5 Aug :News item “Works of Tagore, Netaji stolen from National Library?” published in the english daily , page 1, dated 5th August, 2008 regarding National Library, Kolkata.
The Director-in-charge, National Library, Kolkata, Dr. R. Ramachandran, has issued following denial/clarification regarding the above said item:
No such documents relating to Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sarat Chandra Chatterjee and Sarojini Naidu are missing or stolen from the National Library. The Rare Books Division of the National Library maintains catalogues of its holdings which is the necessary record of the collection. No departure has been found between the records and actual collection.
“Not found” books do not mean that books are stolen or missing. Some books are misplaced while some other are unfit for use. So these books could not be issued to readers when requisitions are placed. It is also to be noted that in big libraries ‘not found’ is not an uncommon phenomenon.
There are no financial irregularities in procuring books or serials. The Library follows Rule 116 of Government of India General Financial Rules (GFR) on prevalent terms and conditions from the reputed and standard book-sellers.