Library built a year ago, yet to be inaugurated

Members of the public, particularly book lovers of Thuraiyur, are sore over the non-utilisation of the government branch library at Thuraiyur which was built a year ago.

A cross-section of members of the public lament that although the Department of Libraries took special efforts for the construction of the new library on its own premises, the infrastructure had not been put to use.

The library had been functioning in a private rented building on the Thiyagi Singaravelar Street for the past decade where paucity of space had been a major challenge.

“The space is so inadequate that only one person can reach the reference section,” says T. Natarajan, president of the Reader’s Circle.

The new building, built at an estimate of Rs. 50 lakh, had been provided with adequate infrastructure, particularly furniture and iron racks. The three-storey building had a plinth area of 1,100 square feet on each floor. It had been designed to accommodate the reading hall on the first floor, reference section, and other units on the first floor.

An estimated 50,000 books had been stocked on various subjects at the branch library which accounts for 1,000 members. The office-bearers of the Readers’ Circle say the library should be opened immediately. The utilisation of the new infrastructure would facilitate the authorities to start a separate unit for children. Women would benefit as adequate space would be available at the readers’ hall. “The old premises is basically a residential house and women do not find adequate space,” he says.

Official sources said with the notification of the by-election to the Srirangam Assembly segment, the library would be opened only after the model code of conduct was lifted.