KOLKATA: National Library on Monday eased restrictions and returned to its pre-pandemic schedule. The fully vaccinated people were allowed to access the reading rooms. All this time, readers booked slots 24 hours in advance to walk into the sprawling Belvedere campus in Alipore.
The authorities fixed different head counts for various sections, including the reading rooms, to ensure the presence of a limited number of visitors at a time.
On November 23, last year, the library had reopened after eight months. But readers had to pre-register on the official website of the library. People, aged over 60 years, were barred from visiting the library. The library campus was closed on weekends while reading rooms functioned from 10am to 5pm and the lending section only till 3pm.
From Monday, service hours of the reading rooms at Bhasha Bhavan and the annex building were extended to the original pre-pandemic timings — from 8am to 8pm on weekdays and from 9.30am to 6pm on weekends and other public holidays.
Those, who have been inoculated with both the doses, were allowed to walk in by producing their final vaccination certificates. As per Covid-19 protocol, only alternate seating arrangements are available and readers can’t sit side-by-side. Senior citizens have been allowed in for some time. But those, aged below 18 years, still can’t enter the library.
The online booking rule will be applicable for those without final vaccination certificates. Ajay Pratap Singh, director-general, National Library, told TOI, “As per central government’s guidelines, only fully vaccinated people can access the library. Since September 1, research scholars have been allowed without slot-booking. We made allowances for readers who have travelled long distances and have failed to book online.”
Veteran reader Saibal Chakraborty said, “I am glad that the authorities have heeded to the plea of the library readers’ body, Democratic Research Scholars Organization, and thought of many students who depend on this iconic institution for higher education.”
