1. General
2. Free Gifts
3. RRLF
4. Arts and Culture.

• One Librarian
• Two Deputy Librarin
• Two Assistant Librarian
• One Reference Librarian
• One Technical Assistant
• Six Library Assistant
• Four Counter Attendant
• Seven Library Attendant
• One Electrician
• One Duftry
• Two Chowkidar
• One Book Binder
• Two UDA
• Six LDC
• Two Typist
• Three Peon
• One Handyman
• Two Cleaner
• Two Sweeper

Functions

The important function of a Library is to encourage the reading habit for the all round development of human personality, State Central Library has different sections to attend to their respective responsibilities and assignments and meet the aspirations of the library users. Acquisition and Processing sections are two main important sections attending to all jobs behind the screen to reach the hands of the users.

• Classification of each book/document according to the subjects for systematic arrangement and shelving of the documents.

• Cataloguing library catalogue plays an important role as a reference tool to locate a particular document which can be retrieved from the auther and title entries. Catalogue cards are filed according to auther and title of every document. Transcription of every document is also done here. Further pasting of book pockets, book card , date and spine labels are also completed from this section. After completion of all technical activities from the processing section, documents are fit to go to their respective sections. These sections in the state central Library are:-

  
  

  (1) Circulation section
  (2) College / Student section
  (3) Reading Circle / Reference Section
  (4) Record section
  (5) School section
  (6) Children section
  (7) Rare Book section
  (8) Binding section
  

1. Circulation Section - Of all the library activities, the circulation of books for home use is by far the major public service provided by the State Central Library. It is one of the busiest section and deals with charging and discharging of books, maintaining statistics of the total number of books issued and returned in a day, shelving of books in order in the stacks according to subjects and filing of catalogue cards. Any registered member can take two books at a time for a period of 15 days. The process and services which result in bringing users and library materials into productive relationship is the circulation section.

2. College / Student Section - The college section is a reference section which adequately serve the needs and requirements of the college studentsand teachers towards reading, study and research.Facilities and services are made available towards this end. Student come to the college section to complete the assignments and reference works. The collection in the college section is geared to the institutional programmes of the college. Books are kapt in all areas pertaining to curriculum and Syllabuses. The sequence in which the books have been arranged in the shelves is according to subjects. The catalogue is also available for students to consult and locate a book if the author title and subject is known.

3. Reading Circles / Reference Section - The main purpose of the section is to help registered and non-registeredmember readers use the resources available up to the maximum. Reference service involves at making information as easily available as possible.Readers in this section have full access to a wide range of reference books like the encyclopedias, yearbooks, dictionaries, directories, almanac etc which are intended to be referred to rather than to read through. One can also go through current information from periodicals, Newspapers and current issues of Magazines, Journals both Indian and Foreign are displayed in this sections.

4. School Section-This section is a part and parcel of a school set up and serves the parentorganization, it plays an important role inhelping the educational system to achieve its goal. It is a resource center providing open access to its users. Broadly speaking the collection here consists of text books as well as reference books to serve the interest and level of understanding of school children. It aims at making documents available to students and in creating a life long reading habit among the students.

5. Children Section - This section is meant exclusively for children below the age of 14 years. The atmosphere here is full of life with children returning, borrowing and reading books. The collection is mostly on fiction for children, bedtime stories and nursery rhymes. It encourages children to develop reading habit and make profitable use of their leisure time. The system adopted in this section is similar to that of circulation section.

6. Record Section - Back issues of Newspapers and Magazines and Journals are kept here for consultations and references whenever required.

7. Rare Book Section - This is close access section where rare books and out of print books are kept

8. Binding Section - This section has its own role to play in conservation and preservation of library documents, newspapers mostly local newspapers are bound in this section.

Library Rules

1. The name of the Library shall be "The State Central Library", Shillong.

2. The main objectives of the Library are: -

1. To assemble, preserve and administer books and related educational materials in organized collection in order to promote and encourage the habit of reading for different purposes such as for widening the mental horizon, utilizing leisure time in a worth-while manner, research, collecting necessary data for solution of problems and above all for acquiring knowledge and aptitude for citizenship, etc.
2. To serve the Community as a general center of reliable information, including digital information.
3. To provide opportunity and encouragement for Children, young people, men and women to educate themselves continuously.

