The Hindu : Karnataka / Belgaum News : Soon, you can browse Kannada books on the Net

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 01, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Belgaum

Soon, you can browse Kannada books on the Net

Vijaykumar Patil

BELGAUM: A website that will showcase about one lakh books in Kannada on various subjects will be inaugurated as part of "Survarna Karnataka Year" next year.

A hi-tech library will be established as part of the Mahamastakabhisheka being celebrated at Shravanabelagola next year. Another hi-tech library will be established in Gulbarga (near Jagat) city, thanks to the interest shown by the Water Resources Minister, M. Mallikarjun Kharge.

Rajendra Kumar, Director, Department of Libraries, said on Thursday that the Centre has approved an ambitious project framed by Raj Reddy, head of Carnegie Mellon University, U.S., to digitise Indian books and put them on the website to allow easy and quick access to Indian literature. The project, "Digitisation of Indian books — million books to web," will be implemented by involving various agencies, with the Indian Institute of Science as the nodal agency and Balakrishna of the institute as consultant. The Department of Libraries has been asked to scan and post on the web all Kannada books published so far. The department will be given 10 scanners estimated at Rs. 18 lakhs each. Each scanner can scan at least 10,000 pages a day. The cost of labour will be met by the Centre. All the books published till December 2005 will be scanned and put on the website next year. The authors have been requested to submit a copy of their books along with a compact disc, if there is one.

He said the Government will be spending Rs. 1.50 crore on the establishment of hi-tech library in Shravanabelgola. A three-storey building will be constructed to house an exclusive library on Jainology and an auditorium at the ground floor. About Rs. 2 crores will be spent on the establishment of hi-tech library in Gulbarga.

As part of the yearlong Suvarna Karnataka celebrations, the Government will set up Suvarna Karnataka libraries in 519 gram panchayats throughout the State. Such libraries will be established in Madikeri, Udupi, Sirsi, Shimoga, and Gulbarga.

That apart, 250 model libraries will be established in 52 border taluks of the State with financial assistance from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Under this programme, three libraries will be opened in most backward, two in more backward and one each in backward taluks. NABARD has provided Rs. 10 crores for the purpose.

With the objective of encouraging writers and publishers, the State Government has evolved a comprehensive book policy and decided to purchase books through district central libraries. An expert committee will select the books. At least 80 per cent of the funds will be spent on purchasing Kannada books and 20 per cent on books in other languages.

A scientific pricing mechanism has been evolved to ensure fair treatment to all. The Government has decided to open an exclusive library in Bangalore that will have all Kannada books published so far. The proposed library will be opened either at the Vikasa Soudha or the State Central Library in Cubbon Park. This library will be only for reference. The department recently released booklist on CD available at Rs. 30 a copy. About 1,800 books published in 2004 have been listed. The University of Mysore, which used to publish a booklist every year, stopped doing so in 1979. Now, the department has decided to release the list every year.

Mr. Kumar regretted that city corporations and municipalities, which collect library cess from property owners, do not promptly transfer the amount to the department. About Rs. 36 crores is due from these local bodies in the State.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section

Soon, you can browse Kannada books on the Net

Naxalites: ball is now in Centre's court