Srinagar to get 50 libraries

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 27

With the government aiming to provide “instant and trouble-free” access to books and other learning material during shutdowns in Srinagar district, 50 libraries will be set up under a pilot project.

Libraries will be set up in educational institutions, including high schools, higher secondary schools and hostels of all major colleges of the district like Bemina Degree College, Amar Singh College and Islamia College of Science and Technology.

A government spokesman said schools at Soiteng, Khonmoh, Harwan and Faqir Gujri were being equipped with libraries to give these students living in remote areas an effortless access to books.

“In addition to books and other relevant reading material in hard copies, these libraries will provide access to over 50,000 e-books,” he said.

“The libraries will be connected to the National Digital Library of India to allow free-of-cost access to a treasure trove of different kinds of learning media like textbooks, articles, videos, audio books and lectures,” the spokesman said.

Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said the aim of setting up libraries was to “facilitate trouble-free education at all levels”.

“Besides books, which will be made available on demand, these libraries will also be equipped with computer and Internet facilities to help meet the educational needs of users,” said Choudhary.

“The project is a joint initiative of the Srinagar district administration and Srinagar Smart City Limited,” he said.