The
concept of Harekrushna Mahtab State Library was conceived during 1st
Five Year Plan under the advice of Government of India and was
completed in 1959 with a majestic building of around 16000 sq.ft.
Carpet area, enshrined within a beautiful land of 3 acres in a prime
location of Capital City of Bhubaneswar. In 1967, it was named as
Gandhi Bhawan commemorating birth centenary
of Mahatma Gandhi, the
father of the nation. The State Library was located in this
building, but in a corner only. In 1987 it was renovated and entire
space of the four storeyed building was utilized for the functioning
of two Libraries i.e. State Library for the entire State of Orissa
and another Public Library for Bhubaneswar City.
In
1987, Government decided to rename the State Library and the Public
Library as Harekrushna Mahtab State Library (in memory of Dr.
Harekrushna Mahtab, the builder of modern Orissa) and the
Bhubaneswar Public Library respectively. The former is a Reference
Library and lending of books are not permitted whereas the latter is
a Lending Library for the public of Bhubaneswar City. These two
Libraries have managed to function over the limited space. Total
readers seats available are about 350 against the present demands of
600-700 readers per day. Some statistics of these libraries given
below:
(i)
Total Books-1, 44,000
(ii)
Total number of newspapers subscribed-15
(iii)
Total number of Magazines subscribed-56
(iv)
Total registered members-6000
(v)
Total number of Users per day-600
(vi)
Total number of seats: -350
(a)
Bhubaneswar Public Library (BPL) –180
(b)
Language & Literature –10
©
State Library –50
(d)
Serial –80
(e)
Children –30
(vii)
Floor areas:
Bhubaneswar
public Library (BPL)-120’x100’
Language
and Literature-20’x40’
Serial
Section-80’x 40’
Research
and Reference Section-40’x100’
Depository
Section-40’x100’
Children
Section-40’x100’
Office-100’x
90’
T.S.D.-100’x
90’
A.S.D.-150’x
80’
Cycle
stand and shed-100’x20’ and 60’x 40’
(viii)
Different Sections of the HKM State Library:
1.
Depository Section
2.
Bibliography Section
3.
Research & Reference Section
4.
Fine Art Section
5.
Language & Literature Section
6.
Serial Section
7.
Text Book & Career Development Section
8.
Subject Collection Section
9.
Children Section
10.
Braille Section
11.
Registration Section
12.
Computer Section
13.
Reprography Section
14.
Binding Section
15.
Technical Section
16.
Dormitory Section
17.
Conservation Laboratory (recently added under Grant of
Government of India)
18.
Publication Division (newly started)
19.
R.R.R.L.F. Schemes for Orissa (newly started)
20.
Property Counter
21.
Office & Issue Section /Administrative Division
22.
Garden
23.
Cycle stand and shed
24.
Canteen
(ix)
Total number of staff –89
(x)
Devices for management/communication –
Phones/Fax/On-line
(Internet-mail)/Computers-communication/Networking/Xerox/cyclostyle
|