British Library reinvents, stays in reckoning

Charu Chhibber

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

The British Council Library has been constantly reinventing itself to serve its readers at every address it has camped at over the last 17 years of its operations in the city.

What sets it apart from other libraries is not just the constant process of its evolution to keep pace with the changing trends but also the fact it provides its readers and members with resources that no other library in the region does.

Set up in 2000 with 500 members, it has been recognised as one of the most up-to-date and advanced libraries in a city which has many state-funded libraries lying in a state of abject neglect. The library today boasts of 5,000 members.

Since 2000, the library has moved out of two locations— from Sector 8 to Sector 9 to finally settle at the Elante office block. It stays open from Monday to Saturday — 11 am to 7 pm.

The new space has over 16,000 titles of books, along with DVDs, magazines, newspapers and access to over 1,20,000 digital books.

Among its digital resources, the library has an impressive array of nearly 6,000 newspapers and magazines in 60 languages from across 100 countries; 60 leading magazines from the UK; 7,000 full text e-journals for academic and research purposes; 40,000 e-learning modules categorised under various heads like grooming, technology and self-development; 3.5 lakh full-text works of English literature, including literary databases of poetry, criticism, plays, fiction and 38 Shakespeare audio plays.

“We do not have silent libraries. Our idea is to have a bustling space where readers can interact, have fun and learn at the same time. We have special events for children, workshops, seminars, lectures and other creative activities. There’s also free Wi-Fi for all members,” informed Varinder Kumar, assistant librarian.

The typical age profile of members at the British Council Library, according to Kumar, is between 20-35 years.

Buoyed with the continuing patronage of its members, most of who are either students or those who love the feel of reading from a physical book, the latest premises of the British Council Library certainly has taken it to the next level.

“For me, my weekly afternoon drive to the library is my most favourite part of the week. It is here that books and entertainment overlap with the arts and socialising — providing me the opportunity to spend time reading at one of the best-kept libraries in India and also shop at the most happening mall of the city. The location certainly provides an extra dimension that was missing all these years — of being a meeting place and a cultural centre. I love it,” remarked Richa Singh, who has been accompanying her mother to the library for the past many years. (Concluded)