The Anna Centenary Library (ACL) at Kotturpuram has amenities that are on par with the best libraries in the world. For all that, the facility is underutilised. That has been one of the complaints of users and administrators.
This situation, however, seems to be changing with the intervention of the Madras High Court in matters pertaining to its maintenance and functioning, on the basis of PILs filed by citizens.
The events diary at the nine-storey library bears this out.
The ‘Book release hall’ and the ‘Conference hall’, which are rented out for events, have been booked for all weekends in the month of May.
For the vacation, the library has an impressive line-up of events for children. The Children’s Section is conducting a free 60-day summer camp until May 31, offering a host of fun-filled activities.
In the past, the library had conducted a summer camp for children. For want of promotion, this could not be turned into annual event. Now, almost all events are promoted on ACL’s Facebook page and website. Even the organisers have been promoting ACL as a space for events.
“ACL is a landmark. Also, it is more affordable to host an event on the premises than renting a place at a hotel or kalyana madapam , but the facilities at the library have to be maintained,” says N. Saminathan, who conducts science experiments at the library.
The rent ranges from ₹ 3,000 to ₹10,000.
Not open for membership
Many readers wonder if conducting events alone will help this library increase its readership, as it has not opened up for membership yet.
“The initiatives taken by a government library are encouraging, but it’s sad that it hasn’t opened up for membership,” says S.W. Alvin, a member of Chennai Storytellers.
For the last two years, over 20 storytellers take turns to conduct free sessions for children on the first and third Sunday of every month. Many are new visitors; but, does ACL manage to maintain a longer relationship with them?
“The space is a big draw and it should be a win-win situation for ACL as well as the organiser,” says Alvin.
