Dhanbad: An imposing 175-feet-tall structure full of books can be seemingly overwhelming, but once you learn to navigate it, a state-of-the-art library can be an incredibly useful resource for students.
IIT(ISM), Dhanbad, which was supposed to throw open the doors of its new library, arguably the tallest in the country, for its students last year, is likely to inaugurate it during the institute's annual convocation in April.
"We are waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's confirmation to participate in the event during which the library and a 1,000-bedded girls' hostel will be inaugurated," IIT (ISM) registrar Colonel (retd) M.K. Singh said.
Shifting of books from the old library to the new building is likely to begin next week.
"The construction work for the eight-storey, centrally air-conditioned library spread across 25000sqft had already been completed last year. It is the tallest and the most spacious library in the country," librarian Partha De said.
At 28 storeys and around 286 feet, W.E.B. Du Bois Library in University of Massachusetts is the tallest academic research library in the world.
The new IIT(ISM) library has a reader capacity of 3,500 and can store over 2 lakh books.
Entailing a cost of Rs 115 crore, the library is equipped with a number of CCTV cameras, including infrared, dome and bullet cameras, besides an electromagnetic frequency-based security system.
The building has eight lifts, including one for the physically challenged, with a capacity of 20 persons each, remote controlled lighting, parking space for 60 vehicles, a cafeteria on the ground floor, a reading room, meeting room, conference room, an auditorium and an exhibition hall.
Students will be able to issue books by inserting their cards into digital slots.
The library has adequate fire safety arrangement, including fire and smoke alarms. There is a small park in front of the building where students can spend their leisure hours.
The 1,000-bed eight-storey girls' hostel is also ready for inauguration.
Rosaline Hostel boasts high-speed elevators, all-day internet, central air-conditioning in common areas, a beauty parlour, vanity shops and spacious rooms.
