 |
Public
Library and Reading hall
Public
Library and Reading Hall
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About
the Library
The
Library which was started in a small room with only 50 books in 1932 is
now housed in a spacious building. It contains large number of books on
various subjects like philosophy, religion, education, culture, literature,
sociology, history, arts, science, biographies, agriculture etc. These
books are in various languages such as Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi, English,
Bengali, etc. The library has separate sections for reference books as
well as books for issue which can easily be accessed by open access computer
system. There are also separate study rooms in this Library. There is
a free Reading Hall on the first floor which provides various newspapers
and periodicals to the readers.
| A
Brief History |
| – |
1932
marked the beginning of the Library in a small room with 50 books
only. Some of these books were purchased and others were collected.
|
| – |
1936
According to Srimat Swami Bhaskareshwaranandaji’s report, the
number of books in the library became 2597. Besides these books,
there were periodicals out of which 11 were monthly, 9 weekly, 2 bi-weekly,
3 tri-weeklies and one quarterly. Priority was given to English,
Marathi, Hindi, Bengali and Sanskrit books and periodicals.
There were four newspapers. According to the report, the total
number of library members was 277, out of which 90 members were exempted
from paying fees. |
| – |
1953
As the number of books and members increased to a great extent,
the need for a separate building for the library was felt acutely.
A plot of land in the close vicinity to the Ashrama was quite suitable
for the construction of library building. As the said land
belonged to Central Jail, the state government was approached for
procuring the land. The then Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh,
Shri Ravishankar Shukla used his authority to make it available
to the Ashrama. Grants for the construction of the library building
and also for the purchase of books were received both from the state
and central governments. Some amount of the grants from the
central government remained unutilized and so the said amount was
returned to the respective government. This action of the
Ashrama was very much appreciated by the then Central Minister for
Education, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.
|
| – |
1959
Two story building was constructed on the land purchased by the Math.
The Library and reading room has been shifted in this building. It
was inaugurated by then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Sri Yashwantraoji
Chauhan. Revered Swami Sambuddhanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna
Math, Mumbai was the Chief Guest of the function. |
| – |
2006
The total number of books in the library rose to 46934. These
include books in English, Marathi, Hindi Bengali, Sanskrit and a few
other languages, on the subjects like Religion, Philosophy, Language
and Literature, Biology, Science, Social Sciences, Education, Art
and Culture, etc.. These include reference books also. There
are many periodicals some of which are from foreign countries.
Total number of members is 1500. In the Reading Hall there are
25 newspapers and 97 periodicals. About 125 people visit the
Reading hall for reading newspapers and periodicals. The library
remains open in the morning a well as in the evening for five hours.
Most of those who take advantage of the reference books are teachers
and students. The library has received the participation of the following
Swamijis as Library-in-charge: |
|
List
of Library Incharge Swamijis
|
Sr.No.
|
From
|
To
|
Names
|
|
1.
|
1932
|
1958
|
Srimat
Swami Rakanandaji Maharaj |
|
2.
|
1958
|
1962
|
Srimat
Swami Bhumanandaji Maharaj |
|
3.
|
1962
|
1967
|
Srimat
Swami Vidanandaji Maharaj |
|
4.
|
1968
|
1970
|
Srimat
Swami Balaramanandaji Maharaj |
|
5.
|
1970
|
1978
|
Srimat
Swami Pitambaranandaji Maharaj |
|
6.
|
1978
|
1986
|
Srimat
Swami Vagishwaranandaji Maharaj |
|
7.
|
1986
|
1990
|
Srimat
Swami Videhanandaji Maharaj |
|
8.
|
1990
|
2003
|
Srimat
Swami Jyotiratmanandaji Maharaj |
|
9.
|
2003
|
2006
|
Srimat
Swami Trambakanandaji Maharaj |
|
10.
|
2006
|
–
|
Srimat
Swami Tannisthanandaji Maharaj |
|
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