Public Libraries and Development Planning in Pakistan: a Review of Past Efforts and Future Needs

Public libraries and development planning in Pakistan: a review of past efforts and future needs
Syed Jalaluddin Haider
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Karachi
Background Pakistan as an independent country came into being on 14 August 1947 as a result of the partition of British India. It covers an area of 796,095 sq. kms, with an estimated population in 1997 of 144 million and a growth rate of 2.9 per cent. Two-thirds of the population is non-urban, with agriculture as the main livelihood. Politically Pakistan is a federation of four provinces (Punjab, Sindh, North-West Frontier, Balochistan) and the Federal Capital Area of Islamabad. Administratively the provinces are made up of divisions, which are divided into 91 districts, themselves consisting of smaller subdivisions (Tehsils). The urban area in each district is limited to one or two towns; in smaller towns the local administration is managed by municipalities, and in larger towns by municipal corporations. While Urdu is the national language, English continues to be used in higher education and for commercial, legal and official business. Pakistan’s literacy rate is one of the lowest in the world: 37 per cent for all persons aged 10 and above, 49 per cent for males and 24 per cent for females, 28 per cent in the countryside and 58 per cent in urban areas. Literacy is defined as the ability to write one’s name in any of the indigenous languages or in English. The book trade in Pakistan is poorly developed, and the volume of publishing is small. Both the National Book Council of Pakistan and the National Book Foundation have failed to become operational. The Pakistan National Bibliography indicates that the volume of publishing ranges between 860 and 1525 items per year (Hanif, 1989, p. 6). With the exception of textbooks up to Grade 12 all instructional and research materials are acquired by libraries from the US or Britain. Modern library service began in 1915 with the arrival of Asa Don Dickinson at the University of the Punjab “…to organize the University library and to teach modern library methods to the librarians of the Punjab” (Khurshid, 1969, p. 198). In subsequent years a number of local and provincial library associations were established, and in 1930 the Modern Librarian was founded in Lahore by the Punjab Library Association. Following independence, however, librarianship was largely neglected in the face of more pressing national priorities; perhaps the only development of note was the government’s

Public libraries and development planning 47
Refereed article submitted 20 August 1997 Approved for publication 28 November 1997

Asian Libraries, Vol. 7 No. 2, 1998, pp. 47-57. © MCB University Press, 1017-6748

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establishment in 1949 of the Department of Archives and Libraries charged with administering the development of libraries. It was not until the 1956 introduction of a postgraduate diploma course in librarianship at the University of Karachi that library development began in earnest. This was followed in quick succession by establishment of the Pakistan Library Association and the Pakistan National Scientific and Technical Documentation Centre (both in 1957), launching of the Pakistan Library Review (1958), promulgation of the Copyright Ordinance of 1962, introduction of a master’s programme in library science at the University of Karachi (1962), publication of the Pakistan National Bibliography for 1962 (in 1966), and designation of copyright depositories in 1968. The pre-independence development of public libraries It is against this background that one must understand the history of libraries in the subcontinent, which can be traced from the first half of the nineteenth century, when a number of so-called “public libraries” were started as subscription libraries in larger cities with the support of European expatriates. Examples include the General Library, Sukkur (1835), Liaquat Hall Library, Karachi (1854) and Khaliq Dina Hall and Library, Karachi (1856). These libraries were founded on the initiative of government officials and publicspirited citizens as subscription libraries to provide reading pleasure for the educated in their leisure time. Many of these libraries still exist, but they have not succeeded in creating a demand for similar institutions to serve the bulk of the population. When these developments were taking place, the War of Independence broke out in 1857; its influence was felt in all walks of life, including education and libraries. The traditional European community support for social activities disappeared, and this weakened the public library movement to a large extent. However, in the last quarter of the nineteenth century local authorities began supporting the establishment of public libraries. As a result, several libraries came into existence in provincial and district headquarters, in larger towns and capital cities of certain states. This development was due to the Local SelfGovernment Act of 1885 in which the provision of libraries was laid down as one of the duties of the municipalities and district boards. The greatest achievement of this period was the establishment of the Punjab Public Library at Lahore (1884). It was envisaged by Lt Governor Sir Charles Atchison as “an institution of thoroughly public character [for] all classes of community... without charge” (Khurshid, 1969, p. 187). However, like other libraries, it charged a subscription. The second phase of public library development began in the early years of the twentieth century. The enactment of the Imperial Library Act in 1902, followed by the establishment of the Imperial Library in 1903 by Lord Curzon, bolstered the movement across British India. By establishing this library the government recognised the provision of library service to citizens as one of its obligations for the first time in the history of public library development in the

