State govt changing the face of library system: Minister Botsa

PNS|Vijayawada

Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana has said that the government aims to establish a digital library attached to every village and ward secretariat in the state, and the work will be started in phases.

He participated in the 55th National Library Week organised by the State government at Tummalapalli KalaKshetram on Monday under the chairmanship of Mandapati Seshagiri Rao, the Chairman of State Libraries.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the government is transforming the Library system in Andhra Pradesh with a full-fledged Digital Library system which is the first of its kind in the country. He assured that the government will support the Libraries which played a key role during the freedom fight and also the bridge between the past present and future. He recalled that Ayyanki Venkata Ramanayya began the Library Weekday celebrations on November 14 in 1919. Chairman of Grandhalaya Parishad Mandapati Seshagiri Rao said that the digital libraries are being constructed in 10,960 villages with the directions of CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He further said that earlier National Library Week was celebrated nominally but the current government has organised the inaugural program as a state program in a grand manner to create awareness among the public and students on the importance of the libraries.

He alleged that the earlier government had diverted the Library Cess to other developments by damaging the libraries. MLA Malladi Vishnu, MLCs M Arun Kumar, T Kalpalatha, Special Chief Secretary (Education) B Rajasekhar, Commissioner of School Education, and others were present.