Rajamahendravaram: A century old library begs for national status

Rajamahendravaram: The century old Sri Gowthami Regional Library (SGRL) is crying for national status from many years but in vain and even the local elected representatives have not done anything in this regard.

Though SGRL is having necessary parameters to get national status, the issue was ignored and the representatives were mum, which is a glaring example for their negligent attitude.

SGRL is having nearly one lakh rare and valuable books dating back to 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. At present, SGRL is having 400 manuscripts of Colonel Mekenzie on every focal point of twin Godavari districts in three volumes along with 13th and 14th centuries Tamra Sasanalu (copper plates), a silver coated stylus (ghantam), first published Britannica encyclopaedia of 1771 year in three volumes.

Moreover, 1,500 rare books published prior to year 1900, as many as 8,115 books published prior to 1923, about 5,000 books published prior to 1950 are in the library. The rare books find place in Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Urdu and English languages.

Many research scholars from various universities are using SGRL as reference to their research works. The library came into existence in the year 1898 as Sri Veeresalingam Panthulu Library and it was merged in Sarvajana Grandhalayam. Later, Vasuraya Grandhalayam and Sarvajana Grandhalayam were merged and came into existence as SGRL.

The library has 16 computers with internet facility and the library is heading for computerisation and retro conversion was completed and online issue yet to be commenced.

According to MP Margani Bharat Ram, steps will be taken to get national status to the library which helps for its overall development. The library will get special funds, if it obtains national status and the issue will be taken to the notice of respective Union Ministry, he averred.