Reading rooms, the new in-thing among students

The concept of reading rooms is fast catching up in the city as a substitute to the state-run libraries. The ‘RRs,’ as the reading rooms are referred to in the study circles, has become a buzzword among students aspiring to pursue professional courses and job seekers preparing for competitive exams. The business nerve centres like Bradipet in the heart of the city have been dotted with more 20 reading rooms that came up in the recent past.

Homes are no longer ideal locations for studies. The TV is a source of major distraction and the divergent interests of family members take heavy toll on the academic pursuits of students. Visitors and guests contribute their part in spoiling the study environs, says Maheswar Pallaprola, former faculty of Reddy College in the city.

Pavani aspires to become a cost management accountant by appearing for a screening test conducted by Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWA). The women’s hostel in which she is staying is not conducive for such a serious preparation. So, she found her way into a reading room in the vicinity by paying Rs 700 a month. “If I go with my study material, that is enough to keep me going.

Everything will be taken care of by the managers of the reading room,” says Pavani with a glee. The reading rooms are equipped with a chair and table in each cubicle with air conditioner and wifi facilities. In addition, mineral water bottles are also supplied to the readers. “The fee hovers around Rs 700 to Rs 1,500 depending on the facilities available and location of the reading rooms. Yet it’s worth paying,” says another aspirant preparing for competitive exams.

Y Nagaraju, owner of Seshanjaneya Study Hall told The Hans India that his reading room is improving footfalls steadily with students staying in hostels, preparing for ICWA exams. Candidates, seeking career in civil services and admissions in foreign universities are also opting for libraries.
Ramesh a resident of local NGO Colony, stressed the need for more facilities in reading rooms matching with fee. His son is preparing for screening tests for admission in professional courses.

The reading rooms began to increase in the city in the last two years by leaps and bounds as the coaching centres which were located in Hyderabad only in the past shifted their base to the new capital. The tempting growth prospects are prompting some enterprising sections to cash in on the trend by setting up reading rooms with financial assistance from banks, says Nagaraju.

By D Rajendra Kumar