Honorable PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan and other prominent dignitaries on stage during the foundation stone laying ceremony (Bhoomi Pujan) of the upcoming state-of-the-art facility.
The launch ceremony of Sahakar Swarupa, authored by Adv. Deepak Patwardhan, was held on 18 March 2026 at the library.
To promote a culture of reading, the Granthsakha Award is presented annually to recognize the library's outstanding reader.
On 21 August 2024, an informative lecture on "Investment Beyond 2024" by Mr. Chandrashekhar Tilak was organized at the library.
The Ratnagiri District Public Library has a well-equipped open reading hall for its members and readers. This reading hall provides access to a variety of magazines, fortnightly publications, and daily newspapers covering diverse subjects. Owing to its natural lighting, proper ventilation, and peaceful, pleasant atmosphere, approximately 150 to 200 readers benefit from this open reading hall every day. In addition, students make extensive use of the reading hall for their studies and academic pursuits. The facility serves as a valuable resource for learning, reading, and intellectual development within the community.
The library has been graced by the visits of many eminent personalities, making it a place of great historical and cultural significance. Among those who visited are P.P. Shri Swami Swarupanand, Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, widely regarded as the Father of Modern Marathi Prose, and Gangadharrao Tilak, the father of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Their presence has enriched the library's distinguished legacy and heritage.
Ratnagiri Nagar Vachanalaya is the first computerized public library in Maharashtra. All library operations are managed through the LIMS (Library Management System), a software solution developed in-house by the library to efficiently handle its day-to-day activities.
It gives me immense pleasure to connect with you through the official website of our library as its President. Our vision has always been to create a modern digital platform that would take the library to an international level while making its rich collection of books and resources accessible to readers everywhere. With this goal in mind, we initiated several concrete steps toward digital transformation. Encouraged by your continued support and best wishes, we are delighted to present this website as a new medium to serve our members, readers, and well-wishers. We hope this platform will make our library more accessible, informative, and connected with the community, while preserving and promoting its rich literary and cultural heritage. We sincerely thank you for your trust and support and look forward to your continued encouragement in the years ahead.
Read MoreImportant Happenings
In recognition of its remarkable work in book conservation, the preservation and promotion of reading culture, and the provision of modern facilities for readers, the Marathwada Sahitya Parishad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) has announced the prestigious state-level ‘Librarian Late Sandhya Deshmukh-Mule’ Award for the year 2025 for the Ratnagiri (District) City Library. The Marathwada Sahitya Parishad presents this award to honor institutions and individuals who have made significant contributions to the dissemination of books, the promotion of reading culture, and the library sector. The selection committee chose the Ratnagiri (District) City Library for this honor after taking note of its multifaceted work—including its establishment 199 years ago in 1828, its extensive book collection, the preservation and conservation of reference materials, and the modern facilities provided for readers and researchers. The award presentation ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Dr. N. G. Nandapurkar Hall of the Marathwada Sahitya Parishad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Kautikrao Thale Patil, Executive President of the Marathwada Sahitya Parishad, conveyed the news of the award via an official letter to Adv. Deepak M. Patwardhan, President of the Ratnagiri (District) City Library. This award adds another feather to the cap of Ratnagiri district’s cultural and literary landscape and is regarded as a state-level recognition of the library's sustained and dedicated efforts.
05-08-26
I have visited the Ratnagiri Public Library many times in the past. On this occasion, I had the opportunity to meet some members of its Executive Committee. The library now requires a larger building of its own to meet its growing needs. Efforts in this direction are already underway. I sincerely hope and wish that the library will soon have its own new building, and that we will have the privilege of seeing it flourish in its new premises in the near future.
Public service in any field helps weave a strong social fabric—one built on values, ideas, culture, and literature. May this journey of service continue steadfastly along the same path. When you look back someday, you will find the entire path beautifully adorned with these very values, thoughts, and cultural ideals.
Ratnagiri (Jilha) Nagar Vachanalaya
Jaystambh, Khareghat Road, Ratnagiri - 415612, Maharashtra.
8275723721
rtnlibrary@rediffmail.com
Morning: 9:00 – 12:30 Evening: 3:30 – 7:30
