Public libraries now a click away as govt set to launch NML

The resources of public libraries across the country can now be accessed at just the click of a button with the Ministry of Culture set to launch an online portal which will contain digitised literature and titles.
The novel initiative would bring 34,000 libraries across the country under the umbrella of the National Mission on Libraries (NML), enabling the common man to browse through digital content and search for books online.
President Pranab Mukherjee will launch NML at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on February 3.
"The website would provide libraries in India with the opportunity to access funds under NML by registering themselves. So far, 34,125 libraries have registered," J Srinivas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, told reporters today.

It is envisaged that there will be a significant increase in readership once the NML is fully implemented by 2016-17, Srinivas added.
NML intends to also create a National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) as a comprehensive database of digital resources and also aims to carry out a census of the resources available in libraries. It also plans to conduct a study of reading habits in the different parts of the country.

Stating that NVLI would be based in New Delhi, Srinivas said it was a revolutionary concept at a time when readership in actual libraries was on a decline.

"NVLI would provide access to digital data in the archives of the country. We will bring in various ministries and put them online. We will also bring in a huge amount of literature and provide access to a number of select websites," he added.
A press release issued on the occasion said that the Kolkata-based Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) is the nodal agency for implementation of NML.