Punjab Education Minister, Sikander Singh Maluka.
Chandigarh, August 6, 2013: With a view to improving infrastructural facilities, providing adequate reading material and modernising networking, the Punjab government has been decided to computerized 15 District Public Libraries (DPL) in the state with a cost of Rs. 75 lac in a phased manner.
Stating this Punjab Education Minister, Sikander Singh Maluka said that an outlay of Rs. 75 lac has been provided to computerize 15 D.P.L's. as a part of 12th five year plan in the state. Minister said that Amritsar, Bhatinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Sri FatehgarhSahib, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar,Kapurthala, Mansa,Nabha.Ropar, Sangrur and including Giani Gurmukh Singh Memorial Central State library, Patiala would be covered in the first phase. An amount of Rs. 10 lac would be spent for this purpose during the year 2013-14.
He also said that these modernized libraries would render better services to the readers and subscribers with the complete availability of Internet, e-mail facilities. The issue and lending of books in the DPL would also be done through customized software.
Minister further said that all the file records of the libraries would also be computerized to ensure easy assess and bring more transparency in the functioning of these District Public Libraries. The Minister also asked the district administration to encourage more people to become subscribers of these libraries in their respective districts. He also said that he would personally look into the progress of the DPLs in the identified districts.