Making libraries vibrant again

In an age where information and entertainment are available at one’s fingertips, government officials are trying out a variety of techniques to get residents back to the reading spaces

There is a mammoth challenge before the Department of Public Libraries: competing with the internet and mobile technology for the attention of the younger generation.

It’s trying out a slew of novel schemes to get this attention. “In Periyar Nagar, we are conducting chess coaching, and a number of youth in the area come in to learn. In a few libraries, we have introduced Spoken English, which is being taught free to the children in the area,” Elango Chandrakumar, District Library Officer said, adding that Periyar Nagar had over 50 children learning English, and they had even constructed a separate shed for these classes.

“Often, homemakers would like to come in during the afternoon when their husbands are at work, so we have separate sections for women. We have even opened up libraries in eight government hospitals to encourage patients, their relatives and the medical staff to read,” he said.

Department officials visit schools to introduce children to the joy of reading. “We also run competitions, including drawing and chess, at various libraries, and we even have storytelling sessions,” Mr. Chandrakumar said.

The department is now in the process of introducing computers with internet facilities at many of the public libraries.

“So far, around 30 libraries in Chennai have internet connections, and we are providing other libraries with these facilities on demand,” he said. “However, many of the libraries continue to check in and check out books manually, since they do not have computers,” he added.

Every year, on an average, public libraries receive 1,000-1,200 books, with some of the larger libraries getting over 5,000 books a year.

“We have ensured that a large selection of reference books and books to prepare for the civil services are available to those who cannot afford these books,” Mr. Chandrakumar said.

“Very few people seem to be visiting libraries; but in several areas, people have made a request for new libraries, and we have submitted several requests to convert part-time libraries into full-time ones,” Mr. Chandrakumar added.

In Saligramam, for example, the part-time library has over 10,000 members, and the local councillor has agreed to build an additional floor and donate furniture to the library, he said.

Library members, however, complain that the book collections that are available are not up-to-date.

“A number of visitors to libraries such as the Anna Centenary Library are civil service aspirants and students who appear for other competitive examinations. Most of the new books on current affairs are not found in the libraries. We have demanded new books,” said S.Bala, one of the organisers of a series of celebrations welcoming the High Court order to maintain and upgrade the Anna Centenary Library.

Source | The Hindu | 26 August 2015