Director Libraries presses for infra upgradation, digitization of Libraries

Srinagar: The Director, Libraries & Research, Rubina Kousar Monday said the Department is laying renewed focus on upgradation of infrastructure in Public Libraries of J&K to keep pace with the mounting footfall of readers in these libraries.
“It is heartening to note that, of late, we are witnessing massive revival of reading culture in J&K with keen readers, especially the youth, making a beeline to Public Libraries to study in an ambient atmosphere,” the Director, Libraries & Research said in her opening remarks at the 4th meeting of J&K UT Level Library Advisory-cum-Purchase Committee (UTLLACPC) here Monday.
The 2-day UTLLACPC meeting began at SPS Library Monday to dwell on issues critical to reviving Public Libraries in J&K and also for finalizing selection of books for purchase by the Department for the financial year 2025-26.
Hailing the recent interventions made by the Department of Libraries & Research to transform J&K’s Public Libraries as multi-faceted hubs of career development for youth, Mrs Rubina commended the support extended by J&K Government and Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) in this regard. “We are especially thankful to especially Prof A P Singh, Director General, RRRLF for his unflinching support and personal attention towards improvement of library infrastructure in J&K,” she said.
She said there is, however, still lot of scope for further improvement in this vital social sector especially on the infrastructure front as most of the libraries in J&K are lacking in basic facilities like furniture & furnishing, drinking water, toilets, IT infrastructure and facilities for specially-abled.
She said the huge increase in footfall in the Public Libraries has put immense pressure on library resources and there is a pressing need for upgrading the infrastructure to cope up with the increasing demand of readers. “The reading spaces in most of the Public Libraries are running to their full capacity at present and there is a demand for creating more reading spaces with adequate facilities,” she said.
Regarding facilities for the specially-abled, the Director, Libraries & Research said that the Department would, in the first phase, equip all the Central and District Libraries with ramps, special furniture and audio-visual reading aids for the Divyangjan under the matching grant of RRRLF.
She said while the Department has already started making available quality learning resources for Civil Services, JEE & NEET competitive examinations free in Public Libraries, the availability of these learning resources would be further extended to other competitive exams including judicial services, AIPMT, CET, SSC, NET/SLET, SSB, GMAT, CLAT, CAT etc so that deserving students can benefit from these free resources.
She also called for upgradation of IT infrastructure in Public Libraries as a part of the Digital Transformation initiative. She said proposals for automation and digitization of Central and District Libraries have already been moved by the Department.
The Director Libraries also moved the proposal before UTLLACPC for establishing Libraries-cum-Reading Centres at various prominent tourist spots in J&K besides setting up Newspaper Reading Kiosks for morning walkers at various selected places.
Pertinently, 17-member J&K UT-Level Library Advisory-cum-Purchase Committee (UTLLACPC) was reconstituted by J&K Government in November 2024 to recommend measures for development of the library services and upgradation of library facilities in the UT. The Committee also makes selection of books to be purchased by the Libraries Department for its libraries.