Readers feel insecure at partly demolished old library building in Chittoor

Chittoor: The 40 year-old Chittoor Library building was demolished 11 months ago under road expansion drive. Consequently, the administration section of the district library was shifted to a private building paying a rent of Rs.15,000 per month.

The readers' section is still running in the partly demolished library building in which the readers feel insecure. On an average, about 140 readers per day, in the age group of 40 to 60 years, visit the reading section. It is feared that at any time, the old district library building may collapse.

Speaking to The Hans India G Ravi Kumar , Secretary, District Grandhalaya Samstha said that there was no other option except to run the reading section in the old demolished building. Three fourths of the district library building was demolished and only two rooms remain there.

In the interest of the readers, we are forced to run the readers section in it which functions from 8am to 8pm for six days in a week," he added. He further said that a proposal was submitted to the government for constructing a new library building with an estimated cost of Rs.140 lakhs.

Ravi Kumar further said that out of the 178 posts sanctioned, there were 113 posts vacant since several years and many of the library branches were being run by attenders due to shortage of staff. He appealed to the higher authorities to provide proper accommodation for running the library in a full pledged manner in the city .