It is surprising that for last over thirty years, Cabinet decisions and important Government orders have not been archived properly as these should be and preserved in the State Archives. The Minister in charge of Libraries was puzzled to find that such an important part of duty had been neglected by the functionaries and anybody trying to trace the contemporary history is unable to find the documentation. We appreciate the Minister for taking a serious note of this demoralizing situation and ordering the functionaries at the State Gazettee to compile entire archival work from the date such documentation has been stopped.
The Minister also took a decision forbidding libraries to purchase any book without his information. The system of purchasing books needed reform because there have been many complaints about the same. He has also directed that District level libraries have to be maintained and improved and for that purpose he is likely to entrust the supervision to the District Commissioners. He has directed the Department of Libraries to have three provincial libraries in Srinagar, Jammu and Ladakh.
While we highly appreciate this decision of the Minister, we would like to bring to his notice the need of modernizing the main libraries of Jammu and Srinagar along most modern lines. This is a huge project and has to be taken in hand if the cultural wealth of the State is to be preserved. The present libraries are not at all suited for the purpose. We need modern type of libraries, open, full of light and fresh air with latest equipment and system of delivery and amenities like reading room, canteen service, digital faculties, communication facilities, Xeroxing system, home delivery and collecting system etc. We have a very rich fund of books in both the capital city libraries but these are almost unserviceable. The Minister can constitute a committee with experts to suggest the plan for building modern libraries not only in the two capital cities but also at the District Headquarters of the State. This would be a big step towards cultural development of the State.
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