Five decades on, a Pune library keeps reading alive

On January 26, 2026, the library will mark its 50th anniversary, celebrating the milestone by linking books to different aspects of life.

The origins of the library, however, go back further. “Around 1911, the library of the coppersmith’s organization was started with the inspiration of Late Vasantrao Dandekar and the Late Keru Pundilak Sapte. It suffered many ups and downs, closing and opening several times. It had only 150 books and that too only for the people of the organization,” says Girish Potphode, a member of the community. The present building was inaugurated in 1993.

The library sustains itself through an affordable monthly membership fee of Rs 40 (Express)

Over the years, both stature and collection have grown. “One would be surprised to hear that a lot of children do not know how to read. We conduct workshops where children are taught techniques, such as pausing for punctuations. Else, they read like a speed train through the pages,” says Reshma Kadu, President of the library.

The library sustains itself through an affordable monthly membership fee of Rs 40, supplemented by grants from the Pune Municipal Corporation and a state government grant of Rs 4 lakh per year, among other sources.

Temple for books

“The library is not referred to as a granthalaya but as a mandir. We enter this space the way we do a temple, by taking off our shoes,” adds Kadu. Like many temples, the institution places faith in women’s leadership. “The library is run by women staff entirely,” says Kundan Tambat, a trustee.

Reading begins even before one enters the building. Racks holding 25 newspapers line the entrance, and every morning the benches and steps outside are filled with readers immersed in the day’s news.

The first floor houses books that must be requisitioned, the second floor allows direct access to shelves, and the third floor is dedicated to English-language books. Each floor has a mezzanine accessed by steps, lending the space a playful character. Sections range from novels, autobiographies and poetry to history, mythology, translations, fine arts, health, cookery and politics.

Their choice

If the shelves feature a substantial number of sports books, it is driven by demand. “While planning the new stock, we ask the children what they are interested in. They tell us what they want to read. Several times, children come to us and say, ‘You don’t have this title. It has come to the market’. We purchase books twice a year, upto 200 titles every time,” says Madhavi Sagar Kavle, the librarian.

Another librarian, Shruti Kosamkar, notes that even in the age of scrolling and screens, children continue to enjoy age-old tales. “They get knowledge and have fun,” she says, referring to stories from the Panchtantra and Birbal.

Despite its wide-ranging collection for adults, the library’s focus remains on nurturing responsible readers. Entry to the first-floor section, for instance, is marked by a display of statues of eminent figures — from Sant Gyaneshwar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Goddess Saraswati. “We celebrate the days associated with them in order to remember our culture,” says Sai Meher, a librarian.

This spirit will guide the golden jubilee celebrations. “We will have sports, which will include races for toddlers as well as games for the elderly. The calendar is packed with cricket and chess matches, quiz, spelling competition and essay writing contest as well as a fancy dress competition,” says Potphode.

The celebrations will begin around January 18, with prize distribution scheduled for January 26. “A special feature is a float of books, similar to the wari processions, which will be held to mark our anniversary,” says Kadu.