Female members, visitors to Library outnumber male counterparts
SHILLONG: Despite the onslaught of internet revolution, the reading habits among the people are on the rise compared to the past five years with female readers outnumbering the male, according to an official from the Arts and Culture department.
While there is a reading section which is open to all, the number of readers who availed membership cards from State Central Library is 28,600 which include 22,000 adult readers and 6,600 children.
Librarian E.R. Rumnong said there are more female readers who borrow books from the library and also visit the reading and research sections compared to their male counterparts.
There are as many as 1,85,000 books in the State Central Library established in 1974. The last purchase of books was made in 2014.
Due to shortage of staff, purchase of books in the subsequent year could not be made since it takes time for the selection of books before their actual purchase, the librarian said.
After the formation of Meghalaya in 1971, the State had to purchase books afresh as Assam government had carried away all the books to Dispur.
The State Central Library purchases books with financial assistance from Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation with a 90:10 funding pattern.
According to the librarian, for the last five years, there has been an increasing inflow of readers to the State Central Library.
“It appears that in this competitive age, readers – especially students and researchers – are not happy with the content on the internet and hence they look up to the Library as a source of accessing more information on various topics, the librarian said.
Compared to the past, there is just only one per cent of readers who have not returned the books which they had borrowed from the library, she said.
“Though there is no fine imposed on persons for not returning the books, some reminders are sent so that the readers may return the book,” she said.
To inculcate the habit of returning the books, from the earlier Rs 5, the security deposit for new membership is currently Rs 500, which is refundable.
Ten years ago, there were many readers who did not return the books, but the trend is changing now, she said.
According to the librarian, the maximum number of readers who come to the Library to borrow books and those frequenting the common reading room are in the age group between 17 and 27 years.
The librarian also said that with the change of time, there is a need to go for digitization of the Library which will be of greater help for easy reference of books.
