The governor-cum-chancellor of universities in Bihar, Keshari Nath Tripathi, on Wednesday inaugurated the newly renovated Central Library of Patna University.
The library, which in the next two years will complete 100 years of its inception, was closed for more than three years for renovation work.
Inaugurating the centralised air-conditioned library having more than 2.75 lakh books and rare manuscripts, Tripathi said: "For students and knowledge seekers, the library is like a temple where one can get wisdom which is not easily available."
Highlighting the importance of a library in today's era, Tripathi, a senior advocate at Allahabad High Court, said: "By surfing the Internet, a person can acquire knowledge to crack a competitive examination, but for attainment of pure knowledge and to become successful, the person has to pass through the ladders of a library."
The governor, on the occasion, also stressed on the importance of having a roadmap for development and strengthening of libraries in the country. He said: "The Union ministry of human resource development, the art and culture departments and state governments should prepare a roadmap for development of libraries in the state."
The Patna University Central Library owns more than 2.75 lakh books and old volumes of journals in different subjects.
The manuscripts section of the library (1,530 in Persian, 44 in Urdu, 316 in Arabic and 2,547 in Sanskrit, Maithali and Hindi) is considered to be the repository of rich cultural heritage and was visited by a large number of scholars of history and literature. The library was set up in 1919. However, in 1965, it received its new buildings from where it is functioning.
Anirudh Kumar, a student, said: "The opening up of the library will be helpful for us as we can sit and read books in the library without disturbance. We have come to know that the library has added to its stock of books."
The renovation work of the library started around three years back and the education department's Bihar Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation had given Rs 2.77 crore for renovation of the ancient building. Under the funds, centralised air-conditioning work was carried out, rare and valuable manuscripts were digitised and preserved. Digitisation of books was also carried out so that students don't have difficulty in getting the books of their choice.
Patna University vice-chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh said: "It is a coincidence that on one hand the Patna University is celebrating its centenary year, today the students have been gifted the Central Library."
The VC said students should consider the library as a temple of wisdom. He also shared experiences from his life stating that when he was a student of Patna University in the early seventies, he used to spend long hours in the library.
The library will remain open for students from Thursday from 9am to 7pm. However, once the renovation work of the library is over, it will remain open from 8am to 8pm.
Library in-charge S.R. Padamdeo said: "The central library has three floors, the ground floor mainly has course syllabus reference books, newspapers and magazines. While the first and second floors are mainly for research students, the top floor contains manuscripts and entry to this section is allowed after a written permission from the Patna University vice-chancellor and the in-charge of Patna University Central Library."
