Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday laid foundation stone for transformation of Dr Harekrushna Mahatab State Library in Bhubaneswar.
The transformation work will be carried out jointly by Department of Culture and Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC).
As part of the transformation plan, various facilities including Aahar Kendra and Mission Shakti Cafes for the visitors will be opened inside the library. The upgraded facilities include multilingual sections, children’s reading areas, study spaces, window seating space and a state-of-the-art conference facility.
Besides, comfortable lounge areas, quiet reading rooms, reading pods, book stacks halls and specially-abled accessible toilets will be added features. Moreover, the integration of essential amenities such as water dispensers, emergency services, and seamless Wi-Fi connectivity will also be available for the visitors.
The transformed library will feature seating arrangements accommodating upto 500 persons simultaneously. The implementation of a digitisation and automation drive will enable access to the library’s existing collection of books online.
Established in 1967, the State Library was an initiative on literary enlightenment. On August 15, 1987, it was re-named as Dr Harekrishna Mahatab State Library. Since then, it has served as a vital source of knowledge for every segment of society, especially students.
The chief minister also inaugurated the Santhakabi Bhimabhoi Library at the Integrated Public Service Centre (IPSC) at Bapujinagar. It is equipped with amenities such as Aahar Kendra, Wi-Fi connectivity, surveillance systems, and comfortable reading rooms.
Among others, Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, MLAs Ananta Narayan Jena and Susanta Rout, Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Sujata Rout Kartikeyan and Director Dilip Routray were present on the occasion.
