Manipur Public Library, Imphal
The concept of a library started in Manipur in the year 1940 by Nongmeikapam Gopal and his friends. The Imphal Public Library was established by them on a piece of land given by the state durbar at Nagamapal. Another library called Manipur Public Library was constructed in 1950 by a Marwari businessman named Balchand Patni in his father Premsukh Patni's name near the Gandhi Memorial Hall, Imphal.
In 1958 a District Library and a Children's Library were started respectively by the state. Soon the District Library became State Central Library (SCL) and the Children's Library was merged with it on August 26, 1970. Now there are branches at Ukhrul, Mao, Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel and Ningthoukhong etc.
In 1972 Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) was started by the union government in Calcutta and since then it has been doling out numerous assistance to libraries throughout the length and breadth of the country. Manipur is not an exception and various voluntary organisations are doing library service and they get regular and in the form of matching and non-matching grants besides the state funding.
Manipur Library Association (MALA) was formed on May 24, 1987 with a view to accelerate the pace of the movement for good. A quarterly journal entitled Librarygi Ehou (Library Movement) was published in June 1988 with Dr. Khomdon.
Library week, orientation course, symposium, book exhibition, conference, seminar etc., are held from time to time by the MALA which now has two branches at Kakching and Jiribam respectively. Among the voluntary organisations running library service, Ideal Youth Club, Kakching; Chongabi Relief and Development Organisation, Uchekon; Young Development Association, Ahongsangbam Leikai; Naharol Yaiphakol, Naorem Leikai; Universal Library, Kongpal and Educational Guide Centre, Singjamei; are, among others, in the forefront of the movement
Konjengbam Kameshore
(Courtesy: North East Sun, New Delhi, Feb 12-18, 1994)
