2,480 libraries across West Bengal come under state mass education extension and library services department.

Kolkata: The state mass education extension and library services department is converting 80 of its 2,480 libraries across the state into “model libraries”. The department on Monday in the presence of minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury signed an MoU with Nasscom to give the project its shape. The librarians of these model libraries will be imparted training by experts from Nasscom. The librarian will have to adopt skills of running the library professionally, behavioural skills and interaction with the readers in a smart and efficient manner.

“Proper training is essental for the librarians so that these libraries can function as model libraries. Hence, we have arranged for the training,” Mr Chowdhury said.

There has been a lot of initiatives across the country to make the libraries modern and friendly for users. The state government is working with the Indian Public Library Movement in its constant effors to woo readers to the libraries. The department has already held review meeting with district magistrates and SDO of as many as 11 districts across the state. “The rest of the districts will also have such review meetings,” a senior official of the department said. The minister also wants to observe a day as “Clean Day” in all the libraries. August 31 may be the probable date. “We have taken up the task of preserving books. More than 36,000 books have been preserved,” he said. There are 1.8 lakh books in the state libraries. “We need nearly 2,700 to 2,800 employees in the department. A seven-member board has been formed to look into the recruitment process. We will be recruiting to fill up the vacant posts soon,” he added.