Libraries cry for attention in Secunderabad Cantt

Sainath, Lloyd Dooland, Anita Soloman Raj and Sandip Mukerjee are residents of the Secunderabad Cantonment. Each one of them is well educated and holds high position but ask them about a public library in their area and they feign ignorance. Though there are four libraries and two books deposit centres in the Secunderabad Cantonment, outdated books, remote locations (barring one), dilapidated buildings and lack of awareness about the libraries make them unpopular among the residents.

Barring a few retired employees and housewives who reside close to the libraries few visit them. Ashwin Allari Naidu, United Federation of Residents Welfare Association, Alwal says, “The Bolaram Reading Room dates back to British period. Today the library is in a sorry state with just a few newspapers. The Secunderabad Cantonment Board should stop collecting library cess.”

Last year the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) collected Rs 28.30 crore towards property tax out of which the library cess component was.6 per cent. Rajaramana, another resident of Lothukunta asks, “Why should the residents pay library cess when 99 per cent of 6 lakh population does not use the facility?”

The SCB has four libraries in Bolarum, Macha Bolaram, Bowenpally and Tirumalgherry and two books deposit centres at Vasavi Nagar and Teachers Colony. The SCB allotted land to the State Government to set up libraries. M Nagaveni, librarian of Tirumalgherry says, “On an average 60-70 people visit the library per day.” However, when this reporter visited the library there was just an octogenarian reading a newspaper.

The libraries are open between 8 a.m to 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. Even the books deposit centres at Vasavi Nagar and Teachers Colony are limited as books are circulated for a 15-days period. The Resident Welfare Associations provided space and furniture for the centres. Nagaveni says, “If more colonies come up and provide space we could cater to a wider population.”

Among the four libraries, the Tirumalgherry library is the biggest with a new building but has just 18,000 books mostly novels and very few books on education and career. The Secunderabad Cantonment is spread over 41 sq km with a population of six lakh with a majority of youth.
Though the lifetime membership fee is just Rs 100 there are very few takers at the moment.
S No Location No of books Timing Infrastructure

1 Tirumulgherry 18,000 8 am to 11:30 am
and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
• New building has a capacity to store close to a lakh of books
• Scope to increase seating

2 Bolarum 13,628 8 am to 11:30 am In a rented place.
and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm Badly needs funds

3 Macha Bolarum No information 8 am to 11:30 am
and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm Very bad condition

4 Bowenpally 20,000 8 am to 11:30 am • Cramped for space
and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm • Needs more books

5 Vasavi Nagar NA NA Resident Welfare Associations provide space and furniture for Vasavi Nagar and Teachers Colony libraries which are essentially Books Deposit Centres with just 25 books being circulated at a time. The books are provided by the other four libraries.

6 Teachers Colony Not applicable NA