A view of District Central Library in Tiruchi.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
Users of the District Central Library (DCL) in Tiruchi have underscored the need to update the facility’s collection, especially in the lending section, as most of the latest titles are yet to be added here.
The library, which has a collection of approximately 1.5 lakh books, periodicals, and reference volumes in its various sections, has been hit by a delay in the implementation of the State government’s Transparent Book Procurement Policy announced in March 2024. While the magazine selection has been updated, new books are yet to be added.
The new policy would allow a book selection committee, set up by the government consisting of departmental experts, librarians, and readers, to take a decision regarding the list of books furnished by publishers and vendors on a common web portal.
“The new policy will give more people an opportunity to choose books that can be added to the library. However, the process of online listing is still going on. As a result of this, public libraries in the State have not procured new books over three years. We hope to see the online listing of new books completed by March,” a senior DCL official told The Hindu on Saturday.
A total of 126 libraries in Tiruchi district are affiliated to the DCL.
Readers pointed out that fiction, a popular genre among borrowers, was limited in range in the library. “I joined the library thinking I could find the latest bestsellers for light reading here, but most of the books are very old,” said a member.
A large number of books have become damaged with constant use. “We have a separate section to bind and preserve books, but it takes time to put them back on the shelves. The more tattered volumes have to be discarded. With the delay in procurement, our existing collection of books is decreasing and we have been unable to replenish the stock,” said an official.
Published – February 15, 2025 06:55 pm IST