State Library, which is located at P. R Hill Kohima, needed to be upgraded with more books. Librarian Khwenu, said this while talking to Nagaland Post on Friday.
Established in 1981, a branch of the department of Art and Culture, Government of Nagaland, the library has around 58,000 books at present but that was not enough.
Khwenu said books specially related to Nagaland and Northeast, and books written by local authors should be updated at the library. However, it would be possible if only the government provides more fund.
When asked about the manpower, she said at present there are 17 employees but being a state library it still need more professional staff and experts to manage a standard quality library.
Another major concern was that books were often found damaged and pages torn, underlined or marked and were never returned despite repeated reminders.
She, however, expressed hope that the library will be upgraded to create better reading environment for the public.
She also said that Rs. 200 has to be deposited during the time of membership where Rs. 30 has been deducted for maintenance and the rest returned to the members at the time of withdrawal.
She further added that the department has been conducting library trainings and orientation for rural libraries registered under the department during the past years.
Recently, a departmental workshop on Research Methodology and Library Management was conducted for district libraries and library automation, which she said was an urgent requirement. She also said that state library, has begun installing KOHA (Library Management System Software).
She said that the department was also on the process of setting up a website to help the public for easier excess.
With 3,796 registered members, and number of visitors increasing every day, she appealed to the students to visit the library, register themselves and make use of the books available.