The Department of Libraries and Research and Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), Kolkatta have decided to jointly launch a novel initiative – “Library-on-Wheels” – in J&K to reach out to readers in the remotest corners of the Union Territory (UT) by offering free library services at their doorstep.

Making the announcement at the concluding session of the two-day meeting of the UT-Level Library Advisory-cum-Purchase Committee (UTLLACPC) in Srinagar on Wednesday, Director General, National Library of India (NLI) and RRRLF Kolkatta, Prof Ajay Pratap Singh said the initiative would be launched in all the districts of J&K to make quality reading material available in places or areas where it is hard to find a public library.

Prof Singh said the resources for the purchase of vehicles for Mobile Libraries would be arranged from corporate houses and philanthropic organizations under CSR while the recurring cost for these vehicles including fuel, maintenance and other charges would be borne by RRRLF. The books and other reading material, he said, would be provided by J&K’s Libraries Department with the District Libraries serving as the base libraries for the initiative.

He announced that on the recommendation of UTLLACPC, two public libraries from J&K including Gani Memorial Central Library, Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar and District Library Samba would be upgraded under the centrally sponsored scheme – National Mission on Libraries (NML).

The Committee approved setting up of IT Hubs at SRS Library Jammu and SPS Library Srinagar in convergence with Smart City Mission Jammu and Srinagar.

The Committee was informed that the Jammu Smart City Ltd has already formulated Rs 4.30 crore DPR for upgradation of SRS Library Jammu including setting up of IT hub while a similar proposal is under consideration of Srinagar Smart City.

The Committee recommended that given its historic importance and rich repository of manuscripts and rare books, the Oriental Research Library, Srinagar be relocated to the upcoming Heritage Complex at Sherghari (Old Assembly Complex) where it can display the treasured collection of rare manuscripts and books. It was also recommended that the Libraries Department should approach the National Mission on Manuscripts (NMM) to get the Oriental Research Library enlisted as a Manuscript Resource Centre.

In other decisions, the Committee called for putting in place a regulatory mechanism through the Department of Libraries & Research to regulate the functioning of Private Libraries & Reading Rooms coming up in J&K.