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Iyyanki Venkata Ramanayya was born on 24th of July 1890 Konkuduru village of Andra Pradesh, after completing his school education in 1903 he joined National Movement. After joining National Movement he realized that the social and economic backwardness of India is due to illiteracy. To pull out such roots he felt that Libraries will play an important role; this leads him to start the library movement in India.
At tender age of 19 he started the First State Library Association in Indian. In 1914, he started Andhra Desa Library Association, Bengal Library Association in 1925. He also contributed to the foundation of the Madras Library Association (1928) and Punjab Library Association (1929) at state level. To develop interests among the people he conducted hundreds of meetings and conferences at national and state level related to the importance of libraries. First All India Public Library Conference in 1919, which was held in Madras, was held due to the efforts of Iyyanki. He was also selected as general secretary of All India Public Library Association in the second conference of AIPLC which was conducted in December 1923.
He took an initiative to establish rural libraries, with this he also founded literary journal like “Andhra Bharati” (Telugu) in 1910. In 1916, he also brought forth the first library journal "Granthalaya Sarvasvamu" in Telugu the first professional journal on Library Science from Vijayawada, as well as the Indian Library Journal in the year 1924, at his own cost and to encourage the library profession. He was also an editor of Indian Library journal from 1924 to 1936.
His efforts regarding development of public library system in India is worth appreciating and that is the reason he is recognized as the "Architect of Public Library Movement in India" and was awarded by Indian Govt. with Padmashri in 1972. Maharaja of Baroda honored him with "Granthalaya Pitamaha” award. He is also the first Indian to be awarded Kaula Gold Medal. He dedicated his whole life to the cause and development of libraries.
He died at the age 89 in 1979; his contribution regarding the establishment of Public Library system will always be remembered.
For Further Information visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyyanki_Venkata_Ramanayya
http://www.saraswathisamrajyam.org/images/light-library.pdf
http://www.worldlibrary.in/articles/ayyanki_venkata_ramanaiah
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/85602/11/11_chapter%204.pdf
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