Indian subcontinent. The example was followed by provinces and princely Public libraries states in later years. Baroda led the way between 1906 and 1911 by establishing and development an elaborate library system. The message was carried forward by the Punjab planning Library Association, and it was at the behest of this group that the All-India Library Conference Seventh Session, held at Lahore on 27 December 1929, took a keen interest in the subject and adopted the following resolutions: 49 (1) The Conference urges upon the Government of India and Provincial Governments the desirability of opening in all towns and villages in India reading rooms and public libraries with night schools attached to those for the benefit of the nation. (2) The Conference appeals to all the ruling princes, landholders, trustees of charitable and religious institutions and the general public to support the existing libraries and adult schools in their respective areas. (3) The Conference recommends that in order to increase the usefulness of public libraries, they be kept open for at least twelve hours a day. (4) The Conference urges upon the Central Government to supply free of charge to all public libraries copies of all government publications (all India Library Conference, 1930, p. 20). The influence of this Conference permeated the country. Thus in the early 1930s some 1500 village libraries for use by children and adults were established in school buildings throughout the Punjab. By 1935 the government had established about 1600 rural libraries attached to middle schools, where teachers acted as librarians after school hours (Haider and Hanif, 1971, p. 18). “Between 1937 and 1942, the library movement grew in strength in Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Orissa, Punjab, Cochin and other provinces and states set up village libraries, and in some cases, even travelling libraries. It is estimated that by 1942 there were 13,000 village libraries in India” (Anuar, 1959, p. 138). The formation of the All-India Public Libraries Association in 1920 may also be counted as one of the achievements of this Conference. The Association promoted public library consciousness by holding periodic conferences and through its official organ, the Indian Library Journal. Other library associations which carried forward the message of the public library movement in the preindependence period were the Bengal Library Association (1925), the Madras Library Association (1928), the Indian Library Association (1933), the Bihar Library Association (1936) and the Assam Library Association (1939). With the formation of the provisional government in 1937 the library movement entered a new phase, and public libraries grew in strength. Village and travelling libraries were established in several provinces and princely states. The most significant development was the constitution of the Library Development Committee (1939-40) for Bombay Province under the chairmanship of A.A.A. Fyzee. The report of this Committee, known as the Fyzee Committee Report, stimulated public library consciousness; however, its recommendations were implemented only partially (India. Ministry of

