Historic library of Old City cries for attention

Shalibanda: The 65-year-old library, second only to Afzalgunj’s Central library in Old City, the Shalibanda library craves for attention. The dilapidating age-old structure and the books lying in dust due to non-maintenance, discourages the readers from laying hands on treasure-trove of knowledge and waning footfalls in the library.

Being run under auspices of Hyderabad City Grandhalaya Samstha, this branch library at Shalibanda located in Lal Darwaza was inaugurated by the then home minister of newly merged Hyderabad State, Digamber Rao Bindu in the year 1953. This historic library has more than 60,000 books including reference books, law books, medical books, historical books, dictionaries in all languages, subject books, besides periodicals like employment news, children books, magazines and dailies Urdu, English, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, with a total of 17 newspapers.

Unfortunately, this Library is not well maintained by staff, as thousands of books in text book section remain in thick dust indicating lack of interest by staff to maintain the stack of books. All the rooms appear to in a similar state including stack room, where seating arrangement for the readers is currently made. Munishwar Rao, the librarian who was recently appointed and yet to take charge felt that there was lot of work for him after taking charge. “This is one of oldest libraries, but not well maintained and most of the books remain in dust and some were also damaged", he explained.

He also said that there are a total 4,677 members availing the services of the library with a nominal fee of Rs 100 for life time. About 200 persons visit daily for reading newspapers, while some engineering, medical and law students visit the library for reference books. “This library has the huge number of books and if modernized and digitalized would be helpful for the coming generations”, he added.

Abdul Raheem, a student of Law said that for reference of old books he usually visits this particular library as it has a large number of books available for upgrading his knowledge. Hari Sharma, a member of library said that he is member of this library for almost 17 years and visits each morning for reading newspaper before leaving for office, as the library has largest number of newspapers in different languages.

BY M M Farooqui