The Thiruvottriyur branch library is a rara avis among its kind.
In line with a government order issued by the School Education Department in August 2017, district central libraries can conduct coaching classes for competitive exams. Branch libraries don’t enjoy this privilege — the Thiruvottiyur branch library is an exception.
This library was granted permission to conduct these classes on the request of the Thiruvottriyur Branch Library Readers Circle to the Education Minister, K.A. Sengottaiyan, when he visited the library for the inauguration of its deaf and mute section on March 20.
The librarian, Banick Pandyan says, “During his visit, the Minister provided his consent for conducting coaching classes and a formal order was issued to the library on April 23. From May 8, classes are being conducted.”
Coaching for examinations conducted by Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC), Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) and Staff Selections Commission (SSC) are offered at the library.
Over the last two months, around 200 aspirants have enrolled for the coaching programme.
“Youngsters from north Chennai usually go all the way to Anna Nagar or T. Nagar to attend coaching classes offered by private institutions. Many others cannot afford the exorbitant fee charged by these institutions. So, we thought of opening such a facility at the Thiruvottriyur library,” says N. Durai Raj, president of the Readers Circle and a retired employee of Ashok Leyland.
Towards this cause, the readers’ forum donated ₹1.5 lakh to the library with which an LCD projector and an audio system have been purchased. “Besides, a good collection of recommended reference books, NCERT textbooks from Class 1 to 12 are also available. In case we need any other book, the library staff go the extra mile and ensure the book is available,” say civic services aspirants D. Karthikeyan and R. Bala Vignesh who are currently pursuing under-graduate degrees in engineering.
As of now, at this library, coaching classes are conducted only on Sundays (from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.).
In contrast, at Devaneya Pavanar District Central Library on Anna Salai, coaching classes are conducted on Sundays as well as Saturdays. Civil services aspirants undergoing coaching at the Thiruvottriyur library want classes be to be conducted on Saturdays as well.
“Many of the youngsters who have joined this coaching programme are from economically disadvantaged families,” says Guru Subramanian, vice-president of the Forum and a retired employee of Ashok Leyland.
