SRINAGAR, AUGUST 25: The Director, Libraries & Research, Rubina Kousar today 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.
The 2-day UTLLACPC meeting began at SPS Library today 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, 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.
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.
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.
J&K libraries to get infrastructure boost: Director
