Booked for comfort

Still,it’s the renovated reading room-with its walls covered with bookcases,it’s doubled capacity to accommodate readers at 120 seats,better lighting and modern facilities-which will see most of its nearly 5,000 members spending several languid hours in the company of a tome. They are spoilt for choice with a treasure of 40,000 books in English,Marathi,Gujarati and Hindi. This includes nearly 500 rare books.

“For this phase of renovations,we focused on the interiors with the aim to make long hours that our members spend here comfortable,” says Vivek Ajgaonkar,the library’s president emeritus. The city’s oldest existing library and reading room took a step in that direction when it shut down for renovation in January. It reopened recently with a rearranged reading room and repaired toilets.

“However,only 70 per cent of our renovation work is over. The wood polishing,arrangement of books and other works are still on,” says Ajgaonkar. The first major restoration was carried out in 1996,on the occasion of the library’s 150th anniversary. In 2004,another round of restoration looked into external repair works.

The reading room smells musty with old hardbound books piling on tables at various corners. However,Ajgaonkar assures that things will be in order within a week. Conservation architect

Sheetal Gandhi,who is involved in the renovation,reveals,“Since this is the time to prepare for exams and entrances,the members have been demanding to reopen the library,at least the reading room. So we complied.”

After this phase of the restoration is over,the attention will shift to the garden. “Lots of people love to relax there. We plan to set up a small cafeteria there. Provision for a light and sound show is also on the anvil. Digitalisation of the book lending system too needs to be done,” says Gandhi.

The library is looking for donations to execute these plans. It will take steps to increase the number of members to generate more revenue. The ongoing project was carried out with Rs 34 lakh released from Pritish Nandy’s MPLAD fund,Rs 20 lakh from MMR-Heritage Conservation Society and corporate donations. The library has always depended on donations to sustain itself. David Sassoon,a Jewish philanthropist from Baghdad,and the British government contributed Rs 60,000 each to construct this Grade I heritage building in 1870.

Located close to the city’s business district,this library attracts a lot of office-goers. A large number of college students and professionals preparing for their examinations can be spotted here between 8 am to 9 pm all 365 days a year. A case in point is Jayawant Yadav,a student of Institute of Charted Accountants. With his study material spread before him,this Worli resident says,“It’s so peaceful here. I study here for nearly eight hours.” For life member Kirti M Ojha,sifting through the newspapers during the lunch break is a routine,which he missed when the library was shut. “This is a 20-year old habit. I don’t want to give it up.”