Read: International art exhibition held in Kathmandu paying tribute to Sultan An immersive virtual reality (VR) installation has begun at the Drik Studio in Dhaka's Panthapath, reimagining the future of libraries as interactive spaces that engage visitors through multisensory forms of storytelling. Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, in partnership with The Tech Academy, is hosting "The Infinite Library." The VR installation takes visitors through a cave with access to small chambers that double as portals, or micro worlds, that allow one to travel in time. It seeks to embed human stories within a much grander narrative, one which includes the birth of the planet and the evolution of all life forms. The "Library" part of the installation is conceived as a living organism, a kind of embodiment of knowledge that introduces itself to visitors personally before inviting them to explore its house. This includes a QR code game, holograms, 3D-printed objects, audio-visual works, and the project's central piece: a vast VR library set in a cave.

Libraries are an integral part of universities as those offer access to all the academic resources to their teachers and students. But Dhaka University (DU) libraries are "definitely" not what they should be. The DU that boasts of being the best among the country’s public universities has failed to bring its libraries in the flow of teaching and scholarly efforts although academic libraries are evolving with the advancement of technology. The university stepped into its 100th year in 2021 and is celebrating its centenary with a yearlong programme, keeping its many issues unresolved -- its libraries are one of those. Read: Buzz back as in-person classes resume at Dhaka University Now it is a daily fight for students to get quiet spaces at its libraries to study. No initiative has been taken in the last 11 years for the expansion of the libraries to meet the growing requirements of its students, many students told UNB recently. It is quite surprising that the university authorities have no separate plan to expand its library facilities other than having a 15-year "Master Plan", said a university official. “The Master Plan obviously has a component to expand library facilities. But to see that happen, the students will have to wait for nearly 15 years,” the official said, wishing anonymity.      The number of students at the university is increasing each year but the libraries have not been expanded accordingly, making the regular students reluctant about entering the libraries, said some students while talking to UNB. Read Top Bookstore Cafés in Dhaka: 6 Places Bringing Back the Joy of Reading They alleged that outsiders and irregular students usually keep library tables occupied to take preparations for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations and other govt recruitment tests, depriving the regular students of reading facilities. Besides, insufficient books, lack of access to resources and washrooms have made the libraries unpleasant for many.