The libraries run by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation have been reduced to newspaper and magazine reading rooms due to lack of technical staff.
The libraries run by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation have been reduced to newspaper and magazine reading rooms due to lack of technical staff. Against the requirement of 76 technical hands, the civic body has just 31. Moreover, three more technical staff will retire by March-end which would add to the woes of the library department.
Besides, some libraries have to be kept closed once a week because of the employees’ weekly off. Apart from that, the libraries lack proper infrastructure, including drinking water and seating arrangement.
When contacted, Maganbhai Gamit, officer in-charge, libraries, admitted that the department is facing staff shortage. He said that many technical staff have retired but no fresh recruitment has been done. This is the reason why ward libraries are run by peons, he said.
One of the librarians said, “I want to issue books to readers but staff shortage is a major constraint. Once we start the system, we will have to visit the AMC main office frequently for depositing money and other matters, which would force us to keep the library closed.”
Congress councillor from Gomatipur, Bhanuben Makwana, raised the issue of lack of staff and basic infrastructure at ward libraries during the meeting of recreation, culture and heritage committee on Friday. She also pointed out that some peons are running libraries as the department faces shortage of technical manpower. The issue of lack of coordination between ward libraries was also raised by her.
Devchand Patel, municipal councillor from Thakkarbapa ward, said, “We have opposed the move to open more ward libraries. Instead of opening new ones, the civic body must focus on providing better facilities at the existing libraries so as to serve their purpose.”
Only five ward libraries have the facility of drinking water. “We had mooted a proposal to install water coolers with purifiers at all ward libraries. This proposal was sent to the deputy municipal commissioner who forwarded it to lighting department as purchase of electric items come under their purview. However, more than six months have passed and no action has been taken in this direction,” Gamit added.
Minesh Barot, a reader, said, “I am a regular visitor of Potalia ward library since its opening. I have to go to the library in evening time as in morning it is hard to find a seat.” He also added that the civic body must start issuing books to readers as well as arrange for drinking water and sitting arrangement.
Out of 28 ward libraries, only eight have the facility to issue books to readers, while two have referral system in which the reader can use books within the premises of the library.
Talking about lack of coordination between ward libraries, Rama Joshi, the chairperson of recreation, culture and heritage committee, said that the MJ Library has been asked to take up the job of co-ordination between all ward libraries. However, it should be noted that the MJ Library itself is facing the problem of manpower crunch. When contacted, Shantibhai Patel, librarian, MJ Library, said, “We have not received any communication in this regard from the civic body.” For running all the libraries effectively, need-based restructuring of the system is required, he said.
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