Lack of space, staff cripples library

BANGALORE: Many libraries in the city are not free from woes. The Talaghattapura library was converted into a City Central Library in August 2008, which was earlier a District Central Library.This library craves for immediate attention as it suffers from space constraint, lack of toilet facility, parking amenities and sufficient staff to maintain the library. It also suffers from adequate drinking water facilities for those who visit the library.Readers who visit the library on a regular basis have formed an Association to keep the premises clean. V Shivamadiah, library in-charge said, “The members of the Association have invested over  Rs 80,000 to maintain a garden and to paint the library as well.” But today these members lack guidance and are not supported financially to undertake further projects for the betterment of the library."The Talaghattapura library has over 9,222 books belonging to various genres. But, there are no books which are related to engineering and medical subjects. Shivamadiah has filed a complaint several times to the authorities concerned in 2011 about the space constraint and requesting for additional bookshelves to accommodate more books, but in vain. “The library has a capacity to accommodate only 2,000 books, but we have an excess of 7,000 books. As a result, the books are stacked in the bookshelves itself.”  “There are not many books available here. We have been requesting to facilitate us with job-oriented magazines and mainstream newspapers, but in vain. We have also requested for internet facility for the readers,” said Veeresh Mathapathi, a regular visitor of this library. This library also lacks proper electric supply and often faces frequent power cuts.“In order to preserve the library in this area we have pooled in money from our own pockets. But the authorities have failed miserably to listen to our grievances when we complained about the toilet and parking amenities which are the basic requirements,” said the member of the Association, Krishna Murthy M.Here, Shivamadiah is the only person who is responsible for the maintenance of the library and he has also requested the authorities to seriously consider the problem of lack of staff.