3. The property of the Library shall belong to the Government of Meghalaya in the Arts & Culture Department and vest in the said Department with the aforesaid aims and objects.

4. The Government of Meghalaya may at any time frame new Rules or amend or rescind any of these rules as may be found necessary.

5. The jurisdiction of the State Central Library shall extend to District Libraries, Sub-Divisional Libraries and Village Libraries. The Librarian, State Central Library, Assam is charged with the development, maintenance and operation of the entire Library programme and its service out-lets. He will exercise control over these Libraries in all organizational matters. He will also submit a monthly report on the status of libraries as may be required by Government from time to time.

Library Board

6. There shall be an advisory Board to be called the State Central Library Advisory Board.

7. The function of the State Central Library Advisory Board shall be :-

1. To advise the State Government on the organaisation, general improvement and extension of Library Programmes, including involving the people in the Library Movement.
2. To dispose of (any) suggestions and complaints.
3. To advise in the matter of accepting or rejecting offers of books and other endorsement/ donation for the Library.
4. To consider and approve, the annual report submitted by the Librarian, State Central Library, and make recommendations to Government.

8. The Board shall be constituted by Government and shall consist of 13 members as follows: -

1. Principal Secretary/ Commissioner/ Secretary, - Chairman
   Arts & Culture Department
2. Director of Arts & Culture, Department - Vice Chairman
3. Commissioner/ Secretary , Education Department -
4. Director of Higher & Technical Education -
5. Director of Elementary & Mass Education -
6. Director, S.C.E.R.T -
7. Nominees from NEHU, Degree Colleges /
   Secondary Schools in Shillong -
8. Three representatives from among active
   members of the Library -
9. Librarian State Central Library - Secretary

The Librarian, State Central Library shall be the ex-officio Secretary of the Board. The term of the members other than ex-officio members shall be for three years. Members shall be eligible for re-appointment. Vacancies arising from resignation or otherwise shall be filled up by Government upto the extent of the duration of the original member.

9. The Headquarter of the Board shall be at Shillong. T.A. and D.A. of non-official members shall be regulated by S.R.309(a), as amended by the Government from time to time.

10. The Board shall meet at least twice a year. Urgent matters may be disposed of by the Secretary with the approval of the Chairman or in his absence the Vice Chairman when there is no time to convene a special meeting, and the matter shall be subsequently laid before the Committee.

11. Generally a fortnight notice of each meeting shall be given to the members of the Board for holding meetings of the Board. An extra-ordinary meeting may be convened at any time on the motion of the Chairman or the Vice-Chairman.

12. Seven members shall form the quorum. If there be no quorum within 15 minutes after the time (fixed) appointed for the meeting, it shall stand adjourned to a specified date and at the adjourned meeting the business may be disposed of without a quorum.

13. The Chairman shall preside over the meetings, and, in his absence the Vice-Chairman.
In the absence of both of them, one of the members present will be elected to preside.

14. The Librarian as Secretary shall convene meetings of the Board and shall carry on all executive works. All correspondence of the Board shall be carried on by the Secretary, provided that no correspondence shall be made with the Government which can only be made through the Director of Arts & Culture, Meghalaya

15. The Board may appoint various Sub-committees of the Board as and when necessary to advice in the Selection of books, Newspapers, etc. for the Library. Members of these Sub-committees shall ordinarily be from among the members of the Board.

16. The proceedings of the meeting shall be recorded and shall be confirmed at the next meeting.

Hours of Opening

17. The State Central Library and all Public Libraries of the State, will remain open for the reading public as shown except gazetted and other holidays declared by Government from time to time.

1. Sunday - Closed.
2. Weekdays - 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
3. Mondays - Closed.

The Government may change the working hours of the Library from time to time in the interest of the reading public by giving 7 days notice through the Notice Board of the Library and a Press Release.

Admission to the Library

18. Admission to the Library is free subject to the following Rules Members and other persons visiting the Library shall be bound by these Rules and other procedures and practices enforced from time to time. The privileges conferred on the members and others under the Rule cannot claimed by them as a matter of right. Any infringement of these Rules may render the privilege of addmission to and borrowing books from the Library liable to forfeiture. This is apart from any other action, legal or otherwise which the Librarian/ government may deem fit and proper.

