details related to the establishment of Delhi Public Library.