<i>Shrinking space in DU library</i>
The number of students at Dhaka University has increased 33 times since its inception nine decades ago, yet the authorities have hardly taken any step to expand its library facilities.
DU officials said the Central Library can provide for at best 800 students while 28,000 students are enrolled in the university now.
In 1921, DU was launched with 847 students belonging to three faculties and 12 departments. At present there are 74 departments and institutes.
Students are being deprived of library facilities due to inadequate space in the library, small reading rooms at dormitories, and lack of required number of books and journals.
"The students cannot study properly and therefore they are falling behind. It is because of lack of sufficient space and necessary facilities at the DU library", said several professors of the Department of Information Science and Library Management, seeking anonymity.
Mehadi Hasan Tanin, a student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said, "I have to compete with many students to get a seat in the central library as there are a few chairs".
The students alleged that the number of books and journals is also so limited that most of the time they have to depend on internet and xerox copies. In addition, many more students are compelled to use libraries outside the campus, they said.
"Updated journals, books of latest edition, and sufficient number of reference materials can meet the demands of the students", Rubel Ahmed, a young researcher, said.
Prof Dr Muhammad Nasiruddin Munshi, librarian of DU Central Library, dismissed that there are no updated journals. He blamed fund shortage for failure to expand the library and its facilities.
"Only Tk 1.12 crore was allocated for book purchase in 2011. The authorities cannot meet the demands of the students with the amount, as we have to distribute the money among the 63 departments", he said.
Munshi said the authorities not only buy the books for the library, they also have to provide one copy of the books to the seminar room of each department. "Many of the books are so costly that the authorities cannot always provide the required number of books".
Students also alleged that the former students of DU always occupy the library, for which the regular students cannot properly enjoy the library facilities.
"Whenever I go to the Central Library to study with undivided concentration before my examinations, I see the ex-students occupying most of the seats there", said Muhammad Aktaruzzaman, a student of marketing.
Library facilities in DU dormitories are poor as well, said the resident students, adding that the hall reading rooms are too small to accommodate huge number of students.
Masum Khan, a resident student of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, said, "My hall reading room has around 50-60 chairs for some 1,500 students. So I hardly get an occasion to study there".
DU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique admitted the reality and told The Daily Star that it is not possible to accommodate all the students in the existing library without setting up a new one.
"We have a plan to expand the library and its facilities to ensure quality education for the students and that's why we are seeking for appropriate land and sufficient funding", he said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments