Central district to refurbish libraries

Administration decides to keep libraries open round-the-clock specially to facilitate students

KARACHI:

The central district administration has decided to refurbish all the libraries within its jurisdiction. The district, which is known for its highest literacy rate in Karachi division, has 11 inactive and some partially active libraries.

In this age of technology, a 24-hour library was opened in Karachi to increase reading habits among the youth and promote book-reading culture. "Steps are being taken to make all the libraries in the district functional round the clock so that students can walk in to study any time," Deputy Commissioner Taha Saleem told The Express Tribune.

Until the 1990s, there used to be a library in every residential block of Karachi from where book-lovers would borrow books on rent by opening an account for as low as Rs5. Members would rent a book for Re1 per day. Those were the days when libraries in Khaliqdina Hall, Bahadurabad, Nazimabad, and on Jamshed Road used to be abuzz with readers.

These libraries were well stacked with periodical, magazines, and newspapers for citizens who would spend time there to keep themselves abreast with the current affairs.

The advent of internet and smartphones greatly affected these libraries as the new generation started spending more time on social networking websites instead of reading books. The number of visitors has dropped drastically.

However, Naseerabad Public Library has been made functional 24 hours to connect people who are interested in literature and to provide them suitable social environment and facilities.

Deputy Commissioner Taha Saleem told The Express Tribune that they have inaugurated Naseerabad Public Library located in Federal B Area, Block 14, to promote reading culture among the youth in Karachi. This library is the second library in Central District which is now functional 24 hours.

There are 11 libraries under the District Central Municipal Corporation out of which a few are functional which are open from 9am. to 5pm., which is office time, while most people usually study at night. That is the reason this library has been activated for 24 hours, so that people who are interested in studying can visit at any time.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2023.