Thiruvananthapuram: Kannur University will soon get the biggest library in South India in terms of infrastructure. The Hermann Gundert Memorial Library is coming up at the University Headquarters in Kannur City at an area of 1.20 lakh square feet in five floors.
The estimated cost of the building when the work finishes is Rs 25 crore. The University is also planning to set up a 400-seat Seminar Hall and a Museum in the Library Complex. All floors of the Library will be enabled with WiFi for an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh.
Apart from the books, the University will also set up digital library where the readers can access the books and catalogues via online. The University is envisaging plan to make books available in online even using the mobile phones. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Vice Chancellor Dr MK Abdul Khader said that the Library can be used for public also.
“Though it is owned by the varsity, ultimately the beneficiaries should be society and it requires participation from people from all spheres. We are now discussing how we can engage public also in the Library,” he said.
However, the Library currently has only 40,000 books. The University has decided to approach the UGC and State Government for more funds to purchase books. The Vice Chancellor is also planning to use crowd sourcing for books collection. “I am planning to issue appeal to the public via different media to contribute books to the Library,” he added.
The Library will have a Gandhi statue on the main entrance. The Hermann Gundert Memorial Library will be opened on February 29 by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Meanwhile on Monday, the University signed MoUs with global academic institutions SAP and Oracle University here at the headquarters. The Vice Chancellor exchanged MoUs with Satheesh Somashekaran and Praveen Jadav of SAP and Thomas J Solomon of Oracle University.
With this agreement KU will become the learning centre of SAP and the workforce development partner of Oracle University. Students of Engineering, computer science, Management studies under Kannur university will benefit through the exchange. Courses can be done simultaneously with regular academic studies. It will be delivered through University Business Incubation Centre.
