Reconstruction works of the century-old public library building is progressing fast here as initiative has been taken to modernize the library to make the library time befitting.
Established in 1884 by the then Jamindar Kedarnath Proshanna Lahidi, the two-storied library building enriched with over 36,000 valuable books has become dilapidated and risky.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) is reconstructing the building with an estimated cost of around Tk 43.4 million with financial support from the Indian Government under a project titled 'Sustainable Development of the city through conservation and development of social, cultural, environmental and archeological infrastructures'.
The RCC will complete the rest of the works with an outlay of around Taka 2.77 crore as part of its Taka 2,993-crore project titled 'Integrated Urban Infrastructure Development in Rajshahi City'.
City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton accompanied by others concerned inspected the on-going construction works today.
According to the new design, the library building will be three-storied, but equivalent to the height of five-storied.
In addition to library and office spaces, the building will house a three-hundred seat auditorium attached with a drama stage to be equipped with a modern sound system.
There will also be scopes of separate makeup, changing and rehearsal rooms for gents and ladies artists. A replica of the old building will also be placed there.
Upon successful completion of the construction works within the near future, the public library will get a new look and attract more readers and cultural personalities.
Mayor Liton said on the basis of the new plan the reconstructed public library will be used as a flourishing cultural practice side by side with a reading place.
