APLA Celebrations

The inaugural ceremony of the Andhra Pradesh Library Association's Golden jubilee was successfully conducted on 26th & 27th May 1964 in Sarvottama Bhavan, Vijayawada.

Since the association has had its origins from Sri Ramamohana Public Library, on 26th at 8 o'clock the Golden Jubilee programme was inaugurated by invoking goddess Saraswathi, the goddess of knowledge. Sri Kakaraparthi Bhavanarayana Sreshti, the president of Ramamohana Public Library and the President of Golden Jubilee celebrations, Vijayawada regional committee performed the puja. Sri Iyyanki Venkataramanaiah, the founder of the association lit the flame and handed over it to Sri Chennupati Seshagiri Rao, Secretary of Vijayawada Regional Committee. It was brought to Sarvottama Bhavan in a procession. The elite of the town followed the flame up to the Sarvottama Bhavan and handed over the flame to Sri Pathuri Nagabhushanam, the secretary of the association.

Kavita Goshti:

Iin the morning a Kavita Goshti of poets was held under the chairmanship of Kavisamrat Viswanatha Satyanarayana. Sarvasri Prof. Rayaprolu Subba Rao, Tenugulenka Tummala Sitarama Murti, Koganti Durga Mallikarjuna Rao, Adusumalli Purnchandra Rao, Gurajada Raghava Sarma, B. Sitaram Nayudu, Sanagapalli Subba Rao, Jasthi Venkata Narasaiah and Paturi Nagabhushanam participated in the Kavita Goshti. In the evening a prolonged discussion on the proposed amendments in the A.P. Public Libraries.

In the evening the inaugural meeting was held in the Sarvottama Bhavan Campus. Since Prof. Mamidipudi Venkata Rangaiah, the president designate could not make it to the venue owing to his indisposition, Prof. Rayaprolu Subba Rao presided over and Sri Kakaraparthi Bhavanarayana invited the participants

The then Minister of Education Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao in his inaugural address recalled how the library movement brought enthusiasm in all, how people participated in the library movement before independence and the lack of such enthusiasm in the post-independence days, how people were expecting everything from the government and stressed the need to revive the dying enthusiasm in the public by intensifying the movement.

Sarvasri Goparaju Ramachandra Rao, Tummala Sitarama Murty, Yandamuri Satyanarayana Rao, Putcha Venkatramaiah, Jammalamadaka Madhavarao Sarma spoke on the occasion. Later on Sri Iyyanki Venkataramanaiah, the founder of the association and Sri Komma Sitaramaiah were felicitated.

2nd Day morning paper presentation programme was held with Sri Kodati Narayana Rao in the chair. Nine papers from libraries under different managements were presented,

Under the Presidentship of Sri Goparaju Ramachandra Rao, the renowned social worker, a programme on adult education scheme was held. Papers were presented by some seniors who played an important role in the field of adult education.

Meeting of Library workers:

in the evening, workers met under the chairmanship of Sri Kodati Narayana Rao. Sri Paturi Nagabhushanam, the secretary of the association declared open the meet and explained the hardships faced by the workers.

Public Meeting:

On the second day, evening, Sri Neelamraju Venkata Seshaiah, the Editor, Andhra Prabha, was in the chair and Sri Narla Venkateswara Rao, the Editor, Andhra Jyothi inaugurated the meeting.

'Granthalaya Pragathi' Parts - 1 and 3, the Golden Jubilee publications, were released by Sri M. S. Lakshmi Narasaiah, Minister for Industries, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Those donors who helped by contributing liberally to the Library Association and Andhra Granthalaya Trust were felicitated. Sri Katragadda Rajagopala Rao, the Editor, Visalandhra delivered the valedictory address. On both the days of the meetings, the Depart. of Information & Publicity, Krishna arranged the screening of films.

The opening ceremony of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Andhra Pradesh Library Association was held on 22nd March 1981 at 9 o' clock in the morning at the 34th Andhra Pradesh Library Congress premises, Warangal. About 1000 library workers and fans from the four corners of the state participated in the meeting.

The president of the invitations committee of the congress, Sri Bhandaru Chandramouliswara Rao invited the guests on to the dais. The dignitaries of the day include Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao, External Affairs Minister, Government of India, Sri T. Hayagrivachari, Technical Education Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Majji Tulasidas, Small Industries Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Sri Kaloji Narayana Rao, the poet laureate, Andhra Pradesh Library Association. The well-known literary scholar 'Kalaprapurna' Dr. Marupuru Kodandarami Reddi acted as the chairman.

Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao expressed the following in his inaugural speech. "Library movement is not just a movement of books. Activities related to political activism are an integral part of it. The libraries kindled dynamism and enthusiasm in us in those days. The Library Act in AP is unique. Our Public Libraries Act is a precedent for the other states to be followed. Libraries should maintain reference books, ancient literature and dictionaries. Andhra Library movement has a special place in the Indian history. Many patriots have links with it. The past history of library movement should be reviewed and future course of action should be taken up. Volunteers should play a great role in it."

Sri Marupuru Kodandarami Reddi in his presidential address had said "Andhras are as emotional as Bengalis. The then 'Granthalaya Sarwaswam' (Encyclopedia of Library) initiated the library movement, inspired us, and while reading the articles and news items published in it we used to get elated with some unknown new energy".

While felicitating the poet laureate of Andhra Pradesh Library Association Sri Kaloji Narayana Rao, Sri Kodandarami Reddi expressed his pleasure for having got an opportunity to felicitate his classmate.

While speaking about Sri Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao, one of the pillars of the library movement, Sri Kaloji Narayana Rao expressed his profound hope of emulating the courage and determination of Sri Gadicherla, all the lovers of libraries would take forward the Andhra library movement as per his wishes and ambitions.

Sri Tumuluri Lakshminarayana, Associate Editor of Andhra Patrika speaking on the topic "Children's Libraries' opined that this movement ran as a part of Indian Freedom movement for 60 years. Today when compared to the other countries our children's average education is rather low and underrated. While the children of other nations on an average read as many as hundreds of pages, our children hardly read not more than 30, 40 pages. Right from the days of childhood they should be introduced to good book reading habit. To reach this goal of attracting the children towards book reading habit, the librarians should put in special care and effort.

The platinum jubilee celebrations started at 6 o'clock in the evening of 10th April 1989, in Sarvottama Bhavan with Sri Kodati Narayana Rao, the President of the association in the chair. Sri R. Krishna Murthy, Director of Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries, inaugurated the celebrations. Sri M. V. Venkata Reddy, Director, Dept. Adult Education, Andhra Pradesh released the Golden Jubilee issue, the 50th volume of the association's journal "Granthalaya Sarvasvam." Kalaprapurna Sri Vavilala Gopala Krishnaiah, leader of Library movement, Dr. Jandhyala Sankar, Mayor, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and Sri Vadde Sobhana driswara Rao, Member of Parliament were present on the occasion.

Sri Kodati Narayana Rao, in his address opined that 75 years in the life of a person may not be of much significance, but the survival and continuance of a voluntary service organization for 75 years with its unremitting activities is of a great significance. In the annals of library movement, the platinum jubilee institution, the library association, has earned a permanent place.

Sri R. Krishna Murthy, the director, felt that at the all India level, Andhra Pradesh Library Association, took lead and fought through its tireless efforts in creating awareness in the public, legislating Public Libraries Act, and library movement activities for the progress of the library movement-under the foreign rule. Sri M. V. Venkata Reddy, Director, Adult Education termed the libraries and adult education as twins and explained the inseparable relation between the two.

Sri Vadde Sobhanadriswara Rao, recalled the role of Andhra Pradesh Library Association in producing thousands of dedicated activists. He expressed his happiness at its platinum jubilee and explained the status of libraries.

Sri Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah equated the history of Andhra Pradesh Library Association with the history of Andhra Pradesh Library Movement. Dr. Jandhyala Sankar, Mayor, Vijayawada city praised the activists of Andhra Pradesh Library Association for having brought recognition for Vijayawada at all India level.

On 10 April, 2014 the foundation of the association completed 100 years and hence the centenary celebrations were given a start out on 10 th April, 2013 in Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Kalamandir, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad. The festive celebrations were inaugurated by Sri Mandali Buddha Prasad, MLA and an active member of Telugu Language and Culture Movement. In this conference along with Website of the Association, Volumes 1-60 of Granthalaya Sarvaswamu in the form of CD were also released.

The concluding meeting of the centenary celebrations of APLA was held from April 10 to 12, 2014, at Dhanekula Engineering College in Ganguru, near Vijayawada. On this occasion, a National Library Conference was organized with the theme 'Role of Library Associations in Promoting Information Literacy in the Knowledge Society'. The Conferece was presided over by Dr. Karisiddappa, Rtd. Professor of Library Science, Dharward, Kaarnataka while it was commenced by Mr.U.Kalyanam, the last Secretary in office for Mahatma Gandhi.