Municipal library in Phagwara in state of decline

Ashok Kaura

Phagwara, August 17

Though Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday dedicated 14 ultra-modern rural public libraries to the people with the aim of inculcating reading habits amongst the youth and making them a partner in the social-economic progress of state, the city on the other hand, has been deprived of the public library facility that was once housed in the local Municipal Committee premises.

The once thriving Municipal Corporation (MC) library, a popular haunt of local residents, is now in a state of neglect. Despite the construction of a new building near the fire brigade for municipal purposes, the library’s doors have remained closed for years, leaving the community with no access to its once-rich collection of books and periodicals.Several years ago, the library was a bustling centre of activity, especially for the town’s youth and those from economically weaker sections who relied on its resources to continue their education. Senior citizens also frequented the library to stay updated on current affairs. However, the formation of the Municipal Corporation has seen the library’s fortunes plummet. Its space was repurposed into cabins for civic body employees, relegating the library to a neglected corner.

Employees within the MC, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the library’s decline was due to the non-payment for accruing costs of newspapers and magazines over the years. “The MC simply stopped funding the library,” said an employee. As the MC continues its operations amidst these allegations, the once treasured library remains a symbol of lost community resources, with its fate uncertain.Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Municipal Commissioner Anupam Kaler said that she was not aware of the problem as she has joined only recently. She said she would try to give the prestigious municipal library a new high-tech modern shape to facilitate the residents, including senior citizens and students. She also agreed with the view that the new generation should definitely inculcate the habit of reading, a virtue being lost in times of electronic gadgets.