Booked in Gurgaon: Exchange, indulge in reading at this library in Gurgaon

Situated at the HUDA City Centre Metro station, a library called Read Between the Lines, stocks an interesting collection of literature and doubles up as a workspace for many.

There is more to Gurgaon than just malls and offices. Don’t believe us? Head to the HUDA City Centre Metro station and find a little treasure trove for book lovers. The first floor of the station’s food court has a library tucked away cosily, where books can be exchanged for books! The library, called, Read Between The Lines, is open from 11.30am to 7.30pm, and has books across a number of genres, including fiction, rom-com, mystery, and self help. The library was built to encourage and inculcate the habit of reading, says Geetanjali Sharma, head of operations at the library. “Over 1.5 lakh commuters touch base here every day. The concept came into being around two years back. The main idea behind it was to have a free service to invite people, youngsters who are into reading, and those who want to spend some quality time at libraries.”

Commuters are greeted to the free library called Read Between The Lines, at the second floor of HUDA City Centre Metro Station, Gurgaon. (Prabhas Roy/HT Photo)

Glimpse of commuters reading books at the library situated on the first floor at Huda City metro station. (Prabhas Roy/HT Photo)

“The concept is very prevalent abroad where there are corners such as these alongside metro stations and in residential complexes wherein people leave one book and take one for reading. The idea evolved from there.” — Geetanjali Sharma, from the library

Expanding on the idea, she says, “The concept is very prevalent abroad where there are corners such as these alongside metro stations and in residential complexes, allowing people to leave one book and take another for reading. The idea evolved from there. We are not charging a penny; it’s a free service for all.”

And the collection is growing by leaps and bounds, courtesy many avid readers. “Initially, we didn’t get a good response, but now more people are aware and love to come here. The number of people dropping by to avail the free facility has increased. People start coming in the morning and are also contributing books in a big way,” adds Sharma.

For many visitors,their visit comprises grabbing a bite at the food court and then heading to the library to nourish their minds. It also doubles as a workspace for some. Sagar Bhatia from Gurgaon, who often spends time at the library, says, “I have exchanged books here. I wanted a book for my friend, so I kept one book and took one in exchange. It was a wonderful experience. The place is good, as it’s inside the station. You can come anytime, work here and sit till 7:30pm in the evening.” Echoing similar thoughts, Avni Pal, a student from Faridabad, says, “It’s a great concept that allows one to read new books, as vendors, sometimes, don’t take old books.”

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