In-house libraries: the upcoming trend in Chennai

From reading rooms in apartment complexes to schools that allow parent memberships, the library scene is fast evolving

If you cannot visit the library, the library will come to your doorstep.

From starting in-house libraries to opening up existing ones to new demographic, residents in the city are exploring newer ways to lend, borrow and donate books. Now, with many people settling in extended areas of the city, the library, in some cases, even arrives on call.

Residents of Hiranandani Upscale apartments in Navalur have converted a vacant room into a library.

P. Srinivas, treasurer, Pinewood Owners Association at Hiranandani Upscale, says that when they first planned to make better use of the vacant plot, one suggestion was to create a reading room.

Though he has a membership with the British Council library, Mr. Srinivas says it is not always feasible to go there because of the distance.

Geetha Viswanathan, part of the library committee, says with children having so many distractions and avenues for entertainment, it is essential they spend a few hours reading every day.

While many large apartment complexes boast of facilities like entertainment rooms and swimming pools, a library is often overlooked.

The library at Hiranandani Upscale has a librarian. Also, the founder of Bookworm’s Library, S. Gopi, with whose help the apartment owners created their in-house library, visits it periodically to take stock of readers’ preferences.

Mr. Gopi says in the past 13 years, the number of neighbourhoods he travels to, in his library-on-wheels, has only increased.

At Chettinad Hari Shree Vidyalayam, parents are allowed to become members of the school library.

Librarian Padma Ravishankar says the programme was started to enable parents to engage better in their child’s reading activities. “Parental involvement goes a long way in inculcating reading habit,” she says. The school has around 25 parent members now.

S. Shanmugapriya, a parent, says she used to visit the Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram earlier, but has now started visiting the school library more often as she is allowed to borrow books.

Pushpa Gopal, coordinator, special programmes at the school, says the library has evolved a lot since its inception. “The library is an integral part of the school, and we are constantly trying to increase involvement,” she says.