New Delhi just opened its first fully digital library,the Jayaprakash Narayan Public Library,on Saturday. New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) brought this facility to Mandir Marg,offering over 32,000 physical books and free access to nearly one crore digital titles.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah led inauguration, pushing for libraries to boost reading among youth . He called on the Delhi government to link libraries with schools to cultivate lifelong reading habits.
Shah pointed out libraries' impact, citing his constituency where villages have libraries with thousands of books, all connected to central hub with over 130,000 titles. Mobile library vans deliver books to rural areas every Friday,ensuring everyone gets access.
NDMC Chairman Keshav Chandra explained why library is named after freedom fighter Jayaprakash Narayan. He quoted poet Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’ on Narayan's influence on Indian thought. The library has special sections on Narayan's legacy and works by Dinkar and Munshi Premchand.
Inside,the library features an auditorium, research center, reading hall,and children's section with around 500 books,including the entire Harry Potter series. Visitors have digital workstations and free Wi-Fi for research and study .
Membership is free, but borrowing and some facilities need registration. Initially, only 500 memberships are available to avoid crowding.
The library uses an RFID-based book management system linked to the National Digital Library of India (NDLI),offering access to wide range of titles beyond NDLI collection.
At the inauguration, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Public Works Minister Parvesh Verma, and NDMC Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal joined Shah . He wants interlinked libraries to boost Delhi's educational scene,making literature and research materials more accessible.
Shah's vision for Delhi libraries shows a push for literacy and education. He believes getting young people reading will not only help their studies but enrich their lives .
