1,018 GP libraries set to become ‘Digital Knowledge Centres’

As many as 1,018 gram panchayat libraries in six districts in the Hyderabad Karnataka region are being converted into ‘Digital Knowledge Centres’.

Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of the Sixth KSCLA International Conference on ‘Paradigms of digital library, e-resources, open access and information and media literacy’ here on Friday, Satishkumar Hosamani, Director, Department of Public Libraries, said that the project was specific to the region under provisions of Article 371(J).

Mr. Satishkumar said that photocopy machines and UPS machines had been procured and provided to the libraries. “Apart from main newspapers, 10 to 15 local and regional dailies too will be made available there. Ten sets of textbooks under the National Council for Educational Research and Training syllabus and those under the National Curriculum Framework will be provided to help Class 10 and PU students,” he said.

Mr. Satishkumar said that it was a Rs. 50-crore project of which Rs. 25 crore would be utilised for construction of permanent structures for public libraries wherever sites were available. Each gram panchayat would get a grant of Rs. 10 lakh for the library building and construction work was being initiated at 184 gram panchayats where sites were available. The remaining Rs. 25 crore was being utilised for meeting infrastructural needs, he said.

Clarifying that there was no shortage of hands to run these public libraries, Mr. Satishkumar said that a recruitment process for filling 87 posts of librarians, assistant librarians and others for the Hyderabad Karnataka region had been on.

He said that the department had also proposed to set up ‘Digital Knowledge Centres’ at 10 more places across the State at a cost of Rs. 5 crore. “The proposal is now before the government,” Mr. Satishkumar added.