The library with a rich collection of different books, journals and other reading materials is unable to provide proper opportunities to the students for lack of cooperation of its staffs and officials.

The three-storied library in front of the Arts Faculty building has three large reading rooms for teachers and students of different faculties and institutes.

The students said the concerned staffs and officials close the reading rooms at 6:00pm instead of scheduled 8:00pm. On some occasions they close it at around 7:00pm.

The library is supposed to remain open from 8:00am to 8:00pm in the working days.

The science faculty students suffer most due to early closure of the reading rooms as they are to go to the library after their practical classes that end at 4:30pm.

"We have to continue practical classes until 4.30pm and then we go to the library. We don't get enough time to study as it closes at 7.00pm, hampering our daily studies a lot," said Mohammad Wahiduzzaman, a student of the Science Faculty.

Besides, of three IPS in the reading rooms for uninterrupted power supply, two of Social Science and Commerce Faculty and Arts faculty went out of order around one year ago. When power supply goes off, activities of the reading rooms stop automatically encouraging the library staffs to close it earlier, said the students.

Sufferings of the students intensify further as the photocopiers of the library remain out of order round the year. Of the four photocopiers, three have been remaining dysfunctional for more than six months.

Whereas, the students are not allowed to take the books outside the library and to depend on the photocopiers to photocopy of a book.

"The problem causes suffering to us since we cannot copy our necessary papers from the books as a large number of students wait in queue for copy from the lone copier," said Rashedul Hasan, a student of the Arts Faculty.

On the other hand, summer heat disrupts study of the students for lack of sufficient ceiling fans in the non-air conditioned reading rooms.

There are six fans for eight tables in the reading room for Science Faculty, three fans for 12 tables for Commerce and Social Science faculty, two fans for eight tables in reference section, four fans for 14 tables for Arts Faculty and only one fan for six tables for the magazine section.

Meanwhile, the authorities last year modernised the central library bringing it under computerised automation system.

The authorities installed a server and 12 computers to rid the students, teachers and researchers of the hassle of finding out desired books searching through manual catalogue.

They also installed a software donated by a teacher of Computer Science department which is not working properly, sources in the library said.

Many books, including rare ones, are being damaged in the library due to use of aerosol spray to preserve the books instead of fumigation.

The library started its journey with only 14,000 books in 1968, which has now 2,05,000 books, 35,100 journals (binding), 2,900 rare books, 700 thesis papers, 1,750 research papers (photocopy) and 750 compact disks (CD) on different topics.

A total of 80 employees work in two shifts in the library.

Acting Librarian Abu Taher denied the allegations against the staffs and officials. "Process for procuring two generators for uninterrupted power supply has almost been finished and it would be installed as early as possible," Taher said.

He said the engineers have already examined the photocopiers and some parts will be replaced to make all those functional.