LAHORE: The Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac) is going to convert its library into an e-library starting from its own publications.

The institute has taken a major step to computerise its library.

“The library is totally computerised and one can search for the books through the writer’s name or the title. It’s essentially a reference library open for all,” Pilac Director General Dr Sughra Sadaf told Dawn.

She said the library was very helpful for the researchers and students and the institute was also increasing its seating capacity so that more people could benefit from the facility. Keeping in view the increasing number of researchers, the library’s seating capacity would be doubled by from 30 eats 60, she said and added that apart from researchers and students, common folks also showed interest in the institute’s books collection.

“Pilac library was established in 2006 in the old building of the institute in Shadman. It was shifted to new building of the institute in 2008. The library has 14,000 books and periodicals on the topics such as language, art, culture and history. The languages in which books are available are Shahmukhi, Gurmukhi, Urdu and English. There are plays, novels, poetry collections, historical chronicles and literature on the tradition and culture of Punjab.”

Ms Sadaf said a section of the library had been dedicated to the books, donated by writers and individuals to the library from their personal collections.

“The major contributions in this regard are by Syed Sibtul Hassan Zaigham, Syed Akhtar Hussain Akhtar, Kanwal Mushtaq, Ahmed Bashir and Mian Abdul Ghafoor.”

Mentioning the Pilac’s own publications, Dr Sadaf said the library housed about 70 publications by Pilac itself, including the biggest dictionary of Punjabi language, having seven volumes. She said the Pilac publications were on sale at a 50pc discount.

“We also announce new books and poetic collections included in the library from time to time through our FM 95 Punjab Rang Radio,” the Pilac DG said and added that another major five-volume dictionary was of Punjabi proverbs by Ehsan Bajwa having titled “Akhan Log Sayanay”.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2021