Browse, borrow books from home in Ghaziabad

In the absence of public libraries in the city, various residential societies have come up with their own community libraries. Books for these libraries are donated by residents themselves, who also stock the libraries with various magazines and newspapers.

In the absence of public libraries in the city, various residential societies have come up with their own community libraries. Books for these libraries are donated by residents themselves, who also stock the libraries with various magazines and newspapers.

Book lovers gather at the two-month old library at Jaipuria Sunrise Green in Indirapuram. (Sakib Ali/HT photo)

Residents of Indirapuram’s Jaipuria Sunrise Greens apartments opened one such library in their apartment premises two months ago.

“Many people have books in their homes that have been read and are now simply gathering dust. So we decided to get people to donate these books and open a community library,” said Ravinder Saini, president, Jaipuria Sunrise Greens residential welfare association (RWA).

The apartment residents ended up donating around 1,000 books for the library, the responsibility of which has been handed over to senior citizens and women.

“We have also subscribed to monthly magazines and all prominent daily newspapers. While the library was opened two months ago, we started issuing books just 15 days ago,” said Anil Rathore, convenor of the library.

In Kaushambi, the concept of community libraries by residents has been around for five years. Here, 25 independent RWAs have created their own libraries in their respective apartment complexes.

“The libraries have been made in the basements of the towers as they were left unutilised all year. The RWAs have also appointed supervisors to keep track of all the books,” said VK Mittal, president, Kaushambi Apartments Residents Welfare Association (KARWA).

While these are all residential libraries, in Vasundhara, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Saarthak Prayas opened one of the first public libraries of the trans-Hindon region on September 5. The library, situated in Sector 3, is meant to provide books to residents and underprivileged children free of cost.

“We are thinking of starting a membership system for people who want to issue books to take home. However, it will always remain free for underprivileged children who cannot afford the membership fee,” said Umesh Chandra Pant, founder member, Saarthak Prayas.

Ghaziabad residents feel that there is a lack of facilities like public libraries in the city. “The Ghaziabad Development Authority should construct public libraries on the land earmarked for community facilities under the Ghaziabad city plan,” said Alok Kumar, member, Federation of Apartment Owners’ Association in Indirapuram.