Click & read,over 4,000 titles from city’s first online library

“Many do not have the time to physically go out and buy books now. Also,not many can afford to spend large amounts for buying books on a regular basis. The motive behind the website is to bridge the gap between readers and books; and that’s why we allow readers to borrow an unlimited number of books every month,” said Rahul Bhandurge,founder of the library and a business management graduate.

“I came across the library at the sammelan and enrolled myself. Now,I log on to the website,go through the collection and create a list of books I want to read. They deliver one book at a time at my home. After I finish reading,I just click ‘return’ and the delivery team comes,collects the book and hands over the next,” said Sandeep Gokhale,a businessman.

At Rs 150 a month,the membership drive has yielded 200 readers ready to click and read. Recording an average of 70-80 clicks a month,some of the in-demand books include I Dare by Kiran Bedi,The Discovery of India by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and autobiographies. “I like reading Marathi fiction,scientific books and biographies and my lifestyle does not allow me to go to a library and select a book. Further,if I do not get the book I want,time is wasted. In this case,I just look for the book and click,” says Mahesh Borkar,another member.

“We are a team of five; including two who deliver books at any part of the city. There is no limit for the time that one can keep a book; we will soon increase the number of books so that the readers get more choice,” said Abhijit Bagal,one of the founder-members of the library.