Srinagar/IBNS: In a major choice aimed toward remodeling the Public Libraries in J&K by leveraging know-how, Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha at this time gave the go-ahead to the Department of Libraries and Research to modernize its Public Libraries within the UT with requisite IT infrastructure and reinvent these important establishments as productive e-Learning-cum-career counselling centres for youth.
Chairing a evaluation assembly of the Department of Culture right here this afternoon, the Lt Governor mentioned that this novel initiative may be achieved by pooling assets from Mission Youth, J&K and the Smart City Mission to ascertain the requisite infrastructure within the present community of round 130 public libraries in J&K.
He mentioned this technological intervention would assist construct a collaborative and futuristic digital library system within the UT and unlock wide-ranging assets in conventional public libraries for a brand new era of learners and start-ups, enabling free, long-term, public entry to the data and abilities.
Pertinently, as part of this initiative, the Department of Libraries has, in convergence with Jammu Smart City Ltd (JSCL), already began in depth up-gradation of SRS Central Library Jammu to remodel it right into a full-fledged Digital Library with the absolute best technological amenities.
The key parts of the Rs 4.30 crores, SRS Library Jammu up-gradation mission embody organising of IT Hub with a devoted Server and Nodes, CCTV Surveillance System, Access Control System, RFID Tagging of Books and Access, set up of 150 KVA Genset, Air-Conditioning System, Fire Protection System, Furniture, Reading Lamps, Water Dispensers with RO Connection, Softscaping, Bookshelves, Toilet Block, Cafeteria, Screenwalls, Vertical Garden and many others.
An identical proposal has been despatched by the Libraries Department to the Srinagar Smart City Ltd (SSCL) for the up-gradation of SPS Library Srinagar as a Digital Library which is witnessing an enormous footfall of eager readers, particularly youth in its ‘Reading Rooms’.
This partnership for the technological transformation of public libraries in J&K would go a good distance in the direction of broadening and increasing entry to the huge sources of data accessible in these repositories. The division has a repository of round 13 lakh books together with some uncommon books along with round 6,000 manuscripts.
In order to increase the ‘Digital Libraries’ community throughout UT, the Department of Libraries will work on a separate mission, in convergence with Mission Youth, J&K for the digital transformation of its present set-up of district libraries in order that this initiative is taken to the grassroots degree.
Once the requisite IT infrastructure is in place, these libraries can be linked with digital libraries throughout the nation and the globe together with the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) to facilitate entry of the customers, particularly the scholars, to round 3.5 crore educational assets together with e-books, audio-books, lecture supplies, thesis, stories, articles, journals, query papers and many others.
These libraries can even make accessible high quality free research and reference materials, each hardcopy and in e-format to the scholars to assist them put together for aggressive examinations like NEET/JEE/CAT/IAS/JKAS and many others.
The ‘Digital Libraries’ idea is part of the mission on the right way to reposition the public libraries in an setting of latest social and technological challenges.
This novel mission is aimed toward rediscovering how public libraries transfer ahead and adapt to new applied sciences, new communities, new person wants and knowledge behaviours.
