PU central library to be made digital repository

PATNA: The central library of Patna University (PU), which is to celebrate its centenary next year, is likely to be developed into an e-library in collaboration with the UGC.
A decision to expedite the conversion of one of the oldest academic libraries in the country into a modern digital repository of the recent advancements in different branches of knowledge was taken at a meeting of the library statutory committee held under the chairmanship of PU VC Rash Bihari Prasad Singh on Wednesday.

It was decided that PU would approach the UGC for signing an MoU for the purpose. The library will acquire necessary software for its digitization and implementation of the UGC’s INFLIBNET (information and library networking) programme with a view to providing the PU faculty and students easy access to the latest research journals in different subjects.

The library will also procure e-books in different subjects for the online use of scholars.

It was further decided to obtain soft copies of PhD theses submitted by PU scholars during the last five years and upload them to the PU’s website. A move for preservation and digitization of more than 5,000 rare manuscripts in possession of the library is already on.

PU library incharge Rabindra Kumar said the library possesses manuscripts written on leather, ‘bhojpatra’, palm leaves, Nepali paper and on paper with gold and silver linings. Some rare manuscripts based on Maithili grammar, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the history of Bihar and Magadh belonging to the 13th century are also available here.

Reputed publishers and book suppliers from different parts of the country are being invited to hold exhibition of their recent books on the library premises for the benefit of students and teachers. Eminent librarians will also be invited to deliver special lectures on the rising trends in library and information science, said Kumar.

A PU central library celebration committee with deans of all the faculties and senior academics as members has been constituted for deciding the details of year-long centenary celebrations, he added.