Role of Borden and Motibhai Amin in Public Library Movement

The contribution made by Maharaja Sayajirao III of Baroda in library movement is really significant and remarkable. During the course of his second visit to the United States of America he had an opportunity to meet William Alanson Borden, of Young Men's Institute, New Haven, Connecticut. He invited him to his state, after knowing and realising insight regarding librarianship of the latter. 200 users/readers were randomly selected from four public libraries namely Baroda, Gandhinagar, Patan and Anand (50 from each public library). A self-made questionnaire was prepared with the help of guide and sent to respondents to collect their views/ responses regarding role of borden and Motibhai Amin in Public Library Movement in Baroda State. During his three years' tenure of office, Mr. Borden conducted a library training class, established the Central library in capital city and, planned a network of free public libraries throughout the state. Shri Motibhai Amin established a library in each school and a library in each village He started moving libraries. In this way role of Borden and Motibhai Amin in developing library network in Baroda state was significant and remarkable. Role of Borden and Motibhai Amin in Public Library Movement Introduction:Role of library in increasing dissemination of education can not be avoided. Beside giving education and information, it creates a positive culture, positive use of leisure time and motivating people in value education. It conserves rare books, manuscripts and other reading materials and disseminates to community people as and when required. It is a living force for education, culture and information and as an essential agent for the fostering of peace and understanding between people and between nations. It provides service to all over nation. It gives free access of information. Its doors remain open for free and equal use by all members of the community regardless of race, colour, nationality, sex, religion, language, status or educational attainments. Library is part of the community. It has the social obligation to serve the whole community. It is a positive agent for change in the community. A library makes a substantial contribution to socio-economic changes in a social millieu. It is a social institution which converts a sevage community into a state of civilization. It is a gateway of better life. It is capable of enriching the human personality and of helping the people to become responsible citizens. The contribution made by Maharaja Sayajirao III of Baroda in library movement is really significant and remarkable. During the course of his second visit to the United States of America he had an opportunity to meet William Alanson Borden, of Young Men’s Institute, New Haven, Connecticut. He invited him to his state, after knowing and realising insight regarding librarianship of the latter. During the tenure of his office (1910-13) Borden established the central library and initiated a public library system. He also conducted library training classes to train staff in 1910. By the time Borden left the State on May 15, 1913, Baroda city had its Central Library, comprising Reference and Lending Departments with a book stock of 40,000 volumes. Two of the three prant libraries had been established and thirty six of the thirty eight towns had proving their own libraries. Two hundred and sixteen of the four hundred and twenty-six large villages had founded their libraries. Even the small villages had come forward and had initiated their own libraries. There were 140 travelling libraries as well. By the time Borden left Baroda, he had achieved a great deal, in the form of planning and establishing a network of public library system in Baroda. After departure of Borden, Sir Sayajirao Gayakwad appointed Shri Motibhai Amin (1873-1939) of Vaso as Assistant Library Organising Officer on 3-10-1921. Motibhai Amin established Library Assisting Co-operative Society Ltd. on 31-03-1924. He established Baroda state Library Assembly’ In 1925. He insisted to realize for two slogans namely (1) where there is a school, there should be a library. (2) A library must be in a village (19271933). He also insisted for moving library also. He insisted for ‘Friend Association Library’ for informal education. Recognizing his qualities, Borden had also admired him. This Study aims at to examine contribution of Boden and Motibhai Amin in public library movement. Objectives of the Study:1. To examine role of Borden and Motibhai Amin in Public Library Movement in Baroda State 2. To evaluate contribution of Borden and Motibhai Amin towards Public Library Movement in Baroda State. 3. To make aware readers and public regarding contribution made by Borden and Motibhai Amin with Sir Sayajirao Gayakwad III. 4. To show their contribution in statistical manner. Problems/ Questions of the study 1. Whether people know about the role played by Borden and Motibhai Amin in promoting library movement in Baroda State? 2. Whether people know that sir Sayajirao Gayakwad was lover of books and library? 3. Whether People know that Baroda state was pineer in initiating Library movement in India? Methodology:Sample:200 users/readers were randomly selected from four public libraries namely Baroda, Gandhinagar, Patan and Anand (50 from each public library). Tools used A self-made questionnaire was prepared with the help of guide and sent to respondents to collect their views/ responses regarding role of borden and Motibhai Amin in Public Library Movement in Baroda State. Data Analysis:Simple percentage was calculated to know role of borden and Motibhai Amin in Public Library Movement in Baroda State. Results:Percentages of information regarding their qualification, job satisfication and workload are given in following table.