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Education, 1959, p. 3). The contribution of S.R. Ranganathan to public library development during the pre-independence period deserves mention, too – he drafted two development plans, Post-War Reconstruction of Libraries in India (1947) and National Library System: A Plan for India (1946). The early post-independence period At independence Pakistan inherited only one public library of significance, the Punjab Public Library, Lahore. This library suffered serious setbacks because of the events following partition. Despite continuing political and social tensions, the government stressed the importance of libraries, even in the early years, to help maintain the country’s cultural values. For this purpose the services of Khan Bahadur Asadullah, former librarian of the Imperial Library and one of the leaders of the Indian library scene, were acquired as early as 1947 by the Ministry of Education. However, it has not been possible to discover any plan either prepared or suggested by him for library development. As he died in 1949, it is possible that little was achieved prior to his death. The establishment of the Directorate of Archives and Libraries within the Ministry of Education in 1949 was another move towards recognising the central role of libraries in national development. A few librarians of this period also emphasised the importance of public libraries and in their professional writings drew government attention to the need to plan library services. A number of public libraries, particularly in the Punjab, also came into being: the Municipal Library, Vehari (1947), the Central Library, Bahawalpur (1948), Sindh Provincial Library, Hyderabad (1952), the Municipal Library, Dera Ghazi Khan (1952), the Municipal Library, Faisalabad (1953) and Iqbal Library, Jhelum (1954). Public library planning Since independence efforts have been directed by both government and library associations towards establishing a public library system in Pakistan. Library experts, including foreigners, have been commissioned by the government to prepare development plans of different kinds, and a few library associations also have prepared and submitted their own plans to the authorities. As early as 1956, L.C. Key, an Australian expert, suggested the establishment of a provincial library in each provincial capital to serve as headquarters for library cooperation within the province, with other provincial libraries and also with the National Library of Pakistan (Key, 1956). The establishment of such a library in the former West Pakistan was recommended at Lahore, which was supposed to incorporate the Punjab Public Library. Three other public libraries were suggested in the cities of Hyderabad, Peshawar and Quetta. The 1960s were characterised by a number of false starts and well-meant plans that failed to materialise. Thus at the beginning of the 1960s efforts were made to establish a demonstration public library in Pakistan similar to one at Delhi, as a joint project of the Government of Pakistan and Unesco (Khurshid, 1960, pp. 22-24). However, the plan, developed under the auspices of the

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Pakistan Library Association, was not approved by the government (Usmani, Public libraries 1995, p. v). An example of an entirely indigenous effort was the scheme for and development establishing a central public library in Karachi prepared by the Society for the planning Promotion and Improvement of Libraries (SPIL) in 1967 (SPIL, 1967). Nothing is known of the fate of this scheme, other than that it seems not to have been put into place. Another plan for library development in Pakistan, presented by the 51 Society in 1972, included the establishment of a comprehensive public library system in the country; but this also failed to convince the authorities (SPIL, 1972). A noteworthy development of the early 1970s was the appearance of the New Education Policy 1972-80, which among other revolutionary recommendations included a proposal for the establishment and support of 50,000 People’s Oriented Public Libraries (Pakistan. Ministry of Education, 1972). This was encouraging for librarians, and it dominated the deliberations of the Ninth and Tenth Annual Conferences of the Pakistan Library Association. David G. Donovan, former Director of the PL-480 Library of Congress Book Procurement Program in Pakistan, was invited by the government to prepare a feasibility report which he submitted in 1974 (Donovan, 1974). Again in 1984 Donovan visited Pakistan and submitted another report on urban public libraries to the Ministry of Local Self- and Rural Development (Donovan, 1984). However, the most important document on public library planning is the report, Public Library Facilities in Pakistan, prepared by a group in 1984 constituted by the Ministry of Education. This was designed to be “a five year plan for the development of a national system of public libraries from the provincial down to the Tehsil level” (Pakistan. Ministry of Education, 1984, p. 2). Again, however, none of these plans succeeded in convincing the authorities to act. Reasons for the government’s failure to implement the recommendations may have included an ineffectual administrative infrastructure, so characteristic of many developing countries, and lack of understanding of the role of libraries in nation-building programmes. The ambitious approach adopted by the authors of these plans may also have been a factor; they used foreign models and failed to identify local realities. Public libraries: the present situation According to the Directory of Libraries in Pakistan (1996), there are at present 302 public libraries in the country. Such libraries are maintained by local bodies such as metropolitan or municipal corporations, municipal or town committees, cantonment boards and district councils. There is also a good number of association or society libraries. Not counted in this number are the many commercial, subscription libraries that specialise in what might be termed pulp fiction. Book stock in the 302 public libraries is inadequate both quantitatively and qualitatively. This was recognised more than a decade ago, when Donovan found the book collection old and “no longer relevant to community interest and needs” (Donovan, 1984, p. 5). According to a 1996 Pakistan Library Association

