The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee launched the National Mission on Libraries today (February 3, 2014) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Libraries are social institutions which are repositories of knowledge and information. Their goal is the improvement of society by helping the individual to understand himself and the world of which he is a part. Libraries provide easy access of knowledge to all. A public library is often called "the people’s university” because it is available to all sections of society – regardless of age, gender or skill levels. Thus, through democratization of access to knowledge, libraries contribute in promoting inclusive and sustained development of the people.

The President expressed his belief that the project of National Mission on Libraries would contribute substantially to quickening the pace of social and economic development of the people. He extended his best wishes for the effective implementation of the project as also of the new scheme of "Up-gradation of Libraries providing services to the public.” He said he is sure the National Mission of Libraries would promote enlightenment and understanding and go a long way in making the masses active participants in the affairs of the nation.

National Mission on Libraries is an initiative of Ministry of Culture to ensure sustained and long term focus on the development of Libraries.