GUWAHATI, Nov 14 � The Assam government is going to set up a State Central Library that will act as information centre for all sections of the population. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 35 crore.
Minister for Cultural Affairs, Bharat Narah said the project was envisioned in the backdrop of the concept of public library undergoing radical change in the last few years. The library will come up in the city. A plot of five bighas has been allotted.
Narah said the SCL would be the coordinating authority for the public libraries of the State and would establish the standard procedures and guidelines for effective functioning of all public libraries in the State.
�The SCL as the apex library will play a crucial role in several non-library activities such as promotion of literacy, developing the reading habit among the people and in preserving the State�s tradition and cultural heritage which may ultimately lead to the increased use of public libraries in the State,� said the minister.
Narah said the SCL would have a special collection of books on the customs, traditions and cultural heritages of the State published in and outside the State in any language.
The three important functions of the SCL will be the collection, development, storage and dissemination of reading materials, and in keeping with the proliferation of information technology, the government will equally give importance to providing latest electronic access in the SCL.
�The SCL will focus on creating database of books and other reading materials in standard formats, share the existing resources over the network, create specialized collection centres, document imaging, storing and retrieval of old classics, manuscripts and rare books before they become unused,� said Narah.