1. A person who is not of sound mind or is found undesirable or offensively unclean in person or dress or intoxicated of suffering from any infectious diseases shall not be admitted into the Library.
2. Sticks, umbrellas, boxes, bags, overcoats, waterproofs (rain-coats), printed materials in loose or in bound form and other articles of such sort shall be left at the entrance. The Library shall not be responsible for any damage to or loss of articles or for their replacement.
3. Dogs and other animals shall not be admitted.
4. Smoking, spitting, sleeping or lighting a match or a lighter are strictly prohibited inside the Library.
5. Silence shall be observed in the Library.
6. No person shall write upon, damage or make any mark upon any property belonging to the Library except for putting his signature clearly on the Register maintained for the purpose.
7. No tracing or mechanical reproduction of books and other Library properties shall be made without express permission from the Librarian.
8. Readers shall be responsible for any damage or injury done to the books or other properties belonging to the Library and shall be required to replace such books or other property damaged or to pay the value thereof. If one volume (book) of a set of books is damaged the person responsible shall be liable to replace the whole set or pay the value thereof.
9. Before leaving the Library, readers or visitors shall return to the Assistant on duty any book or document, etc. which they have taken for consultation.
10. No person(s) other than those connected with the management of the Library shall enter or remain in any part of the Library which has not been set apart for the use of the public.

Reference Section and Reading Room

19. Person below 10 have to be escorted by an adult.Entry into the Reference Section or the Reading Circle shall be deemed to be an assent to the Rules of Admission to the Library.

20. Books and other materials must not be removed from the Reference Section or Reading Room Circle. Readers shall be held responsible for books, etc. issued to them for consulting or directly consulted by them inside the Reference Section or Reading Room.

21. Special facilities, subject to their availability, in respect of accommodation, etc. may be provided to the Research scholars who want to undertake research work in any particular subject. The Reference Librarian will provide all assistance to such persons.

Registration of members-Issue of Borrower's Tickets

22. Any person who is a permanent resident of the State Meghalaya and who is resides in any part of the State shall be entitled to register his or her name with the Library subject to other Rules.

23. A person residing in but who is not a permanent resident of the State Meghalaya shall not be registered unless he or she furnishes a guarantor, who must be a Gazetted Government Officer of the State. The above guarantor must affix his or her official Seal under his or her signature or otherwise satisfy the Librarian or his nominee that he or she is the proper person.

24. A person desirous of registering himself/herself as a member shall apply to the Librarian in the form prescribed in Schedule I of these Rules. He or she shall have to be recommended by any of the following :

1. A registered member of the Library
2. A Gazetted Officer of the State Government
3. In case of employees of offices situated in Shillong by the Head of the Office or a sub-ordinate Office not below the rank of Superintendent.
4. The Head of a recognized educational Institution, where"Recognized Educational Institution" means those institutions recognized by the Education Department, Meghalaya and also those affiliated to the North Eastern Hill University , Guwahati University, Guwahati.
5. Heads of Bank and Insurance Companies in Shillong.
6. The Librarian of a recognized public, academic or technical Library of the State.
7. The Librarian may relax the provisions of Rule 22 & 23 in special cases.

24.1 The name of the person recommending the application should be supported by appropriate official seal, wherever possible.

24.2 The guarantor or the recommendor signing the application shall be deemed to have satisfied himself that the particulars given by the applicant are correct. The guarantor or recommendor shall be responsible to indemnify the Library for the looses incurred by the Library on account of any miss-statement made by the applicant. In no case should the guarantor or recommendor recommend or guarantee more than 3 applications for membership in all.

25. The applications of students of recognized educational institutions must be recommended by Heads of the respective Institutions even if the application is recommended by some one else under the rules.

26.

