Kushal Deb Roy takes us through Asia’s largest library ‘Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Learning Resource Centre’

Asia’s biggest digital library is in Silchar!! Yes, you read it correctly. Named ‘Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Learning Resource Centre’, is the biggest digital library among all of its kind across Asia. Also, it is the largest library among all the NITs IITs and GFTIs in India. Inaugurated on the occasion of 55th Teachers day (5th September 2016), by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Sri Sarbananda Sonwal, the four-storied library has been constructed with an investment of 44 crore and is having a carpet area of 90,000 sq ft.

Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam once during his visit to the institute in 2013, expressed his wish to have a world class library here, stacked with 1 lakh books and research papers. He then promised to visit the institute once again if it was built. With the initiative of then NIT Silchar Director, Prof. NV Deshpande, the library was built. But Dr. Kalam’s unfortunate sudden demise could not make his second visit possible.

In order to bring his memories alive, the library was named after him and also a marvel statue of him was installed in front of the library.

The world-class library has been established with the help of the University of Illinois, USA ‘to enhance campus learning, support research, to provide community outreach service’ reads the institute’s website. The Library is fully computerized with an integrated system connected to the Campus Network providing e-resource facility to the institutional community.

Students/Faculties of the other universities/ colleges and individuals affiliated to other corporate bodies can also use the library as outside members. But for that, they have to seek prior permission from the Librarian or Asst. Librarian of the institute.