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Work on State library complex begins

CHENNAI: Construction of the State library complex began in Kotturpuram here on Sunday. “Once completed, the complex will be an iconic building in the entire State,” said School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu, in the ‘bhoomi puja,’ organised by at the East Coast Constructions and Industries site adjacent to the Government Data Centre.

Mr. Thennarasu said the library would have eight floors, with a plinth area of 3,04,745 sq. ft. and would be of international standards. The ground floor, spanning nearly 35,000 square feet, would house a lobby, reception, a Braille and talking book section, two conference halls, the administrative wing’s office, a cyber café, the deposit counter and the security room.

“The Chief Minister [M. Karunanidhi] laid the foundation stone for the project on August 16. He has been showing special interest in this project, which will now cost Rs. 168 crore,” he said.

“The first floor will have the reference area, children’s section, newspapers and periodicals section and a reading hall,” he said.

The second floor would be dedicated to Tamil books, with spacious reading area, while the third floor would have English books and reading area. The fourth, fifth and sixth floors would largely have books in other Indian languages, back issues of journals and periodicals and government documents. The seventh would house the audio-video section, and rare books, and the eighth floor would include the photo and digital libraries. “In all, the library will have 11.5 lakh books, and space for 1,200 people to read at one time,” Mr. Thennarasu said. The auditorium, spanning 42,630 sqft, with a seating capacity of 1,280 would be constructed.

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