Ranchi: A state-of-the-art public library with a seating capacity for 5,000 in Morabadi area here is likely to open its doors in July.The seven-storey facility is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 65 crore, out of which Rs 30 crore is being provided by Coal India Limited and the rest by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL).Union minister of state for defence and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth and governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar visited the site on Sunday to review the progress of construction. Seth said that the project is nearing completion.“I am grateful to Coal India and CCL for coming forward to help in constructing the library, after a request. The library will be equipped with reading rooms and book collections on each floor, providing the same facilities to all readers. Along with that, the library will also have a cafeteria. For elderly readers, all facilities will be available on the ground floor itself,” Seth said.He added that the library will serve the youth from the city and rest of the state not only in reading, learning and teaching but also in research and scholarly endeavours.“We are planning to decorate the walls with portraits of soldiers of the country, who lost their lives on the line of duty and were awarded for their bravery. The move aims to inspire the youth to do good for society and country. A trust will be established for functioning of the library,” Seth said.Gangwar expressed satisfaction over construction of such a library. Emphasising the declining reading culture, he said, “I hope the library will bring a transformative change among youths. Nowadays, reading habit is declining among youths, but I think the rich tapestry of knowledge in this library will bring a change.”The library is located in an area surrounded by several educational institutes, including Ranchi University and Veer Budhu Bhagat University, which will help hundreds of students and other bibliophiles.
