Space at District Central Library underutilised, say readers

Readers and users of the renovated District Central Library in Simakkal express concerns over underutilized space and dusty floors.

With the renovation works at the Distict Central Library in Simakkal in the city having been completed, readers and regular users of the library point out some lacuna in the library.  

Though it has enough space, public say they are were used either for dumping waste materials such as wooden doors, broken chairs, cycles, or remain locked.

 In addition to the regular newspaper readers, youth preparing for competitive examinations also utilise the library to prepare for their examinations, says M. Sundararaj, a regular user.  When there are ample space available on the first and second floors, only a part of the ground floor is being utilised, he says.  

“When the renovation works were underway, they cited that as an issue to deny entry into some of the library areas, but now, even after the works are over, they do not use all the areas,” he says.  

Regarding the complaints, an official at the library says that of the 24,000 sq.ft, more than half the space is being utilised for one purpose or the other.  “A Government Order issued in 2017 by the then District Library Officer gave directions to shift the women’s library on the first floor to any nearby government school building,” the official says.  

But, as the G.O. was not implemented, the rarely-used women’s library is functioning from the same central library building, the official says.