National Library’s Esplanade reading room set to reopen

For years, it existed only in memory , a place where readers flipped through newspapers from across the country, where students sat for hours preparing for exams, and where the act of reading quietly brought strangers together. Now, after more than two decades, the National Library’s Esplanade centre is ready to reopen, restoring one of Kolkata’s most accessible public reading spaces.

Located in the heart of the city, the Esplanade facility once served as a vital extension of the National Library, especially for those who found it difficult to travel to the main Belvedere campus. Its closure left a noticeable gap , not just in access, but in the everyday reading culture the city is known for. The reopening, however, is not just about reviving an old space. It is about rebuilding it for present-day use. “The idea is to make this a working space again,” says Mintu Kar, Library Information Assistant at the centre. “Readers will have access to newspapers, journals and magazines in Hindi, English and Bengali, especially useful for students preparing for competitive exams. We are trying to create a system where people can come and work from here.

” The renewed centre aims to function as a fully equipped reading hub. Visitors with valid library cards will be able to access materials on-site, with essential services like photocopying also available , bringing back the practical, day-to-day usability the space once offered. Behind the reopening lies a long process of restoration and restructuring. Officials point out that the earlier infrastructure had become difficult to maintain, affecting both usability and preservation. “The earlier structure had multi-tier racks, but the material wasn’t in good condition and there was no proper air-conditioning,” says a senior library official, requesting anonymity. “So we dismantled it and carried out a complete renovation. All newspaper archives have now been shifted here to ensure better preservation and access.” The renovation, carried out by civil and electrical departments, focused on creating a more stable and functional environment for archival material , something that had been lacking earlier.

The shift of newspaper collections from other reading rooms to this centre is also part of a broader effort to streamline access. At the same time, there is a subtle shift in how the space is being imagined. While print remains at its core, the centre is expected to support modern research needs, acknowledging that today’s readers often move between physical and digital formats. Yet, beyond infrastructure and services, the reopening carries a quieter significance. In a city where reading has long been part of its cultural identity, the return of the Esplanade centre is also the return of a shared public habit , one that had slowly faded from this part of town. It may not instantly recreate the atmosphere it once had. But by opening its doors again, it brings back something essential: a place to sit, read, and belong.