In yet another significant step towards modernization of public library services in Jammu & Kashmir, the Department of Libraries & Research launched its official website today. The website, available on the Internet at http://jkpubliclibraries.nic.in, comes close on the heels of launching of the ongoing automation and networking of public libraries project by the Department in October last and makes the public library collection only a click away.

Minister for Tourism & Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, launched the website at a simple but impressive function held at the SRS Central Library complex here.

Minister of State for Tourism & Culture, Nasir Aslam Wani, Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Tourism & Culture, Atal Dulloo, Director Libraries & Research, Khalid Bashir Ahmad, State Informatics Officer, National Informatics Centre (NIC), Abhay Kumar, Technical Director, NIC, Saleem Khan, Deputy Director Libraries, Jammu, Rajinder Singh and Jammu based writers, scholars and library experts were present.

The development is viewed as a significant leap towards greater application of ICT tools in public library operations in the State. The process started in October 2011 with the launch of the Automation & Networking of Public Libraries Project at the four major public libraries in the state including SRS Central Library Jammu, SPS Central Library Lal Mandi, Oriental Research Library Hazratbal and City Central Library, Karan Nagar. In the pilot phase, the catalogue of about quarter to two lakh books available at these four libraries is being computerized. This task is slated to finish in a year from the date of the launch.