Library closing down

I love to visit libraries and bookstores.

During my school days, I used to frequent a local library called “Raviraj Lending Library” at Usman Road, T.Nagar, Chennai. In a large, dusty room on the first floor of an old building, they will have storybooks, comics, novels, and magazines from every known publisher. I loved going through the piles of comic books scattered around – finding and picking up a new Archie comics, or Uncle Scrooge, or Richie Rich, or Amar Chitra Katha was a moment to cherish! The reading charges, by today’s standard, were really cheap – and my parents readily gave me the money for reading, encouraging my reading.

Later, during my college days, when I graduated to reading big books – software books, technology magazines, novels and non-fiction, the library that I started frequenting was (then) newly opened Eloor Lending Library, North Boag Road, T.Nagar. I became a member there around 1994 – my member # was 227, for the first few years I got to read the books I liked for free, as the proprietress Mini Luiz approved my offer to help them on selecting the titles, especially on computers and management, that they can buy. Though I won’t call myself a regular after I started my business in 1997, I still used to go at least a few times a year.  At 10% of the book’s price as a reading fee, the library services were not cheap, but their selection made them irresistible.

Once my son started reading a lot, Eloor Library became his favourite weekend visit. After every visit, he will be bringing home a dozen books or so, all of which he will finish reading in the next few days. When he was in Class 4 or 5, we were called to the school by his class teacher to complain that he brought more ‘fiction’ books to school than his textbooks. In making my son a prolific reader, Eloor Library has played a big part, thanks to all the staff there, including librarian Ravi & others.

Unfortunately, every good thing has to come to an end. Due to advances in technology and changes in reading habits, most local libraries are closing. In that list of closures, it is sad to see Eloor Library joining. Due to reduced patronage and rising costs, they have decided to close by March 1st 2018. As an entrepreneur, I can understand and appreciate the reasons, but as a reader, I feel a part of me has died. My son almost cried when we went to the library to close our membership and buy some books as a memory.

Last year, I enrolled after many years in the British Council Library, Anna Salai – but I didn’t renew it this year, as I found the selections they have are limited, and the library is crowded with students of their English courses, making the place not conducive for peaceful reading for my taste.

I am optimistic about the future of reading & libraries.

Reading will not be the same as it was when I grew up, but I think it will thrive.

Three things are happening – ebooks have made books affordable to most (more than ever before in human history) and the prices will be coming down as volumes go up, local public libraries like the recently renovated Ashok Nagar public library or Seattle public library will become popular as people will want a community gathering place as everything else around them becomes digital, and, digital subscription services like Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited and free services like Project Gutenberg and Project Madurai will bring most of the written knowledge, accessible to all.