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| Kashmir: Modernization of libraries begins, book lovers elated | | | Lubna Fayaz
Srinagar, Sept 18: Book lovers in Kashmir have a t reason to rejoice. In a major leap towards modernization of public libraries, the government has launched the pilot project for their automation and networking.
The project costing a little over Rs 1 crore, in the first phase will connect four major public libraries- SRS Central Library Jammu, SPS Central Library Srinagar, Oriental Research Library Hazratbal and City Central Library Karan Nagar, while rest would be taken up in the second phase. "It would bring J&K at par with national and international standards. To execute this project separate workstations have been set up at the four libraries of the state," Minister for Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora says.
The State has a 132 year history of public library service. The first library in the State, the SRS Library which was established at Jammu in 1879 followed by setting up of SPS Library at Srinagar in 1898. "We have such a long history it was very essential to switch over to the automated library management to meet the present day requirement," he says.
Book lovers, whose number has seen a sharp increase are elated. Rahil Khan, a student, who spend much of his time at a local library says: "Its good now I can sit in any library and check out for books in other libraries of the state."
He describes the launch as a significant step towards revolutionizing library services in the State. Jora believes the over two-decade old turmoil has affected public library services as it has affected other sectors, but now has been put on the rails again with initiatives taken by the library department for the improvement of infrastructure and collection.
With the latest initiative from the department, readers have could reap multiple benefits. Even for the library managers the step is expected to bring better efficiency.
"Project has multiple benefits, both for the service provider and the service recipient, including computerized classification, cataloguing, accession, storage, retrieval and circulation of books, online information on library collection, increase in operational efficiency, substantial improvement in quality, speed and effectiveness of the services, access to remote users, user participation in resource-sharing library networks, rapid communication with other libraries (including libraries outside), greater transparency in the purchase of titles for public libraries, and removal of chances of duplication in purchase of books," says the minister.
He, however, say there is a need to create awareness about libraries to attract more people to the written word. He enumerates various steps taken by the department.
"Government has taken many steps to improve library services and specifically the ongoing construction of the new building for the Central Library at Srinagar and the automation and networking of libraries project," he says.
There are various other libraries in the state which needs to be reconstructed and renovated but this will be done only after completion of pilot phase of the project.
"Once Pilot Phase gets completed other public libraries at district, tehsil and block level will also be taken up for automation and networking," he adds.
For digitization and archival of old and rare books with internet access department of libraries and research has taken another project. 472 titles in different languages have been identified and the project proposal submitted by National Informatics Centre is in the final stages of receiving the administrative approval. Archival of about 6000 digitized manuscripts in different languages, forming a rich and proud collection of the department is also part of the project, besides designing a website of the department.
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