INTERVIEW 4 : LIBRARIAN, PUBLIC LIBRARY PALAKKAD

 Public Library

Our visit to the public library was the most interesting part of our field visit and interviews. We have not expected many members in the library as from what we heard about the library we had a mental picture of a place that is not being utilized. But to our amazement, a lot number of members were there when we reached. There were a group of college students who were seriously doing some reference work. We could also see some senior citizens engrossed in reading Newspapers and magazines. The librarian was very busy, attending to a younger boy and a middle-aged woman. We have not taken any prior permission or appointment with the librarian for our interview and we were accompanied by our Librarian sir. So we patiently waited there till she finished both the members.

The librarian sir introduced us to her and informed the purpose of our visit. Though sir informed us to be quick we got so engrossed in her explanation and her enthusiasm, we spend more time talking to her. She gave us a heartening welcome.

We introduced ourselves and started our interview.

Nirupam: Madam, how many members do you have in this library?

Ms. Latha: That I will have to check.

Nirupam: An approximate number of members will be sufficient madam.

Ms. Latha: No I can give you the exact number. Let me see, yesterday only one new member joined. So I can get the number easily. Yes. 3596 exactly.

Nirupam: How many of them are students, especially school students?

Ms. Latha: Students … 50-75 percent of them are students ranging from school students to college students.

Vishnu: How can we be members of this library?

Ms. Latha: You will have to submit the application along with a copy of your parent's ID card and remit Rs. 60/- as fee for a year at 5/- rupees per month plus 50 rupees admission fee. You can take two books at a time for a period of 14 days, after which there will be a fine of 5 rupees per week. You can renew your membership by paying the fee for a year.

Nirupam: Madam, it is generally said that public libraries are not being utilized fully. What is your opinion?

Ms. Latha: I cannot agree with that. We have so many visitors every day here that we are unable to attend to their needs. We have so many limitations in this library, the facilities are fewer here. Every day we get about 200 visitors. Now here the library is really useful. Everyone is saying reading is dying, but I will never agree with that notion. Because we are getting that many users here and we do not have a second to spare. Whether it is the adults or students all are coming and using this library.

Vishnu: On an average how many books will be issued daily?

Ms. Latha: Average, 100 books per day.

Nirupam: Which books are mainly taken by the students?

Ms. Latha: Children take popular books like the books written by VaikomMuhammed Basheer like “Balaykalasakhi”, Sherlock Holmes books, and the like mostly.

Vishnu: Do you have a separate corner for the children?

Ms. Latha: Yes we do have a children’s section here.

Nirupam: Reading is dying is the general notion everyone is saying. What is your opinion?

Ms. Latha: I mentioned it earlier. We will not agree with that. We are getting a good number of readers regularly here. I can’t talk about outside matters. But we believe reading is not dying.

Vishnu: If we observe, it is seen that the interest in reading is declined. What do you think are the reasons for that?

Ms. Latha: Maybe the television and other media are causing a diversion. But those who are reading are always interested. That we know when new books are being published readers come over here asking for the book. They are aware of the authors and they keep a watch over the new books being published.

Nirupam: Do the adult members bring their children to the library?

Ms. Latha: Yes, they do. Parents are taking books mostly for their children to read.

Surya: How many children visit your library in a day?

Ms. Latha: About 10-15 children. Now you cannot see the school students because this is their school time. They will not come during their examination time also. They will come only in the evening or during the vacation always. They come here to refer to the books.

Surya:  What about the grownups madam? Do they come here to read newspapers or do they read novels too?

Ms. Latha: They read both. Mostly they read novels.

Vishnu: The reading contests are held every year. What is the response?

Ms. Latha: The reading contest is organized once every year by the Kerala GranthashalaSangam. There will be a selected list books for the students to read. To read those books children come to the library. We also provide the books to the children to read and participate in the contest. Last year one tenth class student Alakananda from Kannadi, palakkad won the prize. It is for the UP and High School students.

Vishnu: How can we participate in this? Is there any fee?

Ms. Latha: No fee. When you take membership you can access all those books. For participating you need not be a member of this library or any other. To get the books you can use the library. Those poor children who cannot afford to buy all the books in the list makes most use of the library.

Nirupam: How can we motivate children to read more?

Ms. Latha: We should provide the environment for reading. Organise programmes like the reading contest etc. Some KV students also come here through the MCL (Malabar Cements Limited) Library.

Vishnu: How you get books for the library? Where do you get the fund from?

Ms. Latha: We get grant from the government every year in March. So we will purchase book utilizing these grants as per the requirement received from the readers. Mostly they demand Malayalam books. But English books like Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes also in demand.

Vishnu: Would you say that this library is being utilized effectively?

Ms. Latha: Of course. Earlier this library was not like this. Now so many readers are coming to the library.

Vishnu: Normally we say reading habit is declining, but the example here shows that it is increasing.

Ms. Latha: Yes. That is our experience. We provide materials for PSC examinations which are being used here all the time. It is quite difficult for us to cater to the needs of all. We serve them without even taking the lunch break.12:30 pm to 3:00 pm it is lunch break, but we don’t take that free time as there will be lots of readers at that time here. We will let those who want to read to read.

Surya: What is the working hours of the library?

Ms. Latha: From 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. It will be almost 6:00 pm when we close.

Vishnu: When was this library started functioning?

Ms. Latha: I think in 1956 or 1957. 1988 it got affiliated to Library Council. Till 1996 it was not being used that much by the people. I joined in 1996 April. After that so many changes took place. This is being done as a social service. So we do not bother about the allowance we get.

Nirupam: Do you read book madam?

Ms. Latha: Yes. I do read.

Vishnu: Which is your favourite book here?

Ms. Latha: That will be quite difficult to say as there are so many books and many books are coming regularly. When you read so many books a selection will be difficult. Recently, I liked “Aadujeevitham(Goat Days) by Benyamin and that was issued a lot too. Then “pathummayude aadu” by Basheer is always under circulation.

Vishnu: Okay madam. Thank you very much

Nirupam: It was really a wonderful experience madam, thank you.