CU Central Library is among the remarkable libraries in the country with a rich collection of different books, journals and other reading materials.

But the students, teachers and researchers of the university are to struggle a lot to get a desired book from the catalogues that lie in huge piles in the library.

"When the library is brought under the computerised automation system it will help one to find out desired book easily within shortest possible time," said Hamida Yasmin, computer lab in-charge of the library.

"In this system readers will be able to find out a book by themselves and those who don't know how to take help of computer to find out a book, lab operators will be there to help," she added.

The process of introducing the automation is now going on in full swing, sources said.

The university authorities have already installed a server and 12 computers, which are being programmed now.

Apart from the books, journals and reading materials on the present list of collection, the books scheduled to arrive soon will also be catalogued, they said.

Enriched with the computers, the library has already started providing the students and researchers with latest information through Internet service.

Mohammed Shakhawat Hossain, a fourth year student of the Physics Department, said finding books through manual catalogues was very time consuming.

Besides, very often one had to be disappointed and leave the library empty handed, as the desired book could not be found even after a long search, he said.

"It's really a great pleasure for us that automation system will help us find out a desired book and save our time as well," said Fahima Sultana, a student of Arts Faculty.

It will also encourage the students to develop a reading habit, she said.

The three-storied library has separate reading rooms for teachers and students of different faculties and an auditorium for seminar and symposium.

It remains open between 8:00am and 8:00pm in the working days when 80 employees, including 11 officers, work in two shifts.

The library started its operation with only 14,000 books in 1968 and it has now 2,05,000 books, 35,100 journals (binding), 2,900 rare books, 575 thesis papers, 1750 research papers (photocopy) and 515 compact disks (CD) on different topics.

Collection section collects local and foreign journals and books.

Reference section preserves the research reports, encyclopedias, dictionaries, manuals, calendars, handbooks and other publications.

The reprography section provides the opportunity for photocopy at a cost of 50 paisa per page in the library building.

The World Bank and CU authorities signed an agreement to set up an information centre at the library, said acting librarian SM Abu Taher.