Three years on, State’s heritage library remains in suspended animation
On Librarians Day, a garlanded photograph of S.R. Ranganathan stands in the first-floor corridor of the State Central Library. A little further down, about a
On Librarians Day, a garlanded photograph of S.R. Ranganathan stands in the first-floor corridor of the State Central Library. A little further down, about a dozen readers sit hunched over their books. The whizzing sound of spray-painting echoes through the heritage building, which has been under repair for three years. “The work has been inconsistent. At times it moves quickly, and then at other times it slows down. We are disappointed with the pace,” says a library official, unwilling to speak on record. “I come here to study but sit in this shaded area because it is quiet. I bring my own books as the library mostly has textbooks and not the study material I need,” says Ziyan, a resident of Tadbund preparing for the NEET examination.
He spends much of his day studying under a tin shed erected at the rear of the 1936 building. Several other aspirants preparing for competitive exams also use the space. Most bring their own study material, saying the library does not have the resources they need. The library has a collection of more than five lakh books, including nearly two lakh in English. The State Central Library’s patronage has declined over the decades due to poorly organised books, staff shortages and a lack of basic amenities. The conservation work that began three years ago was expected to bring a turnaround, but the library is yet to see the anticipated improvement. Inside, the foyer and the librarian’s desk are covered in paint and lime stucco, as are the stained-glass panels.
The main hall has been cleared for conservation work and has remained that way for nearly a year. “Most of the English books section has been closed and is inaccessible. We keep moving the shelves around depending on the requirements of the work,” the library official says. Beyond the ongoing repairs, the library is also grappling with a chronic shortage of staff. “There are 104 sanctioned posts, but we have only 33 regular staff, including officers, besides 16 outsourced employees and nine junior assistants who were recruited last year after the Congress government came to power. We are still short-staffed and cannot maintain the library properly,” the official says. The post of chief librarian is also vacant. The library functions under the State government, with the bulk of its expenditure going towards salaries.
According to the revised estimates for 2025-26, a total ₹4.35 crore has been earmarked for salaries, while only ₹8.21 lakh has been budgeted for other expenses. The limited allocation for maintenance is reflected in the condition of the facilities. The heritage building has hosted film shoots for decades, with Sita Ramam being among the more recent big-budget productions to shoot extensively at the location. Today, however, its surroundings are cluttered with an RTC logistics counter, Annapurna canteen, a makeshift pavement shelter and dozens of private buses parked outside the building.
The BriefWire