Joykrishna Mukhopadhyay, proposed to establish a library at Uttarpara for the intellectual advancement of the people in 1854. The Library started functioning in the same year. On 15th April,1859 Uttarpara Joykrishna Public Library was opened to public as the first free reading centre for the people, the first of its kind in Asia. Compound of this Library is about one acre of land. This institution is still a profitable resort to Present Generation of scholars from all over India. A few years back it helped settle a long draw Controversy over Bhotbagan area between the Govt. of Bhutan and that of India. European and India scholars and eminent personalities have been eloquent in Appreciating Uttarpara Public Library. This library is immensely rich in primary printed materials essentials for 17th to 19th century studies and has a collection of about 55 thousand rare books.