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survey, there is presently a collection of 1,670,865 volumes in 179 public libraries. This survey of slightly more than half of the country’s public libraries indicates that the largest number of books is in English (42.75 per cent), followed by Urdu (38.30 per cent) (Directory of Libraries in Pakistan, 1996). The subject in which collections are strongest is Islam, followed by Pakistani and local history. With one or two exceptions the library collections are outdated, and the annual rate of acquisitions is very low. Distribution of these public libraries by size of their collections reveals that there are 33 libraries with a collection of 10,000 or more volumes. The Punjab Public Library in Lahore holds the largest collection (256,000), followed by Dayal Singh Trust Library, Lahore (150,643), Liaquat Memorial Library, Karachi (124,353) and Central Library, Bahawalpur (105,000). Collection sizes of 175 other libraries surveyed by the Pakistan Library Association are summarised in Table I. Almost without exception, the existing stock is dated and static as a consequence of chronic budgetary constraints over the years. Some town committee libraries have not purchased even a single title for years from their regular budgetary provision, since it is hardly sufficient to subscribe to one newspaper for six months. Ever-increasing inflation and rising costs of books have exacerbated the situation. Under such unfavourable circumstances an acquisition of 150 to 250 titles per annum is considered an ideal figure by the majority of public libraries. A large percentage of public libraries subscribes to periodicals too, the number depending on availability of funds. Most libraries do not subscribe to more than five periodicals. The Quaid-e-Azam Library and Punjab Public Library, both in Lahore, subscribe to the largest number of periodicals (337 and 185 respectively). Some libraries, particularly in urban areas, have succeeded in building up a sizeable collection of audiovisual materials, mostly audio and video cassettes. Although the number of such libraries is small, their audiovisual holdings are likely to increase, given the growing popularity of this kind of material. This may be due in part to the continuing high rate of illiteracy in the country. The stock in the majority of libraries lacks proper organisation. However, in recent

Number of volumes

Number of libraries

Table I. Public libraries in Pakistan, 1996

50,001-100,000 3 25,001-50,000 8 10,001-25,000 17 5,000-10,000 22 Up to 5,000 125 Source: Directory of Libraries in Pakistan (1996), edited by H.K. Ahmad and A.L. Damani, Pakistan Library Association, Pakistan

years emphasis has been placed on technical processing. The Dewey Decimal Public libraries Classification is the most used system, but there is considerable variation with and development regard to choice of edition, with the 16th to 21st editions being widely used. planning Shafi’s Expansion of the Dewey Decimal Classification is used for classification of books on Oriental, Islamic and Pakistani topics. Both dictionary and classified catalogues are prevalent. Also, there is no uniformity with regard to 53 rendering Pakistani names of persons. The lack of proper organisation of resources can be attributed in part to the absence of professional library staff. A study in 1984 revealed that only 33.2 per cent of public libraries employed professional librarians (Pakistan. Ministry of Education 1984, p. 189). A more recent study has shown that only 16 of 82 libraries in the Punjab employ professional staff (Taj, 1990, p. 22). As a consequence, many libraries are run by clerical-level staff, in some cases even part-timers or cleaners. However, the situation is changing, particularly in large metropolitan areas where library science graduates are increasingly being employed. This is due in part to gradual improvements in salaries and professional status of librarians in the public service. Inadequate finance has been a major constraint on the growth, development and functioning of public libraries. Traditionally the authority concerned has made an allocation for this purpose in the annual budget. However, no norm exists; rather, the allocation reflects the priority accorded to library service by the particular governing body. Thus the “Punjab Government allowed all local bodies to spend 1 per cent of their total revenue on development of libraries and reading rooms, the Lahore Municipal Corporation spent 0.35 per cent, Faisalabad 0.12 per cent, Sargodha 0.15 per cent, Rawalpindi 0.10 per cent and Multan 0.19 per cent” in the fiscal year 1989-90 (Taj, 1990, p. 22). The other source of finance for public libraries in Punjab is the Punjab Library Foundation, which provides grants-in-aid to almost all such libraries. Efforts are being made to establish library foundations in other provinces. The libraries maintained by associations, societies or private libraries in other provinces receive grants-in-aid from their respective governments. The present system has not created a good impression with respect to services offered by public libraries. These services are oriented primarily towards readers who are functionally literate, and generally consist simply of issuing books to be read at home or in the reading room. Opening hours vary from a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 72 per week. Libraries maintained by associations, societies or private libraries have much better services, including those for children and the handicapped, mobile library and audiovisual services. Management of this category of library varies. In smaller towns, where the library is also small, the librarian works directly under the municipal administrator. In large municipalities or metropolitan corporations the librarian reports to some other officer, usually the chief executive officer or director of information. Library committees exist in some urban areas; for instance, the Managing Committee at the Punjab Public Library, the country’s oldest and largest public library, has considerable say in financial matters and

