The police station is now playing the additional role of a free lending library. A year after the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mylapore started the ‘Little Free Library’, the concept has caught on and other police stations under the Mylapore jurisdiction have set aside little spaces for books to be borrowed and donated.
“Although the concept is more or less like the ‘Little Free Library’, this time we have done it on our own,” says V. Balakrishnan, DC, Mylapore. Seven law and order police stations and seven boys clubs have the new facility.
At two of the stations, the racks are filled with books. In the remaining stations, libraries are coming up. Indian Bank has donated the racks. Visitors are welcome to donate books they don’t need.
For the boys clubs, they are looking for books and digests that could interest youngsters.
From books on social reformers to revolutionary leaders and law books, the six shelves of the rack at E5 Foreshore Estate police station is almost full. The station also offers a choice of newspapers for visitors. “The police station is located in a government quarters, so we want residents to make use of the facility,” says N. Balakrishna Prabha, inspector at the station.
At Marina and Abhiramapuram police stations, although the rack is in place, there are very few books. Police stations generally have only law books for the staff to refer to. This initiative is aimed at engaging the staff as well as the visitor.
However, the staff have mixed views about whether a mini-library will generate interest among visitors.
They say if most of the visitors coming to the station would be in a mood to read books.
“Nevertheless, it is a good initiative and the staff should also make use of it,” says A. Manly Lamech, sub-inspector, Marina police station.
