Sec 68 library: A place to learn & mingle

Pavneet Singh Chadha

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Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 5

The Library and Allied Facilities Centre at City Park in Sector 68 offers courses in computer and languages (Urdu and Punjabi) besides recreational facilities in addition to a reading space for the public.

Run by the Mohali Senior Citizens’ Association (MSCA), it organises lectures, medical camps and visits to orphanages for its members.

Built by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), it was handed over to the NGO in 2008. 

“The maintenance and the power bill of it were borne by GMADA till recently. Now, the charge has be given to the Municipal Corporation,” said GS Gulati, library in-charge.

Gulati said the library had a daily footfall of 30. “We have over 2,500 books on history, religion and meditation besides newspaper and magazines. “We have hired a helper and computer teacher for the centre,” he added.

The air-conditioned centre has a reading hall, pantry and a store. Due to the space crunch, a TT table has been placed in the reading room.

Harvinder Singh, a member, said the library was a quiet space for people, especially senior citizens. It remains open from 9 am to 1 pm in the morning and 4 pm- 6 pm in the evening from Monday to Saturday. It offers medical facility for members on Wednesday and Thursday.

Most members of it are senior citizens. The Mohali Senior Citizens’ Association charges a one-time membership fee of Rs 2,600 and Rs 4,400 for a couple.

Prof Swaran Chaudhary, vice-president, MSCA, said a monthly newsletter was published by the library with details of forthcoming events and articles on contemporary issues.

The NGO, which completed 10 years in July 2017, and has over 1,840 members, intends to expand the library into a multipurpose centre and has written to GMADA to allot more space. “We hope that the authorities also grant permission to our association to maintain libraries in other parks of Mohali,” said Gulati.

Security remains a concern for the library. Gulati said, “Recently some miscreants decamped with a computer, Xerox machine, printer, water dispenser and two gas cylinders from the library.  

Courses offered

The Library and Allied Facilities Centre at City Park in Sector 68 offers courses in computer and languages (Urdu and Punjabi) besides recreational facilities in addition to a reading space for the public.Built by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), it was handed over to the Mohali Senior Citizens’ Association in 2008. it organises lectures, medical camps and visits to orphanages for its members.