Diplomatic ties: Lincoln Corner library opens its doors in Qasimabad

Students complain all books about US history, not many local texts.

HYDERABAD: The Lincoln’s Corner - a US government-sponsored digital and books library - opened at Shamsul Ulema Daudpota library in Qasimabad on Thursday.

The US consul-general Michael Dodman and provincial adviser on culture Sharmila Farooqui performed the inaugural ceremony on Thursday. “Like all the Lincoln Corners in Pakistan, the one in Hyderabad focuses on two undisputed values that both the countries share that is education and democracy,” Dodman commented. “Citizens are welcome to access information of all kinds free-of-charge and I hope that the people of Hyderabad and Jamshoro will make good use of this space.”



Equipped with six computers, an LED television and a DVD player with a sizable supply of movies, the corner has also been supplied with 500 books. Three separate sitting arrangements for 17 persons have been set up in around the 450 square feet room given for the corner. “Initially, 500 books mainly consisting of dictionaries, English language learning, the US history, culture, economy and politics have been made available,” said Aisha Baloch, the corner’s coordinator.

Saima Altaf, who frequents the library while preparing for exams, said the digital library is a much-needed facility. “The library’s book collection is not updated as required and there was no digital access henceforth,” she told The Express Tribune. “Another interesting and new feature is that all the well-known English magazines will be available for reading.”

According to Baloch, the corner will get a regular supply of books from the US consulate in Karachi. However, another library user pointed out that the books concerning history, politics and culture are mainly related to the US. “A majority of the people who frequent the library are those who are preparing for competitive exams. For this we need to read books about Pakistan, religion, our history, politics, languages and cultures,” pointed out Mohammad Nazar Siyal, who has been regularly coming to this library since 2006.

Siyal also pointed out that proper tables and chairs have not been provided for the corner. “The people who sit for hours [in the library] will find it hard to get the library’s feel while studying on these small chairs and tables.”

The Shamsul Ulema Daudpota library functions under the Sindh culture department. With the department’s help, two more corners are also being set up in Khairpur and Larkana districts, the consul-general said. Provincial adviser Farooqui hailed the US cooperation for setting up reading corners in Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2013.