 Cement coming off the walls of Guru Nanak District Library in Jalandhar.
For a place that boasts of a collection of 1,20,000 books, including rare documents such as a calligraphic copy of the Constitution and the Jalandhar district Gazetteer (before 1947), the Guru Nanak District Library lies in an abominable state, neglected by the government and forgotten by the founders.
Established in 1957 by the collaborative effort of the RRLF, Calcutta, and the government, it is one of the oldest libraries in Jalandhar. For quite some time after its establishment it remained a favourite among the general public with its membership ranging from the underprivileged sections to the city's elite. However, the numbers have decreased now largely due to the gradual decay in the library's infrastructure as a result of concomitant loss in funds have resulted
Today, an illegal taxi stand is operating in front of the library.
Only after a laboured search can the small entrance to the library be traced. A path flanked by unkempt grass takes you to a sad board which announces that the tall grey building that stands in front of you is indeed the Guru Nanak District Library. A building that in it's hay day, must have been envied by the best of buildings in Jalandhar.
Chief librarian Gurdial Singh Kahlon says, “We are here for public service, our main motive is to serve both the urban and rural people of the district who come here with a thirst for knowledge."
"An institution which has rare documents like the calligraphic copy of the Constitution, requires more attentions,” he adds.
However, even the cheerful and enthusiastic librarian cannot mince his words when it comes to the deteriorating infrastructure and a lack of interest in the upkeep of the institution by the authorities. According to Kahlon, if the funds generated by the annual membership (presently 15,000 members) and the library auditorium (which is lent on hire for educational functions, meetings, etc.) are compared with the annual expenses for the staff and books of the library (which amount roughly to Rs 22, 00,000), then the library is certainly running huge losses.
"There are cracks in the building, at places the roof of the study hall of the library drips during the rains, sometimes even threatening to harm the books," rues Kahlon.
It has just rained, Bhullar Yadav, an attendant at the library, shows cracks in the crown of the building and a place in one of the corridors where a continuous stream of water dribbles down the roof. "Its almost been 15 years since the library has been renovated, number of windowpanes in the study hall are broken" he says.
The last time a building inside the 3.9 acre library campus underwent upgradation was in 2002 when the auditorium adjoining the library was repaired and made air-conditioned. But the main library itself has been deprived of such upgradation or even repairs as yet.
"We have written to the authorities a number of times but have received no help so far. Neither the DPI (c) nor the Jalandhar planning board has taken any initiative," Kahlon says.
The library authorities sent letters to the Directorate of Public Instruction (colleges), Chandigarh, which is officially responsible for handling the budget of the library pertaining to grants regarding books and staff salaries, but when it comes to the library's repairs and upkeep the DPI (c) has not been of any help. It directed the library to the planning board, Jalandhar, which in turn told the library authorities to ask the DPI (c) itself to talk to the Punjab planning board. Since August 2005 (when the library sent a letter to the DPI for grants for repair), every department has been shirking the task of the library's repairs with the excuse that it is not their responsibility.
The planning board, Jalandhar, has it's own reservations regarding the maintenance of the library. When contacted, Kanwalbir Kaur, deputy economic and statistical adviser/public information officer said, "at least to my knowledge, we have not received any letter from the Guru Nanak District Library. Even if do, we can't do anything unless it is earmarked by the education department."
Gaganpreet, a resident of Deol Nagar studying at the Frankfinn Institute, who joined the library a couple of months back, is largely satisfied with it except for a dearth of books on aviation. "There are not much books on computers and information technology and the management of the catalogues is also poor, many a time a book listed in a particular section is found to be lying in another section," says Chetan Sondhi, a BCA second year student from IGNOU. Gurmeet Singh who is preparing for the CA exams, says, "The atmosphere inside the library is calm and apt for book lovers but many of the fans and tube lights don't work, which is a big nuisance, especially in the summers".
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