Now, hit the books at 256 libraries set for upgrade

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday ordered upgradation of 96 village libraries as branch libraries and 160 part-time libraries as village libraries. To administer these upgraded libraries, 96 posts of Grade-III librarians and 160 posts of village librarians will be created.

The pay scale for the Grade III librarians will be Rs 5,200–20,000 with a grade pay of Rs 2,000, while the village librarians will get a special time pay scale of Rs 2,500- 5,000 with a grade pay of Rs 500.

The move will help students in particular, an official press release here said and recalled the view of former chief minister C N Annadurai on the importance of libraries: “Our people are particular about having separate rooms for performing poojas, cooking and sleeping. We can become truly enlightened people only when we are keen on having a separate room for reading too in our houses.”