Jessore Institute Public Library is one of the oldest public libraries in South Asia. Founded in 1851, it has been a bastion of learning and culture for more than 170 years. A beautiful library that is more than just a book house, but also a monument of the region’s history and the spirit of education.
🏛️ A Glimpse into History
It was founded in 1851 by R. C. Rex, who was then the district tax collector of Jessore. Backed by local aristocrats, including Narail and Naldanga zamindars and Indigo growers, the library soon turned into a prominent space for social and literary activities. In the year 1927, Roy Bahadur Jadunath Majumdar incorporated the library with the Arya Theatre and the Town Club to establish the Jessore Institute. In the following year, the library transferred to its present building made possible by a donation from lawyer Abinashchandra Sarker, who donated the main hall, to be named Biswanath Hall, in memory of his father.
📚 A Vast Collection
It has since grown to house over 67,000 books. It is made up of around 49,306 books in Bengali and 17,391 in English. Besides, there are books in Arabic, Persian and Urdu. It also contains old works on palm leaves, one of which dates to that attributed to Shri Krishna Daipayana, who wrote the epic Mahabharata.
🌐 Embracing Modernization
The library was extensively modernized in the 1960s. A professional librarian was hired, modern cataloging was introduced, and the open-shelf model was introduced. In 1964 the library opened up in an 11,000 square-foot, two-and-a-half story modern structure. In 1978 a new Book Bank Hall was built for the library by the Khulna Divisional Development Board.
The library joined the UNESCO Public Library Network in 1996. It had joined the global information network through the Worldwide Web by 2001. Since then, the library has gone digital and now provides e-books, free Wi-Fi, and everything else required to be relevant in a digital world.
🎭 Cultural Significance
The Jessore Institute Public Library not only boasts a large collection but also has been one of the cultural hubs of the place. It has been a venue for countless book fairs, literary discussions, и cultural events. Significantly, in 1985, a dedicated segment called Bangladesher Hridoy Hote was created to center on the nation’s liberation struggle. The library also has separate sections for writers like Michael Madhusudan Dutt and Kazi Nazrul Islam.
🏆 Recognition and Awards
The library has seen steady accolades through the years stuck in an unchanging landscape. The library received a grant of ten thousand taka from the Sabir Shishu Kishore Foundation Trust in recognition of its selection for its designated award for 1984. The library under the mindful leadership of sector incharge has made remarkable progress towards producing information, literature and culture that is recognized both nationally and internationally.
📍 Location and Accessibility
Location: Mujib Road, Daratana, Jashore, 7400, Bangladesh, Jessore Institute Public Library It is still open to the public in part a quiet place to read and study. Today, it serves as an important resource for students, researchers, and others outside the university, blending its rich history with a dedication to modernity.
Bangladesh’s legacy of the Jessore Institute Public Library. A cornerstone of the nation’s intellectual heritage, it is enriched with its history, libraries and the continuous process of modernization.
