Andhra Pradesh Library Association


Andhra Pradesh Library Association

The Andhra Pradesh Library Association was established on 10 April 1914. It is the oldest state library association in India. The association is headquartered at Vijayawada. The association emerged with a noble mission of spreading literacy, knowledge, and awareness among the public. Since its inception, the association has been functioning with the sole aim of taking library movement to the public.

Formation

Andhra Library Movement and Andhra Library Association have had their origin with organizing Andhra Library Congress on 10 April 1914. Iyyanki Venkataramanaiah and Suri Venkata Narasimha Sastri initiated the formation of Association of Libraries of Andhra Area, which was later renamed as - Library Association of Andhra Area and it became Andhra Pradesh Library Association after the formation of Andhra Pradesh State. The Ramamohana Public Library, Vijayawada, organized "All India Conference of Library Organizers" and on the same day, the first Andhra Desa Library Congress was organized under the Chairmanship of Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimha Pantulu. His motivational message on this occasion was described as ‘Granthalaya Veda’ by Iyyanki Venkataramanaiah.

As a result of this conference, the Andhra Pradesha Grantha Bhandagara Sangham came into existence. At this congress, Dewan Bahadur Mocharla Ramachandra Rao Pantulu as the first President and Iyyanki Venkataramanaiah and Nalam Krishna Rao as first Secretaries of the association were elected..

Library Anthem (Granthalaya Veda)

Suns light brightness everything, So shall knowledge dispel darkness And brightens every life;

Air gives life to all and is freely accessible, So Knowledge be within the reach of all Breathing life's vigour into them;

Clearwater quenches the thirst of all, So shall knowledge satisfy;

The curiosity of the all the curious, And the hunger of the hungry for it.''
".

Vision

President: K.C. Kalkura

Vice-Presidents: K. Buchi Raju & V.Kesava Rao

Secretary: Raavi Sarada

Firsts In Library Movement

  1. APLA was the first library association in India established in 1914.
  2. First to compile and publish a Library Directory as Directory of Andhra Libraries in 1915.
  3. Grandhalaya Sarvaswam was the first vernacular library journal in India launched in 1916. The regional language journal in Telugu is still active in its publication every month including some special issues.
  4. Responsible for the formation of All India Public Library Association
  5. First Library association to conduct library training classes. In order to provide quality services in libraries in the state, the association initiated conducting training classes that have been continuing even now.
  6. First Library journal from India in English.
  7. Library Piligrimeges. Association conducted library pilgrimages for the promotion of library movement
  8. First Boat Libraries in the world to spread awareness, knowledge to the public.
  9. Instrumental in the formation of the Bengal Library Association, Madras Library Association, and many others.
  10. Quality book supply to libraries by establishing a bookstall in 1944.
  11. Formation of Andhra Grandhalaya Trust in 1946 is another landmark in the history of library movement in India. The philanthropy of Komma Seetaramaiah could provide a house to the library association-"SarvottamaBhavanamu". It was first to have a house for an association, which was named after then Association's president Gadicherla Hari Sarvottama Rao. It was inaugurated in 1949.

    Association Activities

APLA is involved in printing, publishing books, journals in regional language Telugu, organising the teaching &  training programs and furnishing information for the smooth functioning of various libraries.
The Andhra Pradesh Library Association has celebrated its Golden Jubilee for two days on May 26 and 27, 1964 at Vijayawada in Sarvottama Bhavan. On the first day, the program started with Saraswati Pooja at Ramamohana Library. Ayyanki Venkata Ramanaiah lit Jyothi and it was presented to the Committee Secretary Chennuppati SeshagiriRao. The Jyoti was taken up to Sarvottama Bhavan in a grand celebration of the procession and presented to the Association Secretary Paturi Nagabhushanam. Later on, a Conference of poets was conducted under the chairmanship of Viswanatha Satyanarayana. Several Telugu poets participated in this program including the secretary of the Association Paturi Nagabhushanam. In the evening, Acharya Rayaprolu Subbarao presided over the session of the Celebrations. The then state Law minister PV Narasimha Rao inaugurated the Celebrations. Then the community founders Ayyanki Venkata Ramanaiah and Komma Sitaramaiah were felicitated. On the second day, the conference papers presentation sessions were organized by the members of the association. It was chaired by Kodati Narayana Rao and Goparaju Ramachandra Rao. It was followed by a meeting of library workers and also a public meeting. Andhra Prabha editor Neelamraju Venkataseshaiah chaired the meeting, while Andhra Jyoti editor Narla Venkateswara Rao inaugurated. The Andhra Pradesh State Industrial Minister M.S.Laxminarasaya unveiled the publications of Golden Jubilee Proceedings of the Association - "Grandhaalaya Pragati" 1,3 volumes.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (March 22, 1981)

The Association conducted 34th Andhra Pradesh Library Association Conference at "Orugallu" on 1981 March 22-21. The Diamond Jubilee was celebrated on the same occasion at the conference venue on March 22, 1981. More than 1000 fans and library activists from all over the state participated in the event. The dignitaries of the day include P.V.Narasimha Rao, External Affairs Minister, Government of India, T.Hayagrivachari, Technical Education Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Majji Tulasidas, Small Industries Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Kaloji Narayana Rao, the poet laureate of the Association. The well-known literary scholar Marupuru Kodandarami Reddy acted as the chairman. P.V.Narasimha Rao, External Affairs Minister, Government of India, rendered the presidential address. A number of writers, journalists, and other speakers have discussed issues in their speeches and provided suggestions.

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations (10 April 1989)

The Andhra Pradesh Library Association Platinum Jubilee Celebrations were held at Vijayawada Sarvottama Bhavan. The Association President Kodati Narayana Rao presided over the event. R.Krishna Murty, the Director of Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries, inaugurated the celebrations and M. V. Venkata Reddy, the Director of Andhra Pradesh Adult Literacy Programme unveiled the Golden Jubilee issue, the 50th volume of the association’s journal – “Granthalaya Sarvaswam.” The leader of the library movement, Vavilala Gopalakrishnayya, the Mayor of Vijayawada Jandhalaya Shankar and Member of Parliament Vadde Shobhanadeeswara Rao graced the stage.

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