Mumbai Suburban District Library will now offer online access to rare books from around the world through a newly installed kiosk. Additionally, competitive exam aspirants will be able to access updated syllabi and related study materials online. Guardian Minister and Minister for Information Technology, Ashish Shelar, announced on Wednesday that this initiative would soon be extended to all libraries across Mumbai Suburban.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the newly constructed building of the District Library Officer, Mumbai Suburban. The event was organised by the Higher and Technical Education Department’s Library Directorate, in collaboration with the District Library Officer, Mumbai Suburban, the Coordination Committee, and all government-recognised libraries in the district as part of the ‘Granthotsav 2024’ festival, which is being held on February 12 and 13.
Speaking at the event, Shelar said that the Firozshah Mehta Library, under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has been renovated to accommodate the Mumbai Suburban District Library Officer’s office. The newly developed facility, equipped with modern amenities, will greatly benefit readers, students, and book lovers in the region, he added.
Shelar directed the District Library Officer to propose a plan to the District Planning Committee for making competitive exam books and resources available online across all libraries. He emphasised the need to enhance opportunities for students from Mumbai Suburban and Mumbai city in these examinations.
Stressing the importance of books, he said, “Books enrich lives and provide direction to individuals. From the freedom struggle to the unification of Maharashtra and beyond, great leaders have been prolific writers. Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Bharat Ratna Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, Mahadev Govind Ranade, and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar were not only social reformers but also eminent authors. Likewise, the Bhagavad Gita is a great text that imparts philosophical wisdom.”
The minister also highlighted the recent recognition of Marathi as a classical language, adding that Marathi is now set to be introduced in universities worldwide, with dedicated study centres being established. Additionally, Marathi has been made a compulsory subject in schools and its use in government administration has been mandated. He also announced the launch of the state’s first Hackathon competition to support multilingual software startups, offering awards for innovative solutions.
