Bhubaneswar, December 7:The Odisha Public Library Conference 2025 wrapped up in Bhubaneswar, charting a bold path for the development of grassroots knowledge infrastructure across the state. A major takeaway from the event was the strong collective resolve to establish state-of-the-art digital public libraries in every panchayat of Odisha. This initiative is seen as a transformative step to reshape libraries, moving beyond traditional book-centric spaces to become vibrant hubs of digital learning, innovation, and community empowerment—thus fostering an inclusive knowledge culture throughout Odisha.
Held at the Bhanja Kala Mandap, the one-day event was organised by The Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA), a global network of Odia communities based in the United States. With the theme "Odisha Public Library Vision," the conference focused on creating a future-ready library ecosystem across the state. Surama Padhi, Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, graced the event as the Chief Guest and lauded OSA’s visionary efforts. Kendrapada MLA Ganeshwar Behera also attended the conference, further underscoring the event's significance.
"Modern libraries are essential for the intellectual development of students, youth, and people from all walks of life. Therefore, we must focus on building new libraries and modernising existing ones. The proposal to establish digital libraries in rural Odisha must become a reality through collective efforts," remarked Speaker Surama Padhi.
The conference featured four panel discussions, which delved into key themes such as building an integrated modern library network in Odisha, capital investment in digital public libraries, libraries of the 21st century as innovation hubs, and the role of civil society in strengthening the library movement in the state.
Dr. Ajay Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of OSA’s Odisha Public Library Initiative, and Convenor Nishikant Sahoo presented key insights and proposals, sparking in-depth discussions on how to rapidly build modern, accessible public libraries throughout the state. The conference also explored the transformative role these libraries can play in societal empowerment when supported by the state government.
Dr. Uma Mahadevan, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner of Karnataka, delivered a keynote address via video conference. She shared how Karnataka has successfully established nearly 6,000 community-centred digital libraries, setting a national model.
"In Karnataka, more than 5,800 gram panchayats have modern libraries that serve not only as educational centres but also as spaces for skill-building for youth, women, and senior citizens. Partnerships with organisations have ensured these libraries operate efficiently and support a range of community needs," said Dr. Mahadevan.
The conference highlighted the potential of modern libraries to enhance youth employability, promote skill-building across various social groups, and boost digital and financial literacy. Participants also discussed the importance of sustainable library development under the ‘Bikasita Gaon, Bikasita Odisha’ initiative, the implementation of the Odisha Public Library Act 2001, and the acceleration of the Gram Panchayat Library Circular 2018 under MGNREGA.
A video message from OSA President Nagesh Rajanala was broadcast during the event, reinforcing the vision of accessible libraries for all. The conference was well-attended by OSA members, including Professor Debendra Das and Jaygopal Mohanty, along with officials from the Odisha Library Network, educators, library activists, and intellectuals, all of whom contributed to the momentum for this initiative.
