State Library in Odisha capital to get major facelift

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today laid foundation stone for the transformation of Harekrushna Mahatab State Library in the capital city here.

The transformation work will be carried out jointly by the Culture department and Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC). The state government will also set up a library honoring the legacy of Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi inside the Integrated Public Service Center (IPSC) at Bapujinagar.

Established in 1967 as the cornerstone of literary enlightenment, the State Library embarked on a journey to nurture knowledge and inspire generations. On August 15, 1987, it was re-named as Harekrushna Mahatab State Library. Since then, the library has been serving as a vital knowledge center for students, the public, and every segment of society over the years. The library has played an instrumental role in facilitating academic endeavors and catering to a diverse audience spanning students to researchers.

As part of the transformation plan, various facilities will be available within the library. Aahar Kendra and Mission Shakti Cafes will offer a diverse range of delicious meals and snacks to the visitors to the library. The upgraded facilities include specially-abled accessible toilets, multilingual sections, engaging children’s reading areas, tranquil study spaces, window seating space, and a state-of-the-art conference facility, comfortable lounge areas, quiet reading rooms, reading pods and book stacks halls. Moreover, the integration of essential amenities such as water dispensers, emergency services and seamless Wi-Fi connectivity underscores a commitment to cultivating an environment conducive to visitors.

In addition to the aforementioned facilities, the transformed library will feature seating arrangements accommodating up to 500 individuals simultaneously and Wi-Fi facility for the readers. Furthermore, the implementation of digitization and automation drive will enable access to the library’s existing collection of books online, ensuring that readers can conveniently explore literary treasures on the go.

With the introduction of climate-controlled chambers and premium drinking water facilities, the refurbished library is poised to emerge as a beacon of intellectual enlightenment, fostering a culture of learning and innovation for generations to come.

Simultaneously, the inauguration of the Santhakabi Bhima Bhoi Library at the IPSC at Bapujinagar signifies a pivotal step towards democratizing access to literary resources.

The inauguration of these libraries underscores Odisha’s unwavering commitment to take up a public library movement across the state and with the Odia diaspora.

Among others, Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, MLAs Ananta Narayan Jena and Susanta Rout and Odia Language Literature and Culture department Secretary Sujata Rout kartikeyan were present on the occasion.