Krishnadas Shama Goa State Central Library — Attraction in Goa

No regrets about visiting the library building. The sculptures, the paintings capture your heart once you enter it. There's even place for elderly people to sit outside and enjoy the cool breeze while reading.

After entering the library you already feel like royalty where there is no one to irritate you but my friend the actual fun is yet to be explored. There remain two important parts for students to note. First, two study rooms with absolute silence, well ventilated, with comfortable sitting and spacious cubicles. Second, the main library part of the building. Even the Euphoric children keep their calm in the kids section. I specially loved the huge teddy bears over there 😂❤️ the tables kept are kinda cute and one feels like being a 7 yr old again just to enjoy this section.

Then we have the gems, pearls, diamonds, and rubies for the high school and the college going students up till send last floor. This section contains books from nearly all aspects of life one can imagine. Feel bored and want to read something other than a comic the library got you monologues from various indian writers. Similarly from poem to biographies, from history to geography, from calculas to modern day development in chemical engineering they got it all. Even the manuscripts and the old newspapers.

Now the last floor. I saw one book which was of my 1 yr old nephews height. I measured thickness of few books and it was nearly 4½ inches. Books in Portugal writing were also present and were in good condition (better actually). Once you go there you understand the seriousness that was present during the Goa Freedom Struggle. The letters preserved, all the stained black ink on brownish white paper ; Ahhhh !!! Goosebumps.

After experiencing this nature I was overwhelmed and thought that nothing can compete with this but at a very short distance I saw the Dnyan Stambh and below that there is mangrove gardens nicely maintained. After having a day spent productively you can enjoy the winds over there and have a short photography session also 🌈🐞.

So whoever is reading this thankuuu for reading till the end. I know nobody is really interested in reading long passages but I typed my experience. Hope that this productive environment is maintained by the Goa Government for the betterment of not only goan students but also for the elderly. Thank you Krishnadas Shama State...

The Krishnadas Shama Goa State Central Library, located in Panaji, holds a significant place in India's cultural and historical landscape, claiming the distinction of being the nation's first public library. Its origins trace back to September 15, 1832, when it was inaugurated by the Portuguese Viceroy of Goa, Dom Manuel de Portugal e Castro, under the name "Publica Livraria of the Academia Militar de Goa" (Military Training Institute).

A pivotal moment in the library's growth occurred in 1834. Following the Portuguese government's order for the suppression of certain religious orders, extensive book collections from various convents were transferred to the library, substantially enriching its repository. This expansion led to a name change in 1836 to "Bibliotheca Pública," at which point it was officially opened to the public.

The library's location also saw changes; in 1836, it moved to the premises where Municipal proceedings were conducted. Over the years, its name evolved further. In 1870, it became the "Biblotheca Publica da Nova Goa." A significant elevation in status occurred in February 1897 when it was designated a National Library and renamed "Bibliotheca Nacional de Nova Goa," later becoming the "Bibliotheca National Vasco da Gama."

A notable legal development in the library's history was the decree of March 18, 1956, which applied the Privilege of Deposited Legal to the institution. This made the library eligible to receive, free of charge, copies of all publications from Portugal and its overseas colonies, significantly expanding its collection. While it initially functioned as an annex of an institute, it was later placed under the direct administrative control of the Services de Instruccao e Saude (Education and Health Services) from September 1959.

Historically, the library's collection predominantly featured books in Portuguese, French, Spanish, Latin, and English. Catalogues of the library's holdings were printed, with the first in 1907, and subsequently, a comprehensive card catalogue encompassing author, title, and cross-references was prepared.

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Publishers, authors and the general public visiting this library are often wowed by the infrastructure here. I go along with this, but with a rider: Goa has two very good libraries (at Panjim and just outside Margao)... but the rest of the state is a wasteland as far as libraries go. Point number one: the state needs to do a lot more to encourage that the entire ecosystem of libraries and books is built up in the original home of the Gutenberg printing press in Asia!

Pros of this library: Lots of space. Good infrastructure (mostly). Many mags and books to choose from. The children's section is good, friendly and well-stocked. Timings are definitely an improvement over earlier times. Staff is young-ish and mostly friendly. Membership rates are good. The three-books-a-member offer ensures that people from far can also benefit. The cybercafe is well-equipped, plush and affordably priced. Could have avoided proprietorial software though. The library offers its halls liberally for book-related events. Photocopying facilities are good. Goa section staff is helpful too, as are most others.

Cons here: Can be strict about taking in books into the library, including notebooks. All the taxpayer-funded infrastructure is not being optimally used. There could be many more members using a library of this size. Many people in the state seem quite unaware about facilities offered. New Goa-related (and other) books need to be better displayed. Old books perhaps need better care if they are to last for more centuries. Copyright-expired digitised resources should be made available freely online. Its website could be more responsive and well-informed. Online membership acceptance should be initiated.

NOTE: Some of my photos shared are from the earlier, old library at Institute Menezes Braganza. You'll make out the difference immediately. That was a historic setting too, though cramped for...