Libraries to go online in Andhra Pradesh: Minister

Copyright UNI.
Hyderabad, Nov 3 (UNI) Taking a cue from China, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to take up an ambitious Universal Digital Library project, State Libraries Minister N Rajyalakshmi said.

''All the major libraries in the state will go online shortly'', she said while taking part in the ''Conference of the Chairmen and Secretaries of the Zilla Grandhalaya Samasthas''. Under the projects major state and district libraries would be computersied and networked to enable researchers trace books of their choice anywhere in the state, she said yesterday.

Making it clear that the government was not in a position to release grants to meet all the needs of libraries, she urged them to take donations from philanthropists, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), who were eager to make contributions.

Listing out the steps being taken to bring a large number of people back to the libraries, the Minister said, in an effort to inculcate book reading habit among children, many of whom were glued to television, she would issue an order to ensure that a library hour was made compulsory in all schools.

Ms Rajyalakshmi said recognising the power of the internet, all text books were made available on its website for the benefit of students.

Though the number of people reading books had come down to an extent due to proliferation of television, value of books had not diminished at all, she said, asserting that the government was committed to revive the library movement. Some of the major libraries would be air-conditioned for better ambience, she added. UNI SM SBA VP0426

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