BeMC to increase capacity at e-library after UPSC rank-holder lauds facility

Berhampur: The Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has decided to enhance the capacity and add more facilities in its e-library in the town hall after Durga Prasad Adhikary of silk city, who secured a rank of 162 in the Civil Services Examination 2022, claimed the facility had helped him crack the exam.
“I came on my bicycle and spent the entire day in the library preparing for the examination. I had lunch from the Aahaar centre (an affordable meal outlet of the government),” Adhikary said after being felicitated by the BeMC for his success.
“As the e-library can be considered a boon for the students, especially job aspirants, we have decided to increase its capacity by adding another 200 seats. The present capacity is 180. In addition, we have also planned to set up an Aahaar centre near the e-library for the convenience of members,” said J Sonal, BeMC commissioner.
“Before his examination, Adhikary would come to the library regularly with his laptop. We have provided reading facilities with Internet connection. Besides Adhikary, around 50 members got jobs, including in Odisha Administrative Service in the last two years,” said Prasant Panda, the librarian.
Panda said around 260 have enrolled as library members, while 60% of them visit regularly. The e-library was opened on August 31, 2021.
Another e-library was established on the same town hall premises in collaboration with Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) in 2018 by installing a dozen computers and providing high-speed internet connection.
“Around 150 members visit the e-library and browse the internet,” said Rabi Panigrahy, the librarian. Several of our members have also got jobs, he added.
“We encourage students by holding seminars every month on different topics. Besides career counselling sessions are also held regularly,” said B Nageswar Subudhi, chairman of the library management committee (LMC).