Maneklal Jethabhai (MJ) Library will soon get Rs7.2 crore facelift by AMC. Everything, from interiors to infrastructure, is set to get a swanky look.
Maneklal Jethabhai (MJ) Library will soon get Rs7.2 crore facelift by AMC. Everything, from interiors to infrastructure, is set to get a swanky look. However, amid the reasons to rejoice, there is a major cause for concern. The library houses priceless books, including ones belonging to Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Bapu had donated 11,000-odd books to the library in 1933. The library also has certificates granted to him in his early days. When Sabarmati Ashram's library stopped functioning, the books became the first to be part of the civic body's public library collection.
While the renovation work is on, the books on the shelves of the library will have to be shifted to a different location. The task calls for great caution and expertise. Currently, the books in the library are kept in un-indexed racks and shelves.
When contacted, the librarian of MJ Library Bipin Modi said, "The valuable books will not be neglected at all. To accommodate the ever increasing number of books in the library, new racks and shelves will be provided once the renovation work is completed."
He added that apart from this, digitisation is also taking place where every book is being converted into soft book for preservation. "The entry work is going on and 75% of the digitisation has been completed," said Modi.
Earlier, the civic body had invited a tender for Rs5.3 crore. Later, it was revised and now the renovation budget stands at Rs7.32 crore. The entire project of renovating, landscaping, civil works, etc. will be completed in two years by the construction firm.
However, the civic body will spend only Rs2 crore during the first year while the rest of the amount will be allotted next year.
Mayor Asit Vora said, "By renovating the library we want to improve its ambience and for this we have thought of repairing it in the best way possible."
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