Libraries are immune from TV, internet onslaughts: Pratibha

Uttarpara, Aug 24 (UNI) President Pratibha Patil today said since the influx of television and internet could not take its toll on the reading habit of the people in general, the libraries would never cease to exist.

Participating in the 150th year celebration of Jai Krishna Public Library at Uttarpara in Hooghly district, Ms Patil said libraries would always continue to sustain their age-old existence, without facing an abatement in demand.

''Young generation should develop affinity towards books and inculcate more reading habits,'' she said.

The President also inaugurated a seminar hall in the library premises and presented a cheque of Rs ten lakh to fund the preservation of rare and priceless books housed by the library.

She also directed the Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs to take measures for the library's modernisation, adding that it had the potential to become an institute of national importance.

The President threw light on the contribution of the library towards the cultural heritage of West Bengal and India.

Currently, the lirary houses around 1,50,000 books.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, state Minister for Higher Education Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury and local MP Satyashree Chatterjee were among others present on the occasion.

UNI XC SB RP AS1426