Mysore/Mysuru, Nov. 28 -- Despite public libraries across the State facing a severe funding crisis, writers and publishers have alleged that the Library Cess collected by local bodies is being misused.

According to N. Ravikumar, Secretary of the Karnataka State Publishers Association, the Department of Public Libraries has seen no progress despite a bureaucratic upgrade.

He explained that while the Department was previously headed by a Director, the State Government upgraded the post to the rank of Commissioner several years ago and began appointing IAS officers to the role.

Ravikumar highlighted that a 6 percent Library Cess is collected by the State's six City Corporations and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). However, due to te...