KOLKATA: National Library has decided to convert its director-general’s residence, which has been lying under lock and key for some time, into a readers’ hostel and guest house for those visiting the library from outside for research and studying. The hostel is likely to be inaugurated by this month.
According to director-general Ajay Pratap Singh, the two-storey sprawling structure was originally built to house a hostel or a guest house but it was not used for that purpose. Instead, National Library’s director-generals and librarians had been living there for years. “As the post of a permanent director-general at the library has been lying vacant for a few years, the place has not been used,” he said.
Employees at the library said many readers, who came from different parts of the state and country, to study and research, often asked whether the library had any kind of accommodation facility so that staying in the city would be easier for them. Aritra Das, a research scholar at Calcutta University who comes from Malda, said, “Many researchers outside the city do not have the financial support to rent houses to stay in the city to carry on with their work in the library. The readers’ hostel will help solve their boarding problem in the city.”
The house, complete with a garden and an outhouse, has been renovated to accommodate 14 people at a time. “Going by the layout of the house, I decided to repair it and reuse the space for a readers’ hostel and a guest house so that researchers can use it,” said Singh. He added the AC rooms were well-furnished with two beds in each room, sofas, study tables, chairs and cupboards.
“We will start off with the ground floor only and check how visitors’ respond to the initiative. The space on the first floor will be gradually opened. The process that readers will have to follow to apply for accommodation will be put up on the website,” said Singh, adding that they would get a caretaker-cum-cook for the hostel/guest house.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, Location Guesser and Mini Crossword.
Start a Conversation
Post comment