Public libraries in Karnataka take a giant leap, to go digital from tomorrow

BENGALURU: Karnataka will roll out digital libraries on Wednesday as the government has successfully transformed its legacy public libraries into digital powerhouse of knowledge and e-learning. The government will also simultaneously launch a digital app of its public library which will change the traditional way of using a public library.
“Ours is the first of its kind project in the country in every aspect including the scale that we aim to reach,” Primary & Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar told ET.

Karnataka has a vast network of public libraries which includes state central library at the state level (2), district central libraries (30) at the district level, city central libraries (26), mobile libraries (13), branch libraries (488), and gram panchayat libraries (5766).

The library modernization project covers 272 public libraries consisting of 26 city central libraries, 30 district central libraries, and 216 taluk libraries.

The digital library software and e-resources are cloud hosted, the Minister said. All 272 public libraries will have two desktops, and four tablets complete with Wi-Fi connectivity. The digital library is available as both web-based and app-based for users. Users can download the app “e-Sarvajanika Granthalaya” from the APP store.

The digital library aims to help students and covers subjects like science & technology, commerce & management, arts & humanities, competitive & entrance exams, school education, personality & skills, classics & literature, leisure reads, simulation labs, magazines & newspapers and journals.

The digital initiative brings lessons in Kannada, English, Hindi, Urdu and Marathi. It also provides with study materials for students of both State and CBSE Board curriculum in the digital form, Suresh Kumar said.

The digital platform provides simulations of experiments in the digital form, which a student may not be able to perform in a physical lab. As a part of the project, quality learning materials is being provided to 10 lakh government school and PU college students across the state, he said.