1. Each person whose application for membership has been granted by the Librarian shall make a security deposit of Rs.5/- (Rupees One Hundred) only for which an official receipt , membership card and "Borrower's Tickets" will be issued by the Officer receiving the each deposit as per format prescribed in Schedule I to these Rules.
2. The cash deposit is refundable on fulfillment of provisions of Rules 31 and 32.
3. The security deposit shall be increased by the Government on the recommendation of the Board every two years to reflect the increase in prices of books. All members will have to comply with the revised Security Deposit.
4. The members may be required to furnish one or more photographs for the membership card.

27.

1. For Security Deposit realized from members, the Librarian, State Central Library , will maintain a Personal Ledger Account in the Shillong Treasury in his name, and he is also authorized to draw and disburse the same. The audit of the accounts shall be entrusted to the Examiner, Local Accounts.
2. All receipts other than the cash deposit realized from members, etc. shall be deposited into the Government Treasury under the appropriate Head of Account.

28. Four Borrower's Tickets shall be issued to each member(s) against which books shall be lent under the Rules. Fresh books shall be lent to a member Borrower when he/she returns the books previously borrowed.

29. Membership shall remain valid for 24 months from the date of issue unless previously surrendered or cancelled. The loan of books shall be discontinued a fortnight before the expiry of the membership during which period the member may renew his membership by filling another form in Schedule III. Renewal shall require payment of enhanced Security Deposit, if any.

30.

1. A member who has lost a ticket shall make a written declaration of the same to the Librarian, and pay a fee of Rs.5/- for the each duplicate ticket required. The cost of a duplicate membership card will be Rs. 20/- Not-withstanding such replacement the member will remain responsible for any book borrowed on the original ticket and the Library shall not undertake the responsibility of detecting the misuse of such tickets.
2. Once bar coding is done, borrower's ticket shall be withdrawn.
3. A borrower can be asked to comply with new Rules including payment of revised security deposit.

31. A member who desires to have his membership terminated and security deposit withdrawn shall obtain "No-due Certificate" from the Officer I/c. of the Issue Section in the format prescribed in Schedule IV to these Rules.

32. On obtaining the Certificate he shall apply to the Librarian and surrender his borrower's tickets Certificate and deposit receipt. At least seven days notice shall be required for withdrawal of the security deposit.

33. No deposit shall be repaid until all the books outstanding against the member, his Borrower's Ticket and the deposit receipt have been duly returned and all the dues from him are paid.

34. If the payment of such deposits is to be made by money order or postal order, etc. postal charges shall be borne by the applicant.

Book Stacks

35. Only active registered members of the Library shall have the right of access to the Book Stacks for the purpose of borrowing books. Their representatives may be admitted and allowed to borrow books on their behalf provided they hold a letter of authority from the member concerned to the satisfaction of the Librarian. Entry into the Book Stacks shall be deemed to be an assent to the Rules of admission to the Library.

36.

1. While there is open access to the Book Stacks, under special circumstances, certain sections may be declared as closed stacks. The Assistant at the enquiry desk may be consulted if a member wants to obtain any book shelves from these closed sections.
2. The Counter for the issue of books shall be closed 10 minutes before the closing time of the Library.

1. A member will be entitled to borrow four books at a time against his four borrower's tickets.
2. Encyclopaedias, Dictionaries, Directories, Newspapers, Periodicals and any other books or publications declared by the Librarian as "Reference Books" shall not be available on loan.

38. Books will be lent out for 30 days from the date of issue . An over-due fine of Rs. 5/- per volume per day will be charged for the books kept after the due date. For children and student members, the fine would be Rs. 2/- per volume per day.

39. In case a member fails to make good any loss or damage or fails to return the book the Librarian is empowered to recover all such dues firstly from the "Security Deposit" and if the "Security Deposit" is insufficient, such balance will be recoverable under law. Provided that in case of a Government Servant, the amount will be realised through the Department concerned before any further action under the law is taken.

40. Non-receipt of a reminder will not be entertained as an excuses for delay in return of any borrowed book.

41.

1. Books and publications may be recalled before the due date of return without giving any reason thereof.
2. Loan can be renewed upto three times at the discretion of the Librarian provide.(i)the request for renewal is made before the due date and(ii) no other member has requested for the book in the meantime.
3. Such renewals as in (b) above need to be made in person.
   

