Delhi’s public libraries struggling with neglect and lack of funds

Neglected public libraries in Delhi struggle with poor infrastructure, limited resources, and lack of funding for revival.

Over 30-odd public libraries in the national capital present a grim picture -- of neglect, poor infrastructure and limited financial resources.

The Hindu visited several public libraries, including the MCD-run Hardayal Library and Delhi Public Library run by the Central government, to get an idea of what ails these institutions which once served as the centres of knowledge and recreation for the masses.

Tucked inside the bustling lanes of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi is the Daryaganj branch of Hardayal Library. Completely empty, dimly lit and poorly ventilated, its bookshelves are lined with very few old, donated books. “I’ve been here for 22 years. We used to get 18 newspapers and several magazines... once upon a time, there was no space to enter, people had to wait in queues outside. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, everything has changed.... we have not even received our salaries for three years now,” said Junaid, the manager.  Set up in 1916, the Chandi Chowk branch serves as the head office for all the Hardayal libraries. With nearly 150 visitors daily, it survives on an annual membership fee of ₹1,200 and an occasional CSR funding from corporations like the Powergrid Corporation of India and BSES. Clearly, this is not enough to revive the libraries. Lack of funding leads to several related issues – staff salaries remain unpaid and basic security is missing. Last year, the electricity connection was cut for weeks over unpaid bills, said some staff members.   “There is a police station next to the library, but four air conditioners were still stolen one night,” said Naveen Panwar, the acting librarian of the branch. “We don’t have funds for a night guard currently. ” he added.  The condition of Delhi Public Libraries (DPL) is no different. DPL, Vinoba Puri, has two computers and air conditioning systems, but they are not working properly due to extreme heat and no maintenance.  “We have submitted multiple requests for maintenance, but since there is no District Magistrate or chairperson currently in charge of its administration, approvals are taking time,” a staffer said on condition of anonymity.  At another branch in Andrews Ganj, the 57-year-old librarian manages the entire library alone. “It is okay for now, children come sometimes, and the salary comes in too,” he said.   Most DPL sub-branches, which see around 40 to 50 students daily, visiting mainly for self-study and to use the reading rooms, are facing severe staff shortages and poor working conditions. At times, only one person is handling all the operations.  The paucity of funds also leads to less resources for creating awareness about the libraries and their reach. Some students The Hindu talked to said they didn’t even know that these libraries existed. A 26-year-old UPSC aspirant at a Delhi Public Library said, “I came to know about DPL when I searched on the Internet. There were no private libraries near my home, otherwise I would have gone to those.”

He, however, is satisfied with the atmosphere and resources available here. “With not much hustle and bustle, it is a perfect place for someone to sit and study,” he said.

He also hoped that the administration would stock up on reading material for the readers who cannot afford to buy expensive books or visit private libraries.

Written by

Trisha Sood Trisha Verma