In a bid to upgrade Jammu and Kashmir libraries, University of Kashmir will soon start digitising eight million pages of various books.

"In the first phase, eight million pages from books in various libraries of Jammu and Kashmir will be digitised," an official of the University said.

He said old and rare books which are in private possession will also be digitised.

"The valuable rare books available in private collection shall also be digitised under this project and put on internet," he said.

The digitisation project will be financed by the Union government's Department of Information Technology.

"Digitisation of books will enable users to browse and read them even at their homes and one copy of the book can be simultaneously browsed by multiple users," the official said.

University librarian Riyaz Rufai, who is the Chief Coordinator of the project, said the digitised books will form a part of the National Digital Library and will be accessible throughout the world on the website.

"This prestigious project shall be completed within two years," he said.