Kolkata: More than two decades after it was shut because of severe structural decay, the iconic Esplanade Reading Lounge of the National Library of India (NLI) is set to reopen to book lovers, researchers and students from Monday. Following an extensive restoration, the heritage reading lounge on Esplanade East has been transformed into a modern knowledge centre, now designated as the library’s “City Hub”.The reopening was cleared after a key intervention on Friday by K K Mishra, joint secretary (libraries) in the ministry of culture. During a meeting with NLI officials, Mishra directed the administration to open the City Hub for public use immediately. While a formal inauguration will be held later in the presence of the Union minister, citizens should not have to wait to use the facility, NLI sources said.The Esplanade centre once housed the library’s vast newspaper archives and was a favourite destination for generations of scholars, journalists and writers. Among its regular visitors were Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen, Radhaprasad Gupta and Sunil Gangopadhyay.Years of neglect, however, weakened the structure and threatened its valuable collections. In 2004, the authorities shut the building and shifted the newspaper division to the Bhasha Bhavan at the NLI’s Belvedere complex in Alipore.For nearly 20 years, the heritage building remained unused. “Till 2022, it remained a garbage dump,” recalled former director general of NLI, A P Singh, who spearheaded the revival initiative. “After I joined, I felt the section must be restored for readers. After much effort, it was decided to restore it to its old glory. Today, I am very glad to know that it is being thrown open to the public.”The restored City Hub combines its historic architecture with modern facilities. It will offer current newspapers, periodicals and magazines, a digital resources section and a dedicated wing for competitive exam aspirants. It also has a quiet area for senior citizens, facilities for physically challenged readers, high-speed Wi-Fi, charging stations, computer docks, smart photocopying machines that accept digital payments, and a coffee and snack bar.“Reopening the Esplanade hub is a dream come true,” said Ananya Dasgupta, 24, a civil services aspirant.
