The University has emarked on the construction of a new state of the art triple storey library which will be located just beside the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine in Saweni. The ground breaking ceremony was held on Friday 30 October. The Sharma family, who are partially funding the library were present together with council members and other friends of the University. The foundation laying ceremony began with a short programme which included a prayer session and speech by the Chair of Council Pundit Bhuwan Dutt.

On Tuesday November 10th, the foundation laying ceremony took place. The event was organised on a larger scale with a good number of guests in attendance. Council members, staff and some students were also present at this historic occasion. the actual programme began at 10am. There was a prayer session and a speech by the Chair of Council, Pundit Bhuwan Dutt.

In his speech, Pundit Dutt welcomed everyone to the foundation laying ceremony. he began by proclaiming the the project was an example of the great partnership that exists between the donor Sharmas Enterprises Limited and the University of Fiji.

Pundit Bhuwan Dutt took us back memory lane and informed the audience how the idea was conceptualized and the sacrifice and hardwork that had gone into making the development of the library a reality.

The total cost of the library is expected to be around $1.2 million with the Sharma family kindly funding the ground floor and the concrete roof. The remaining two floors will be funded by the Arya pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji.

Pundit Bhuwan Dutt concluded his speech expressing gratitude to the Sharma family and stressing on the importance of Education itself. "Education is something that one will never lose wherever in the world one may go.  May God shower His blessings on the family and may they forever prosper. To the contractor I say May God guide you to do a good and honest job for that is what will build your future". he said.

The new library will be a world class facility with modern research technology. The second and third floor will have computer labs and study areas to accomodate our growing number of students. The library will be the largest in the western division and will be a modern learning facility with a computerized library system, easy access to electronic journals, several OPAC terminals and access to latest magazines, periodicals etc.

Mr. Hridesh Sharma of Sharma Enterprises Limited, said he was extremely delighted and honoured to be associated with the University of Fiji. "Since i am from Saweni, i felt obliged to contribute to the community and when i heard that there were plans for a new library, i expressed my interest to assist", he said. Mr. Sharma went on to say that his family supported education and this was a great way to give back to the community.

The new library will be open to the community. "Here at the University, we are encouraging our young citizens to get educated and become good citizens of the nation said Mr. Hassan, the Marketing and Public Relations officer of the University. He further added that the University will do its utmost best to make education accessible for people of all ages. "Students who are currently in high school will be most welcome to use our new library for research purposes as this will help them in their learning process, which is what the University stands for - Education for all. He concluded.

The total cost of the library is expected to be $1.2 million.

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Click here to view Pundit Bhuwan Dutt's Speech