Showing posts with label Lucknow University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lucknow University. Show all posts
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Lucknow University's Tagore Library needs Rs 9.48 crore for restoration
LUCKNOW: Fairing poorly on the infrastructure and human resources front, Lucknow University's Tagore Library may go for an overhaul. And, to set things straight, university administration via library officials have sought Rs 9.48 crore from the state government. The proposal was put up at the vice-chancellors meet held on December 12, 2012.
According to LU authorities, the university plans to do digitisation, automation and equip the library with other modern facilities. One of the richest and biggest libraries in the country, LU's Tagore Library is seeking help. While the building is in a dilapidated condition, common room and reading halls remain vacant most of the times. The library still uses outdated computers that were bought more than a decade back.
As per library officials, a sum of Rs 2.35 crore is required for server and browsing room, Rs 1.1 crore to purchase old journals that were discontinued two years back, Rs 1 crore for automation and training, Rs 10 lakh for Bar Code System, Rs 30 lakh for the stack room, Rs 12 lakh for CCTV camera system, Rs 20.5 lakh for fire safety and wiring and Rs 1.71 crore for annual maintenance, new books, and foreign journals.
Besides, the university has also sought financial assistance of Rs 65 lakh for digitisation of the books. Deputy librarian Jyoti Mishra said that in the first phase, digitisation of 50,000 books will be done. "Under the process, we will get computerisation of books. An online catalogue of all the books will be created, so that it is easy to locate books," said Mishra. The university is also planning to get Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) technology. The RFID tags are used in libraries as theft detection systems. "Just like in a mall, there is a tag on every material to avoid getting it stolen, RFID tags will help in avoiding thefts of books," said Mishra.
Preservation of manuscripts, arts gallery: Tagore library has a heritage section called manuscript section. It consists of about 2,000 rare and valuable manuscripts, which are on paper and palm leaves. These manuscripts are in Sanskrit, Pali, Arabic and Persian. Gold coated illustrations can be seen in some manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts are 600 to 800 years old.
To preserve them, the university has begun the preservation work. According to university officials, as many as 30 manuscripts are already preserved. The work is being carried by INTACH. The university has received a sum of Rs 2 lakh from the National Archives of India, Union ministry of culture. "The major amount is being spent on preservation of manuscripts. But we need more funds," said Mishra. With this amount, 13 or 14 more manuscripts can be preserved.
The work of restoration of library's arts gallery that has rare paintings and sculptors is being undertaken by National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC).
Times View
It's really sad to see the state of the Tagore Library at Lucknow University. With its enviable collection, it was a place buzzing with scholars and students not very long ago. But, it's now a pale shadow of its past. crumbling cupboards and broken chairs hardly present an inspiring picture. Add to it the fact that the library hasn't purchased a single book in the past four years and journals in two years, and the picture turns even gloomier. This library doesn't belong only to the university but is an inseparable part of the city's heritage. It still has one of the richest collections of ancient manuscripts and rare books. It's the responsibility of not only the university administration but also the state government and LU alumni to ensure that this prized possession doesn't get destroyed by sheer neglect.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Lucknow University's Tagore library all set to turn over a new leaf
LUCKNOW: The newly appointed Lucknow University vice-chancellor GB Patnaik visited the Tagore library on Tuesday to take stock of the situation. Displeased with the existing conditions, the VC said library needs a facelift, both in terms of infrastructure and human resources. LU sources said only five students were present in the library at the time of Patnaik's visit.
To improve the situation, the VC has decided to hold a short presentation on Tagore library. All first year students will be made aware of the books available in the library, tips on how to use a library and decorum to be maintained there.
The computerisation of catalogue to make the library more reader-friendly is expected to begin soon. The VC said that apart from being a repository of books, library should be used for literary activities like seminars and workshops. Patnaik also advocated keeping the computer centre open till 8pm.
Teachers are hopeful that Tagore library will be spruced up. When Prof MK Mishra became theLU vice-chancellor three years ago, he had announced that Tagore library would be upgraded and brought at par with ultramodern and computerised libraries of international repute. But the task remained unaccomplished even as Prof Mishra's tenure ended recently.
Tagore library, which came into existence in 1921, is LU's central research library and has a vast collection of books. "The initiatives taken by the new VC are likely to restore the lost glory of the library. We will able to get more books and journals in the library,'' said a student of the university.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Time to commemorate: Historical facts about Tagore Library (Lucknow University)
Australia’s capital Canberra and Lucknow’s Tagore library (in Lucknow University) have one thing in common -- architectural design.
Walter Burley Griffin, an American, along with his wife Marion Mahony designed Canberra (after winning Canberra’s international design competition in 1911-12 and the Tagore library here.
He moved to Lucknow in 1935 and in February 1937, he succumbed to peritonitis and was buried at Nishatganj cemetery in Lucknow.
Now, on the occasion of Canberra’s centenary, Griffin’s Canberra-Lucknow contribution will be commemorated this month and it is expected that this commemoration ceremony would give this talented couple a rightful place in the history of these two magnificent capital cities.
As part of the commemoration ceremony here, a small delegation is coming to Lucknow from Australia for this purpose, according to an email to Hindustan Times by Dr David Headon, history and heritage adviser for the centenary celebrations of Canberra and adviser to senator Kate Lundy, minister for sports and multicultural affairs, Australia.
Lucknow and Canberra will also celebrate Griffin’s life through a seminar entitled “Capital Vision from the Imagine to the Real” on September 26.
The seminar is being organised by the Institute of Urban Design, India and hosted by the Faculty of Architecture, Gautam Buddh Technical University (GBTU).
As part of the ceremony, water from Lake Walter Burley Griffin will be sprinkled on his grave at Nishatganj cemetery here, says Amrita Dass, director, Institute of Career Studies.
The Lucknow University website mentions that the plan of Tagore library building was prepared by Mr Griffin, a noted architect, and was explained in detail to members of the library committee on December 10, 1935.
The model for the two-storied building was placed in the old library for students and staff to make suggestions for improvement or innovation in the plan.
However, there was inordinate delay in approving the plan. Griffin died in the meantime.
The foundation stone of the new building (present building) was laid by the then chancellor in March 1937 but the start of construction took time.
After the death of Griffin, one Mr Narwekar was assigned the responsibility for the architectural portion and supervision of the work on payment of a sum of Rs. 2,000.
The Griffins also designed the spectacular pavilions of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) agricultural exhibition held in Lucknow in 1937.
Other important landscape architecture plans included a new campus for the University of Lucknow and a garden for its library.
The Griffins set up an architectural firm in Lucknow and “produced more than 50 projects between November 1935 and February 1937 ranging from private dwellings, gardens and public edifices to housing projects and suburban communities.”
The Bir Bhan Bhatia house is “one of the finest dwellings the couple produced anywhere.”
According to professor Christopher Vernon of the University of Western Australia, “Walter Burley Griffin grew quickly enchanted with the ‘city of gardens’,” and “likened Lucknow’s skyline to a ‘perfect Arabian night’s dream of white domes and minarets’.”
READ MORE NEWS AT:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Lucknow/Time-to-commemorate/Article1-927954.aspx
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