Challenges await next chief of public libraries

“In the last one and a half years, public libraries in the city have seen a sea change. Workshops and coaching classes are being conducted now. 

For instance, classes for competitive exams are being organised at the Centre of Devaneya Pavanar District Central Library on Anna Salai and also at Anna Centenary Library. In fact, arrangements have been made to relay live the events of Anna Centenary Library at Connemara Public Library for the benefit of TNPSC and UPSC aspirants,” explains S Kannappan, state project director, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) who also holds the additional post of the director of public libraries.

He also adds that there are plans to link all major public libraries to schools to improve reading habits among students. “The libraries have become more than a place where people just go to read. They are undergoing a major evolution,” he says.

Also, many hobby groups and historians are using the library space and that is attracting patronage. Tripura Sundari Sevval, who organises several workshops and events at the Madras Literary Society (MLS), says that they organise story-telling sessions regularly at MLS. “This has attracted a number of children to the library,” explains Tripura Sundari.

“The Madras Literary Society is one of the oldest libraries in the city. We are trying to keep pace with all digital developments in the last two years. We are also organising a number of activities to attract the young and the old to the library. As MLS is a storehouse of old books, we have introduced a new concept. In this, readers can adopt a book and try restore it or maintain it in good order. But, what attracts children to MLS are the story-telling sessions,” notes Tripura Sundari.