Parliament-like library to be set up in Platinum Jubilee Memorial Building of state Assembly

Kolkata: Stating that a library like the one in Parliament has to come up in the Platinum Jubilee Memorial Building of the state Assembly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee emphasised on the need of making it accessible to the commoners.

Harping on the need to set up an e-library, the Chief Minister stated that there are more than 2 lakh books in the existing library of the state Assembly and steps to digitise the same is essential.

Banerjee on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the Platinum Jubilee Memorial Building that will come up inside the Assembly premises.

She said in Parliament a member gets a relevant document that he or she needs to study within half-an-hour to one hour. Similar infrastructure can be developed here as well. "If needed, man power can be increased," she said.

Banerjee further stated that the library in the Assembly has many important and valuable records.

So there is a need to digitise the same and the state Education department will extend support in this connection. Researchers from different parts of the world visit the library in the Assembly to study various books and documents.

The Chief Minister also mentioned translation of those books in Bengali and if need be, the help of British Council and even Cambridge University may be sought.

Moreover, it is helpful for students as well. So steps are needed to be taken so that even common people can get access to it. It may be mentioned that the Platinum Jubilee Memorial Building in the state Assembly will also comprise a museum, an auditorium and a conference hall.

The Chief Minister on Wednesday handed over the memento with a photograph of the Rashtrapati Bhavan to

Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee to display it in the museum that will be coming up in the building. President Ram Nath Kovind gifted the memento to the Chief Minister.