Tech revamp draws people to library

All this has been possible,DPL chairman at the SP Mukherjee Marg branch,Banwari Lal said because of the free Internet and online cataloguing the library has introduced. It now also lends readers free DVDs and CDs.

The chain is an autonomous organisation under the Central government’s Ministry of Culture. It presently has a Central Library at SP Mukherjee Marg,a zonal library at Sarojini Nagar and three branches at Patel Nagar,Karol Bagh and Shahadara.

Library officials would also like to believe that a revamp of the children’s section at the Central Library and also at the Patel Nagar branch has interested readers. An official said: “A whole new collection of books,CDs,DVDs,children’s games and even furniture have been added in these two branches.” The Central library also has an audio-visual room where visitors can watch movies,news and other educational DVDs.

DPL member Jameel Muhammad Khan,who is 70,has been frequenting the library for the last 50 years. Khan said: “I have seen the library change over the years. It is more organised and clean now. There are more books as well.”

In fact,the library also shuffled its book selection committee last year. Officials said: “Apart from classics,we shall be adding contemporary titles too.” Another initiative has been the DPL’s social education programme through which various social activity groups are formed. Chairperson of the DPL chain Shailaja Chandra said: “We have Literature,Music,Drama and Homeopathy groups at present.”

Plans for the future include career counselling for student members,and even bringing in the underprivileged children. Books will also be delivered home,Chandra said.

India’s first prime minister,Jawahar Lal Nehru,had inaugurated DPL in 1951. It claims to be the busiest public library in Southeast Asia. It also has a Braille library for the visually challenged.