DELIVERY OF BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS (PUBLIC LIBRARIES) ACT, 1954
27 of 1954
"In order to promole public libraries in India and lo encourage scholarship, it is considered ncccssaiy lo build up good libraries, and for this purpose it is desired to acquire not more than four copies of books and publications in India. One set of books so acquired will be deposited in the National Library Calcutta, and the remaining three sets will he utilized for other important libraries."- Gazetteof lndia.l953.Pt.II Extra. page 1152.
An Act to provide for delivery of books land newspapers] to the National Library and other public libraries. Be it enacted by Parliament in the Fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows :-
Amendment made in 1956.-"With a view to developing four public libraries in different parts of India to encourage scholarship and dissemination of knowledge, provision has been made in the Delivery of Books ( Public Libraries) Act. 1954. The purpose of this amending Bill 1 now Act 99 of 1956] is to bring the newspapers with in the purview of the Act. so that the newspapers may also be available in these public libraries (or reference and record."-S.O.R., Gazette of India. 1956, Extra. Pt. 11. Sec. 2. p. 833.
SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE AND EXTENT
(1) This Act may be called2the Delivery of Books[and Newspapers] (Public Libraries) Act, 1954
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the Slate of Jammu and Kashmir.
SECTION 02: DEFINITIONS
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "book" includes every volume, part or division of a volume, and pamphlet, in any language and every sheet of music, map, chart or plan separately printed or lithographed, but docs not include a newspaper published in conformity with the provisions ofsection 5 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867-; (aa)'newspapcr" means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on public news published in conformity with the provisions of5[section 5 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867-.]
(b) "Public libraries" means the National Library at Calcutta and any three other libraries5which may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf by nolification in the- official Gazette.
SECTION 03: DELIVERY OF BOOKS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES
(1) Subject to any rule that may be made under this Act, but without prejudice lo the provisions contained insection 9 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867-, the publisher of every hook published in the territories lo which this Act extends after the commencement of this Act shall, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, deliver at his own expense a copy of the book to the National Library at Calcutta and one such copy to each of the other three public libraries' within thirty days from the dale of its publication.
(2) The copy delivered to the National Library shall be a copy of the whole book with nil maps and illustrations belonging thereto. Finished and coloured in the same manner as the best copies of the same, and shall be bound, sewed or stitched together, and on the best paper on which any copy of the book is printed.
(3) The copy delivered to any other public library shall be on the paper on which the largest number of copies of the book is printed for sale, and shall be in the like condition as the booksprepared for sale.
(4) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to any second or subsequent edition of a hook in which edition no additions or alterations either in the letter-press or in the maps, book-prints or other engravings belonging to the hook have been made, and a copy of the First or some preceding edition of which book has been delivered under this Act.
SECTION 03A: DELIVERY OF NEWSPAPERS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Subject to any rules that may be made under this Act, but without prejudice to the provisions contained inthe Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867- the publisher of every newspaper, published in lhe 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 to each such public library as may he notified in this behalf by the Central government in lhe Official Gazette.]
SECTION 04: 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 authorized by him in this behalf lo whom a copy of a book is delivered undersection 3-shall give to the publisher a receipt in writing therefor.
SECTION 05: PENALTY
Any publisher who contravenes any provision of this Act or of any rule made thereunder shall he punishable with Fine which may extend to fifty rupees8[and if the contraven- tion is in respect of a hook, 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, lo the public library to which the book9[or newspaper, as the case may be] ought to have been delivered.
SECTION 06: COGNIZANCE OF OFFENCES
(1) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act save on complaint made by an officer empowered in this behalf by the Central Government by a General or Special order.
(2) No Court inferior to that of a Presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.
SECTION 07: APPLICATION OF ACT TO BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED BY GOVERNMENT
- This Act shall also apply lo books and newspapers published by or under the authority of the Government but shall not apply to hooks meant for official use only.]
SECTION 08: POWER TO MAKE RULES
- The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules11to carry out lhe purposes of this Act.
Footnotes:
2. Inserted by the Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Amendment Act, 1956 (99 of 1956). Section 3 (29-12-1956).
5. Delhi Public Library. S.P.Mukhegee Marg. Delhi-Specified as Public Library - Sec Gaz.of Ind..30-l-82. Pt. II. S. 3(i). P. 262 GSR 106/82
8. Substituted for the words "and the value or the book" by the Delivery of Books (Public Librarice) Amendment Act 1956 (99 of 1956). S, 6 (29-12-1956
9. Inserted, the Delivery of Books (Public Librarice) Amendment Act 1956 (99 of 1956)
11. For Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Rules, 1955. sec S.R. 0.. 587, dated 19-3-1955. published in the (1,17. of Ind. 195:5. Pt. II. S. 3. p. 523.
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