BHUBANESWAR: Libraries in Bhubaneswar continue to thrive at a time when e-books (digital books) and smart phones have become the norm of the day. Youths, mostly civil service aspirants, continue to enjoy their reading time at libraries. Efforts are also being made by academicians and bibliophiles to keep the city's reading culture vibrant.
Odisha has 34 public libraries managed by the State Government while, city-based Harekrushna Mahatab (HKM) State Library is the biggest library that boasts of more than 1.5 lakh books and 500 to 600 footfalls daily. Apart from HKM Library, there are many privately-managed public libraries in city and different districts.
Harekrushna Mahatab Library
Today, the Harekrushna Mahatab State Library is busier than ever. Currently, it has more than 8,000 registered members. Such is the demand that students are being denied entry into the library as it does not have adequate infrastructure to accommodate all of them. In fact, no new member has been enrolled in the last few months and on any given day, students can be seen reading on the lawns outside the main library hall.
The library has 1,77,000 books on various subjects and subscribes to 56 magazines a month but it only has 411 seats for readers.
Librarian Santosh Kumar Chatterjee said there are plans to set up separate reading rooms for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PwDs) under Central Government's Matching fund of `20 lakh. Similarly, the Centre has sanctioned `1 crore for computerisation of library with setting up of an information kiosk.
The work has been assigned to the National Informatics Centre (NIC), said Director of Culture, Amarendra Kumar Patnaik.
Soochana Bhawan
Despite infrastructure woes, the Soochana Bhawan Library, managed by Information and Public Relations Department, continues to cater to around 100 students, 50 research scholars and 30 departmental officers daily for obtaining reference materials. The Research and Reference unit of the department collects background materials, up-to-date facts and figures from various departments of the Government and keeps those intact for reference purposes. This unit also preserves newspaper clippings, articles from research journals and informative literature published by Government. The reference library has more than 5,000 books, maps, publicity booklets and features.
Vivekananda & CYSD Libraries
Set up by Ramakrishna Mission, Vivekananda Library is one of the favourite reading spaces for students and spiritual/religious book lovers. The library, which also lends books, has more than 1,000 members and around 100 students and scholars visit it every day. Interestingly, all the library operations starting from stocking, cataloguing and issuance of books have been computerised here. With the help of Kolkata-based Raja Ram Mohan Roy Foundation, the library has also opened a children's corner, said librarian Brundaban Panda.
The Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), a leading civil society organisation in the city, also maintains a research library on its campus. It has a wide range of research publications on education, governance, health, social reforms and sustainable livelihood. The library is open for public on all working days.
First Digital Library
Manmohan Library, the first digital library of Odisha with over 1.3 lakh digitised pages of Odia literature, provides free access to the literary works of eminent writers. The library boasts of a collection that comprises Odia magazines and newspapers published between 1850 and 1950. From the first available Odia magazine Prabodha Chandrika (1856) to the first regional newspaper Utkal Deepika, the library has it all. It was set up by voluntary organisation Srujanika, which works on digitisation of literary works and Kedarnath Gabesana Pratisthan, a socio-cultural association.
Walking Bookfairs & Bakul
One of the most interesting places in the city to read is the Walking Bookfairs book shop, founded by two bibliophiles - Akshaya Rautaray and Satabdi Mishra. Here, people can browse through books and also read them before making a purchase. Books here are available at 20 per cent discount throughout the year. Both Akshaya and Satabdi had recently travelled throughout India in a truck filled with books to promote reading habit among people across all generations.
"We are now planning to launch a pushcart bicycle library in the city," says Akshaya.
Bakul Foundation, which runs a library for children, and Kedarnath Gabesana Pratisthan Pathagara continue to be in demand despite students moving away from reading habit. Bakul hosts interesting author interaction sessions for youths and children almost every month. This apart, city-based Oxford Cha Bar, a bookstore-cum-reading room, provides library facilities with tea service.
Jagatchandra Dash of Kedarnath Gabesana Pratisthan says, "We need vibrant public libraries across Odisha with community participation that would make them relevant and dynamic, and help break the digital divide. We have to find different ways to ensure public libraries stay relevant. A public library improves the quality of life in a community. Unless we keep a platform ready for people from all strata, we cannot be successful in creating knowledge society".
READING SPACE IN THE CITY
HKM State Library
Time: 8 am to 8 pm except Mondays and Holidays
Category: Competitive and Academic
Soochana Bhawan Library
Time: 9 am to 6 pm except Sundays and Holidays
Category: Journals and informative booklets
Vivekananda Library
Time: 7 am to 10 am and 4.30 pm - 8 pm except Wednesdays
Category: Competitive and Academic, religious books and
Journals
CYSD's Research Library
Time: 10 am to 5 pm except Sundays and holidays
Category: Research and Reference
Bakul Children's Library
Time: 2 pm-9 pm except Mondays
Category: Children's books and literature
Walking Bookfairs
Time: 4 pm-8 pm except Sundays
Category: All sections
Kedarnath Gabesana Pratisthan Pathagara
Time: 4 pm-7 pm except Tuesdays and holidays
Category: Literatures and Journals
Manmohan Digital Library
Time: 4 pm-7 pm except Tuesdays and holidays
Category: Literatures
Oxford Cha Bar
Time: 10 am-8 pm all days
Category: All books published by Oxford