Soon, this library would be completing its bicentennial. The history of this library’s establishment is interesting. During the British rule in the country, many of their officers were performing administrative duties in various parts of the country. Some of these officers had interests beyond their daily work in other fields as well. Therefore, they supported such institutions. Among them, J. H. Trot, who came to Ratanagiri in the first half of the nineteenth century, established a library there in 1828 under the name ‘Kokan Book Society’. Over time, it was renamed ‘Native General Library’. At that time, this facility was created mainly for British officers or upper-caste Indians residing there as a leisure activity with reading.
Swatantryaveer Sawarkar after his jail time in Andaman, stayed in Ratnagiri for some time. He renamed the library "Ratnagiri Nagar Vachanalay" (Ratnagiri City Library). During his lifetime, distinguished figures such as Lokmanya Tilak's father, Gangadhar Tilak, and Swami Swapaananda of Pavas used to be regular visitors here.
Notable literary figures such as Pu. L. Deshpande, Jaywant Dalvi, Vidya Bal, Gangadhar Panatavne, Vinda Karandikar, Vasant Bapat, and Mangesh Padgaonkar have visited this library. Since 2003, Advocate Deepak Patwardhan has been the president of the library.
Maaydesh Foundation has pledged Rs 1.5 Crore to take the reconstruction to completion. Maaydesh will also work with the committee to build up ‘Sawarkar Kendra’ to promote community activities in the new building.