The National Library of India Act came in to existence on 11th June 1976. As library been part of good academic Country, rich and varied collection of library been a asset of best academic pursuits. There exist a law to safeguard the library persist in the Country and its proper management. An Act established to provide for the proper administration of National Library and other matters connect therewith. There been a Board established by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette under Section 3 of the Act and it called as the National Library Board, The Board been a body corporate has perpetual succession and a common seal to acquire, hold and dispose of property with the proper authority to sue and to be sued. Board without obtaining any prior approval from the Central Government could not sell or dispose any books and articles which basically belongs to the Library.
Board constituted under Act has certain members appointed under Section 4 of Act to discharge the functions laid under Act, Board consists of Chairman, Chief Librarian of one of Libraries as specified in Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954, one person to be nominated by Indian Library Association, society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, One person who nominated by Government of West Bengal, Director of Library who be the Member Secretary and certain other members who are elected by parliament, nominated by the Central Government. Members of the Board could be disqualified as member as defined under Section 5 of the Act. Member as Chairman who elected by Central Government holds office not more than three years, and any person or member of the Board can resign his office by writing it to the Central Government.
Board shall meet the members at least twice in a year to clarify the matters relating to the business transaction and meeting shall held ordinarily in the premises of the Library and there shall be an Executive Council of Board constituted by consisting of nine members for deal with the matters connected with the Board. President of India shall acts as the Visitor of the Library as laid in Section 14, Visitor has right to make inspection of the Library and to the Board by giving them notice as specified.
On the establishment of Board all the properties, duties and dues vests with the Central Government shall be transferred to the Board for the proper functioning of Library as specified in Section 19. Board has wide duties to perform under the Section 20 of Act, it shall be the general duty of the Board as laid in Act to properly maintain the Library and to implement programmes for the development of the Library, to give advice to Central and State Government to prepare catalogs and to render service to public for using the library to gain the knowledge. Board constituted under Act can exercise all powers as laid under Section 21 for the purpose of carrying out its duties laid under the Act. There may be Fund initiated by the Board under Section 23 of Act and all the funds or grants given by the Central Government and other authorities for the development of Board can be credited to the fund of Board.
Board as specified in Section 24 of Act and by Central Government submits the approval of a budget for the next financial year which includes all receipts and expenditures. Board has to maintain proper accounts and other relevant materials including the balance sheet and statement of account and it has to submit the same to the Central Government as specified in Section 26. Act protects the members of Board under Section 29 as no suit or legal proceedings could be taken against the member of Board as Act done in god faith and members called to be as public servants as dealt in Section 21 of Indian Penal Code. Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette has power to make rules as specified in Section 30 relating to the matter of appointment and other allowances of member of Board. Under Section 31 of Act, Board has power to make regulations which not with the inconsistent of the Act, and regulations can be made relate to the conditions specified to the books included in the Library, and to prepare, manage time and place of meeting.
by Priyadarshini Chandrasekar