Rao launches digitization project of Asiatic Society library

Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today inaugurated the digitization project of the 211-year-old Asiatic Society library here.
Under the project, one lakh books, 2,500 manuscripts and 1,200 maps will be digitized and the output will be saved in the form of DVDs and microfilms.
"The project is expected to open up the treasures of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai to scholars in the world," an official from the Raj Bhavan said.
Maharashtra government has already sanctioned Rs 5 crore to the Asiatic Society for this project, the official added.
Society's President S G Kale, informed the Governor that the library has a collection of 2,55,463 books and bound volumes of periodicals.

He further told Rao that the library has a collection of over 12,000 coins including the gold coin of Kumar Gupta, a gold muhar of Akbar and coins of Shivaji Maharaj.
"He also briefed the governor about the future plans of the society," the official added.
On this occasion, Rao was also shown the old manuscripts, antique books, maps and other special collections of the library including old coins.