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in the appointment and promotion of library staff. Such committees have been found useful in maintaining liaison between the library and individuals or organisations interested in improving library service. For example the library board at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation in the late 1960s contributed significantly to popularising the concept of public library service and the development of a library system in the metropolis. In terms of physical facilities a number of public libraries have reasonably good locations, according to a survey in 1974-1975, “near the commercial area” or “with the municipal office” (Anwar, 1983, pp. 67-69). That survey revealed that, of 55 libraries, 21 had space less than 1,000 sq. ft, and nine had less than 400 sq. ft. The largest space (50,000 sq. ft) was occupied by the Divisional Public Library, Khairpur Mirs (renamed Sachal Sarmast Sindh Government Library), followed by Punjab Public Library (22,940 sq. ft). Library buildings are generally ill kept and in need of repair and renovation. In the past a number of buildings were either converted into libraries or renovated, but this did not produce the desired results. “There is seldom any consultation with a director or an expert in the library profession prior to the construction or renovation of a library building” (Donovan, 1984, p. 6). Another drawback has been that federal and provincial grants for renovation or construction of library buildings lack provision for purchase of books or periodicals. For the most part the renovated buildings contain the same out-ofdate stock, with little or no incentive for the public to use the new library (Donovan, 1984, p. 30). There is thus a strong case for appropriation of a certain percentage of development grants for the purchase of books and periodical subscriptions. Some important libraries There are only 16 libraries which contain 25,000 or more volumes, as shown in Table II. Among these the Quaid-e-Azam Library in Lahore deserves special mention for its high quality collection, its organisation according to accepted international standards and utilisation of the latest information technology, its competent and motivated staff, ideal location, functional building and, above all, relevant services. “A great deal of thought, prior planning and professionalism has gone into the development of this library.” It is a reference library and not a lending library but nevertheless could easily serve as a model library for the country. Challenges and prospects for public library development Public library development has progressed inadequately in Pakistan, notwithstanding the interest shown by government, individuals and the profession. From the foregoing survey it appears that several factors have contributed to this unsatisfactory state of affairs in public libraries. It is suggested that each of these be addressed in turn by appropriate professional and government instrumentalities if Pakistan is ever to have a system of public libraries adequate to the needs of its population.

Library and location

Date of foundation

Number of volumes

Punjab Public Library, Lahore 1884 256,000 Dayal Singh Trust Library, Karachi* 1908 150,000 Liaquat Memorial Library, Karachi 1950 124,000 Central Library, Bahawalpur* 1948 105,000 Sachal Sarmast Sindh Government Library, Khairpur Mirs 1903 90,000 Quaid-e-Azam Library, Lahore 1981 83,000 Public Library, Peshawar 1946 65,000 Provincial Library, Balochistan, Quetta 1956 57,000 Liaquat Hall Library, Karachi 1850 41,000 Municipal Library, Rawalpindi 1973 40,000 Darus Salam Library, Lahore 1966 40,000 Public Library, Municipal Committee, Bagh Langay Khan, Multan 1886 36,000 1961 33,000 Public Library, Sujawal Islamabad Public Library, Islamabad* 1950 33,000 1952 33,000 Municipal Library, Dera Ghazi Khan* Sir Shah Nawaz Khan Bhutto Memorial 1975 31,000 Library, Larkana Source: Directory of Libraries in Pakistan (1996), edited by H.K. Ahmad and A.L. Damani, Pakistan Library Association, Islamabad. *Data provided by personal communication.

