Shillong, November 3 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated the renovated State Central Library and the House of Ryndia in Shillong, reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage, promoting reading habits and creating market opportunities for indigenous textile producers and artisans.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the occasion brought together three important aspects of Meghalaya’s development — preservation of living heritage, wider access to knowledge and greater economic opportunities for traditional textile producers. Sangma outlined the Government’s development strategy, which focuses on three key pillars: infrastructure development, personal development and preservation of tradition. He said investments in infrastructure were aimed at improving roads, educational institutions, hospitals, sports facilities and other public amenities, while personal development initiatives would help translate these investments into better livelihoods, increased agricultural productivity and improved market access for entrepreneurs.
Emphasising the importance of cultural preservation, Sangma said Meghalaya must ensure that its identity, traditions and cultural roots remain central to its development. Referring to tourism, the Chief Minister said the Government was working to develop new tourism brands around 11 identified locations beyond established destinations such as Sohra, Mawlynnong and Dawki. He said the initiative was intended to diversify the State’s economy by transforming sectors such as sports, music, textiles and handicrafts into sustainable economic activities capable of generating employment and livelihood opportunities. Sangma also stressed the importance of community participation in developing sustainable brands based on local traditions and cultural practices.
Speaking about the renovated State Central Library, the Chief Minister said the upgraded facility was designed to encourage reading habits among students, young people and the general public. He said the Government wanted to make libraries more attractive and welcoming by providing improved amenities, including facilities offering local coffee, tea and snacks, so that students could spend more time reading rather than using mobile phones. The Chief Minister also urged parents and teachers to encourage children to develop regular reading habits.
The inauguration coincided with the State-Level Living Heritage Arts and Craft Village Festival, which celebrates Meghalaya’s traditional arts, crafts, music, food practices, oral traditions and indigenous knowledge. Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated House of Ryndia, an initiative of the Department of Textiles, will serve as a dedicated platform for promoting Meghalaya’s indigenous textiles, particularly Ryndia, by improving their visibility, public accessibility and market linkages for local artisans and producers.
The State Central Library, established on January 19, 1974, under the Directorate of Arts and Culture, serves as Meghalaya’s apex State Public Library. Over the past five decades, the library has provided educational and reference resources to students, researchers, scholars, government employees, retired personnel, children and general readers.
As of March 1, 2026, the library housed more than two lakh books, along with magazines, government publications and newspapers dating back to the 1970s. It has approximately 31,000 registered members and issues around 200 books daily. The library also offers reference and reading facilities, internet browsing, current-awareness services, orientation programmes, children’s literature, internships, archived newspapers and online membership registration.
An amount of Rs 2.23 crore has been provided for the renovation and upgradation of the State Central Library under the National Mission on Libraries, which supports infrastructure improvements, technological modernisation, networking and better access to library services. The renovated library features improved reading spaces, upgraded archive sections, a dedicated children’s reading area and a Knowledge Corner for students preparing for national-level competitive examinations. The Knowledge Corner, initially introduced during 2019–20, has now been upgraded into a full-fledged facility to support competitive examination aspirants. In addition, the library has introduced E-Granthalaya software, along with an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) and Web OPAC facilities, enabling readers to search for books and access library information more efficiently.
The upgraded facilities are expected to strengthen the State Central Library’s role as an important centre for education, research and public learning, while the House of Ryndia will provide a platform for promoting Meghalaya’s traditional textile heritage and supporting local artisans.
