Conduct survey of rural libraries, SAGPBS president Pratap Hazarika raises demand

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Sodou Asom Gramya Puthibharal Santha (SAGPBS) president Pratap Hazarika has raised the demand for a survey of rural libraries in the state. He has requested the State Government to convert all rural libraries of the state into library-cum-information centres, in sync with the need of hour.

Talking to The Sentinel, Hazarika said, “As many as 1,100 rural libraries in the state have registered themselves under our Santha. The state has around 5,000 rural libraries, and most of them have not registered under our Santha. Non-renewal of registration under the Society Registration Act is common among the rural libraries.”

According to Hazarika, the State Government took over 204 rural libraries in 1985. “The State Government has not taken any rural library after that. It is not encouraging the library movement in the state,” he said.

Hazarika said, “The concept of a library has changed nowadays with the advent of digital literacy. Since most of the people in rural areas of the state are digitally literate, the State Government should convert all rural libraries in the state into library-cum-information centres from where rural people can do their personal official work. Such a move will make rural library-cum-information centres almost single destination for rural people to do their all official works.”

Hazarika further said, “A survey of all rural libraries in the state is urgently needed. The State Government should also take rural libraries under the Directorate of Libraries in the Department of Cultural Affairs so as to make them vibrant information centres. Even before India’s independence, rural libraries were working as community halls for rural people to discuss all issues. The State Government should convert all rural libraries to library-cum-information centres to serve important purposes in the changed social, educational, and cultural scenario in the state.”

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