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Table II. Main public libraries in Pakistan

Economic and social problems The most important factor has always been the economic underdevelopment of the country which bedevils the path of progress. The rapidly increasing population (66 million in 1971, 84 million in 1981, 118 million in 1992 and an estimated 144 million currently) has outstripped the rate of economic growth and created numerous social problems. Under such circumstances public library development has been unable to attract the desired attention of government, and the finance required for a proper expansion of library services has been unavailable because of more pressing national priorities. However, if libraries are viewed as part of the problem and of the solution (and if they lobby effectively for such recognition), then they may receive a more just proportion of the nation’s limited development resources. Problems of education and literacy A significant obstacle to the development and expansion of public library service is the high rate of illiteracy. The exponents of the idea of free book service to all have ignored the basic fact that the introduction of compulsory

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education is crucial. Even in England the public library movement could not gain momentum before 1870, when compulsory education was introduced. There were only 35 libraries prior to that date, although the Public Library Act had been passed in 1847 (Haider and Hanif, 1971, p. 26). Therefore, illiteracy must be addressed, using both schools and libraries as resources for dealing with this problem. Lack of proper planning Between 1956 and 1984 at least nine public library development plans were prepared by library associations, government-sponsored experts or other groups. Unfortunately, none of these could be even partially implemented. The following review of library planning in Pakistan reveals the facts in this regard, and inter alia carries suggestions for more realistic planning in the future. (1) Library planners, both foreign experts and local librarians, have been idealistic in their recommendations. Foreign consultants have tended to base recommendations on the library situation in their own countries, assuming a similar pattern in the formulation of indigenous plans for Pakistan. (2) Plans have been prepared single handedly. Even the last plan, Public Library Facilities in Pakistan, which is said to be the result of a group effort, is based almost exclusively on the input of a single individual. (3) In a majority of cases these plans have been prepared in isolation and without consideration of earlier schemes. (4) All plans have advocated library development along vertical lines, at a time when there is no effective central library authority at the pinnacle. Some of the plans have made no provisions for library services for the rural population, which comprises two-thirds of the country’s population. (5) There is an absence of effective library legislation, despite the fact that there have been calls for the enactment of such legislation at various conferences and seminars. (6) There is a lack of cooperation, with no central library authority to coordinate library services at the various levels. There is a Department of Libraries, Government of Pakistan, and there is a Directorate of Libraries, Punjab, but the scope of their activities is not known; and other provinces lack even these facilities.
References All India Library Conference (1930), 7th Session, Lahore, 27 December 1929, “Resolutions”, Modern Librarian, Vol. 1 No. 1. Anuar, H. (1959), “Pattern of library service in Asia and the Pacific Islands”, Library Trends, Vol. 8 No. 2. Anwar, M.A. (1983), Urban Public Libraries: A National Survey, Publishers United, Lahore.

