Remember those small halls, with a large wooden table or two full of broadsheets and magazines and stacks of books, from your childhood!
For generations, public libraries have been major repositories of knowledge.
Many turned the first pages of knowledge in these dimly lit libraries across the State. Over time, libraries have also evolved with automation, digitalisation and the internet.
Today's libraries have Readers' Forums and Civil Services Study Circles even in small towns to help students from weaker sections of society prepare for competitive exams with confidence.
Better infrastructure
The government is improving infrastructural facilities, providing adequate reading material and modernising and networking public libraries. At present, there are 4,028 libraries in the State.
To render better services to the readers, 131 libraries including the Connemara Public Library, 31 district central libraries and 100 branch libraries in urban areas have been computerised and provided with internet and e-mail services. Networking of these libraries has been taken up, says G. Arivoli, director, Public Libraries. The issue and lending of books in the district central libraries are done through customised software.
The plan is to introduce unique software to integrate all the libraries.
More Tamil books
To ensure that there are enough books on the shelves, the government has spent an average of Rs. 17 crore in the past few years to purchase new titles, both in Tamil and English.
And the maximum number of copies of Tamil books has also been increased to nearly 1,000. Over 15,000 titles have been added to the collection in the past three years.
Increased digitisation
Over 12,000 books have been digitised till now. Every library has formed a ‘Vasakar Vattam' (Reader's Forum) comprising educationists, writers and members. The forum conducts book reviews, organises literary lectures and celebrates significant days. The Civil Services Study Circles have been established in all district central libraries, 150 taluk libraries and in 50 small towns.
The government has also formed a welfare board for publishers, sellers and workers with a fund of Rs. 50 lakh with the members eligible for various benefits.
- 131 libraries have been computerised
- Readers' forums reviews books, organises lectures
- Welfare board formed for publishers
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