The century old library at Kannada Sahitya Parishat, which has some rare and century old collections, and where many Kannada poets had spent hours together to script their works, will finally get a renovated look.
To attract more people towards its library, the parishat, in association with the Department of Public Libraries, is spending about Rs 50 lakh towards renovation and digitalisation.
Speaking to City Express, K G Venkatesh, Director, Department of Public Libraries said, “In the first stage the library will be renovated on lines with what was done with the library at Gandhi Bhavan. The worn-out walls will be plastered and wood works undertaken ensuring space for all the books. It will be preserved and made available easily.”
All these years, one had to spend hours together to find the required book. The library has many century old books which kindles knowledge and sprouts respect towards Kannada. But they were just bundled and thrown in a corner due to the lack of an efficient system.
But by the end of August a high-tech touch will be given to the library. “We have informed the Parishat to look out for sponsors who can lend computers so that in the next stage, we can digitise the library, where the visitors can track the book just with a click of the mouse,” said Venkatesh. It was said that the parishat has more than 78,000 valuable volumes and research works. Karnataka Ramayana written by Sosale Ayya Shastri (1804), Shabda Mani Darpana written by K Shi Raja (1872), Nagavarmana Kannada Chandassu (1875), Pachali Pariyana (1896), Chikkadevaraja Vijayam (1890) are some of the rare collections to be named. The library also has collection on India’s greatest epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata, manuscripts, Talegari, magazines, newspapers, etc.
“We are planning to write to all publishers to lend two copies of the books they publish,” said a KSP official.
Pundalika Halambi, president of KSP said, “While the Parishat is inching towards its centenary celebration these kind of renovations are needed to preserve valuable books at the library.”