Directory of Libraries in Pakistan (1996), edited by Hafiz Khubaib Ahmad and Abdul Latif Damani, Pakistan Library Association, Islamabad. Donovan, D.G. (1974), Report on Pakistan Information Transfer System. Donovan, D.G. (1984), Pakistan Public Libraries: Observations and Recommendations, report submitted to the Ministry of Local Self- and Rural Development. Haider, S.J. and Hanif, A. (1971), Studies in Pakistan Librarianship, Librarians Forum, Karachi. Hanif, A. (1989), “Trends of book production in Pakistan”, Pakistan Library Bulletin, Vol. 20 No. 2/3. Key, L.C. (1956), Report and Proposals on the Establishment and Improvement of Libraries in Pakistan, mimeo, Ministry of Education, Karachi. Khurshid, A. (1960), “A pilot public library project”, Pakistan Library Association Quarterly Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1. Khurshid, A. (1969), Standards for Library Education in Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan, PhD dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. Ministry of Education, India, Advisory Committee on Libraries (1959), Report, Ministry of Education, Delhi. Ministry of Education, Pakistan (1972), The New Education Policy: 1972-80, Ministry of Education, Islamabad. Ministry of Education, Pakistan, Technical Working Group (1984), Public Library Facilities in Pakistan: A Survey Report, Ministry of Education, Islamabad. Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries (SPIL) (1967), Karachi Public Library: A Scheme, Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries, Karachi, 1967. Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries (1972), Plan for Development of Libraries in Pakistan, Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries, Karachi. Taj, M. (1990), “State of public libraries and their services in Punjab”, PULSAA News, Vol. 2 No. 3. Usmani, M.A. (1995), “Plans of library development in Pakistan: causes for lack of implementation”, Pakistan Library Bulletin, Vol. 26 No. 2. (Dr Syed Jalaluddin Haider (MA Karachi, MLS Rutgers, PhD Loughborough) is Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Karachi and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Asian Libraries. He is a regular contributor to the professional literature in Pakistan and has a special interest in public library development. Contact address: A/508 Black D, North Nazimabad, Karachi 74700, Pakistan).

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References: All India Library Conference (1930), 7th Session, Lahore, 27 December 1929, “Resolutions”, Modern Librarian, Vol. 1 No. 1. Anuar, H. (1959), “Pattern of library service in Asia and the Pacific Islands”, Library Trends, Vol. 8 No. 2. Anwar, M.A. (1983), Urban Public Libraries: A National Survey, Publishers United, Lahore. Directory of Libraries in Pakistan (1996), edited by Hafiz Khubaib Ahmad and Abdul Latif Damani, Pakistan Library Association, Islamabad. Donovan, D.G. (1974), Report on Pakistan Information Transfer System. Donovan, D.G. (1984), Pakistan Public Libraries: Observations and Recommendations, report submitted to the Ministry of Local Self- and Rural Development. Haider, S.J. and Hanif, A. (1971), Studies in Pakistan Librarianship, Librarians Forum, Karachi. Hanif, A. (1989), “Trends of book production in Pakistan”, Pakistan Library Bulletin, Vol. 20 No. 2/3. Key, L.C. (1956), Report and Proposals on the Establishment and Improvement of Libraries in Pakistan, mimeo, Ministry of Education, Karachi. Khurshid, A. (1960), “A pilot public library project”, Pakistan Library Association Quarterly Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1. Khurshid, A. (1969), Standards for Library Education in Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan, PhD dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. Ministry of Education, India, Advisory Committee on Libraries (1959), Report, Ministry of Education, Delhi. Ministry of Education, Pakistan (1972), The New Education Policy: 1972-80, Ministry of Education, Islamabad. Ministry of Education, Pakistan, Technical Working Group (1984), Public Library Facilities in Pakistan: A Survey Report, Ministry of Education, Islamabad. Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries (SPIL) (1967), Karachi Public Library: A Scheme, Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries, Karachi, 1967. Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries (1972), Plan for Development of Libraries in Pakistan, Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries, Karachi. Taj, M. (1990), “State of public libraries and their services in Punjab”, PULSAA News, Vol. 2 No. 3. Usmani, M.A. (1995), “Plans of library development in Pakistan: causes for lack of implementation”, Pakistan Library Bulletin, Vol. 26 No. 2. (Dr Syed Jalaluddin Haider (MA Karachi, MLS Rutgers, PhD Loughborough) is Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Karachi and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Asian Libraries. He is a regular contributor to the professional literature in Pakistan and has a special interest in public library development. Contact address: A/508 Black D, North Nazimabad, Karachi 74700, Pakistan). Public libraries and development planning 57