Bhadrak libraries in a shambles

BHADRAK: The public libraries in this coastal town have lost their sheen, and patrons consequently. With depleted stock that has not been replenished even once in the last 10 years, readers have shunned the seven libraries-cum-reading rooms under the Bhadrak Municipality. Such is the plight that even as an entire gamut of periodicals doing the rounds these days, a newspaper eludes the readers here. Inadvertently, the reading hubs of the town are shutting down. The municipal library at Saheed Smruti Bhavan is one of the worst hit by the civic body’s apathy. One of the busiest libraries once, with over 300 daily visitors, it was shut down about two and a half years back. A staff revealed the municipality had resolved to expand the library to accommodate more readers. “But now the library has been shut down and we are engaged in the offices. Further, the books stocked here are rotting in negligence,” he added.  With visitors on a decline over the last 16 months, six other libraries under the Municipality are on the verge of closure as well. It’s been almost a year and a half since the distributor last supplied newspapers and periodicals. He alleges non-payment.  “I stopped supplying as the Municipality did not clear the dues for months together. The Municipality still owes me over ` 1.5 lakh,” said Asif Ali, the distributor. The only functioning library at the Department of Information and Public Relations lacks resources, rues Bijay Sahu, a book enthusiast.  The State Government had sanctioned ` 20 lakh for construction of a Sanskriti Bhavan and library, said District Information and Public Relations Officer (DIPRO) Harmohan Jena, adding the money was lying with DRDA, Bhadrak.   Locals blame the civic authorities for the  defunct libraries. Libraries and reading rooms are not given due importance in the municipal budget, they allege. The authorities have allegedly remained indifferent to the proposal of opening a general library in the district headquarters, causing inconvenience to  readers who are forced to visit libraries in other districts for reference. “I have to visit another district library for reference on our research work,” complained Bidyadgar Sahu, a researcher on Oriya culture and heritage. Bhadrak municipal chairman Hemangini Sahoo attributed the mismanagement of libraries to funds crunch. “We will get over the situation soon and open the libraries,” she added.