42. No person shall take a book or journal or any thing else belonging to the Library out of the Library without having it properly issued to him. To do so will constitute an offence under the relevant Section of the Indian Penal Code.

43. Member are not allowed to further lend the books of the Library or transfer the use of the privilege of their tickets or membership card.

44. Before leaving the counter, the member shall satisfy himself that the book lent to him is in sound condition. If it is not, he shall immediately bring the matter to the notice of the Assistant on duty. If appropiate notings of damage are not made in advance by the authorised attendant of the Library, the member he will be liable to be held responsible for any damage or mutilation of the book.

45. All persons, while, leaving the Library will show their books and other belongings such as brief-case, bags, etc. to the janitor at the exit for him to check books belonging to the Library which are being taken out, if any, have been properly issued with a gate pass.

46. Government offices may borrow books and other publications for official use. Requisition for such books or publication must be made on prescribed forms as per Schedule V. Loan period for such books or publication is normally 3 months. The Librarian may at his discretion extend the period to a maximum of six months, provided that application for extension of the loan period is made before the due date.

47. Any member who fails to return the book(s) or any other reading materials borrowed from the Library on due date, three time consecutively without showing valid cause, will be suspended from borrowing any books from the Library for a period of one year, apart from being fined as per Rules.

48. Any book in the Stock of the Library except fiction may be reserved for a reader on completion of the appropriate form as prescribed in Schedule VI. When the book is available, intimation will be issued to the member and the book shall be reserved for 14 days from the date of issue of the intimation

49. Outstation and moffusil members may borrow books from the Book Stacks against their tickets on furnishing necessary requisition as per form given in Schedule VII. Such book shall be lent out for a period of 60 days from the date of issue. If the books are to be sent by post the borrower shall pay the cost of postage required for sending and returning the books. The postage required for sending the books will have to be paid in advance.

50. Members of transferable and temporary services and Military Officers are required to deposit the value of the books in addition to proper personal security approved by the Librarian on fulfillment of other condition laid down in the Library Rules.

51. At the time of Stock verification, to be carried out in the month of December, for a period not exceeding one week, the issue of books will remain entirely closed and notice for such closure will be issued through a Press Release and Notice on the Board.

52. Any complaint or suggestion in regards to the Library should be addressed to the Librarian in writing.

Children's Section

53. A member between the age of 5 and 10 years shall be entitled to the use of the Children's Section without being accompanied by an adult. Such children will however need an adult escort to access the Books Stacks,

54. Children upto the age of 5 years shall be entitled only to the use of Children's Section, when escorted by their parents or guardians (a maximum of two children per adult).

55. Entry into the Children's Section shall be deemed to be an assent to the existing rules of Library.

Deposit Centres

56. The State Central Library will have Deposit Centres in all District Libraries of the State, where books taken from the State Central Library can be returned with proper receipts.

Rules for the Travelling Libraries; Deposit Centres

57. Books may be lent to registered members across the State out of the District and other Deposit Centres under the following conditions and upon the borrower undertaking to comply with the conditions laid down below:-

• The Deposit Centres shall admit the public to use of the books at such time as are appointed by the borrower and approved by the Librarian, State Central Library.

58. The Borrowers shall :-

1. Place and keep all books lent in a suitable apartment approved by the Librarian, State Central Library;
2. Pay all expenses of packing and sending the book from and returning to the State Central Library or / District Library.
3. Give an undertaking to the satisfaction of the Librarian, State Central Library, Meghalaya that any book or bookcases, covers lent to the borrowers will be returned in good condition, regard being had to reasonable wear.
4. Comply with such other conditions as the Director of Arts & Culture may prescribe whether generally or in any particular case.

59. The Librarian, State Central Library shall be the sole judge of the value of any book, work, set or series or any book case or cover and the monetary compensation in respect of any injury done to any book, work, set or series or to any book case or cover.

60. Books can be donated by the State Central Library and District Libraries, to the Committee of Management of any approved Literary or Library Association or Society in Meghalaya, with the prior approval of the Advisory Board.

1. To cater to the information need of library users.
2. To promote reading habit among the children, students and youth.
3. To promote social, economic, academic Cultural, Political and spiritual development of the people of the State in particular and the country in general.