Total transformation of Guwahati District Library on anvil

GUWAHATI, June 2: Transformation of the District Library in Guwahati in tune with the changing times is already on the cards. With the authorities planning to introduce digitisation of books and motivational programmes, the library is all set for a total overhaul.

Talking to The Sentinel, librarian Krishna Bordoloi informed that once the changes come into place, the readers will have access to e-books and e-journals, while the official website of the library will display an online catalogue of available books. Meanwhile, 3,500 books have already been added to the digital catalogue.

Further, the visitors will also be allowed to bring their own books to the library to read with separate section dedicated for the purpose coming into place. This will be done with a view to providing study places to students who do not have such facilities. The librarian further informed that additional computers are in the process of procurement to establish a cyber centre where "bona fide members will be able to avail the internet facility for 45 minutes."

Presently, the library has a collection of over 47,000 books besides journals and magazines on a wide range of topics. The officials are deliberating on taking the library to the community level. "We want to inculcate the reading habit among children and include more members of the community as part of the readers' tribe," said librarian Bordoloi. As of now, the district library has 39,682 registered members as on March 31 2018.