BANGALORE, July 17: The Department of Public Libraries is all set to fly to the United Kingdom. No. The host country did not invite our mandarins suo motu, but the Karnataka government requested the host country to invite it so that it could go abroad armed with a formal invitation.

The UK has sent a nicely worded invite, and a pleased Public Libraries department has submitted a proposal to the Government seeking its nod for the 12-day junket. The proposed team is to include Adult Education and Libraries Minister R Krishnappa, Libraries director T Malleshappa, the City Central Libraries Chief Librarian P Y Rajendra Kumar and the NIMHANS librarian H S Siddamallaiah.

The purpose of the jaunt is to ostensibly study the scenario of higher studies in library science and the network of public libraries serving the needs of adult education. The proposal intends to use the cess collected from people for library development and the purchase of books.

The letter from Shane Godbolt, the head of the North Thames Regional Library and Information Unit to the Adult Education Minister reads as follows :

``As requested by Dr H S Siddamallaiah, please find enclosed a further copy of the letter of invitation. It gives me great pleasure to invite you and your colleagues to visit the UK to look at developments here and to discuss your own with us. I understand that the party would consist of yourself as Director, the Minister and two other officials. On behalf of International Coordinator of the Library Association Jill Martin and myself, I need to confirm that I cannot be responsible for arranging accommodation nor for any funding. You will need to make your own arrangements for funding through your own official sources in India...''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.