KU central library fast losing its charm

Lack of interest and shortage of funds blamed for sorry state of affairs at library

KARACHI:

Karachi University's Central Library, a treasure trove of knowledge, is fast losing its luster due to the alleged negligence of the administration. In the past, this place used to be abuzz with activity as students would study, research and even debate important scholastic topics here. But now, it has become a desolate place.

Officials say that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the administration to manage the library due to scarcity of resources.

KU's Central Library was established in 1952. Twenty-three years later in 1975, after the death of then Vice Chancellor Dr. Mahmood Hussain, it was named after him in recognition of his services in the field of education.

In the year 2000, a digital lab was set up in the library, the staff told The Express Tribune. Seven years later, more than 100 desktop computers were purchased, they further said, adding that 60 computers were given to the lab, while the rest went to other sections.

"Except for four, all these machines are now non-functional as no funds are available for their maintenance," one staff member said on the condition of anonymity. "The number of students visiting the library has dropped by 50%," he added.

Babar Ansari, who is pursuing a master's degree, regretted that even though they have the digital library in the university but it is of no use to the students. "We cannot compose our theses on computers here, nor can we benefit from online facilities," he told The Express Tribune.

As per procedure, books used to be procured for the library in December and July every year on the recommendations of the teaching faculty, but sources said that no new books have been purchased since long due to lack of funds. "The last purchase in the Newspapers Section was made in 2012 and since then only journals have been received as gifts," one source said.

The In-charge of Social Science Reference Desk, said that the last books procurement had taken place in 2018. Sources said that the library's annual budget is Rs.30 million, but it has not been released due to financial constraints.

Out of the total Rs300 million budget, around Rs15 million is set aside for books procurement, the sources added. Kashif Khan, who served in the computer lab for 15 years, was sacked and since then the position has been lying vacant.

The library has 25 sections, including Newspapers, Science Room, UN Corner, Social Science Reading Room, Reference Room, and Distance Education. It has a collection of more than 350,000 books and about 400,000 research and scientific journals.

The Deputy Librarian told The Express Tribune that when the library was set up, there were about 400 students enrolled in KU, but now there are 43,000 students in 54 departments of the university. "Data entry has been going on to digitize 25,000 bibliographies in Koha (Open Source Library Automation Software), while students face difficulties due to 15-years-old computers," he told The Express Tribune. He advised students to access Koha even in the reading rooms.

The Deputy Librarian admitted that the library building has been crumbling in the absence of proper maintenance. "The building has not been painted for the last 30 years. The computers are not upgraded which slows down their speed. Similarly, the air conditioning system is also non-functional," he added.

The In-charge of Quaid-i-Azam Personal Collection said that this is the only section still popular among students. "After the passing of Fatima Jinnah, sister of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the government had donated Jinnah's books collection to this library," he added. "Anyone can come here read Jinnah's personnel books - some of which bear the signatures of the Quaid-i-Azam."

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2022.