Sheikh Iraj

For centuries, libraries have sustained human knowledge. Our libraries reflect the society we live in and tell us how developed it is. Today’s technological advancement allows us to browse and read books over the internet, on our smartphones, tabs or laptops. According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission website, there are nearly 67 million active internet users in our country, and about 63 per cent of them are mobile internet users. Of course, this data doesn’t specify how many of us actually use the internet for the purpose of reading and learning. Nevertheless, this has led many believe that people don’t read paper books as much as they used to. In reality, this can’t be further from the truth, as people associated with libraries beg to differ. There are plenty of public, private and community libraries out there where people go on a regular basis. Even if one doesn’t want to make the trip to the nearest library, but would like to borrow something to read, organistions like Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and Brac have mobile libraries that carry the books to the readers. This week, Y&I spoke with some people about their thoughts and expectations regarding our libraries.

Jamiul Adnan, Student

I am a student of Dhaka University. I regularly go to the Central Public Library. To me, a library is not just a place where you go to read, I also get to meet many of my friends there. Due to my passion for photography, I travel a lot and I have visited some well-known libraries in the city. Now, I am thinking of doing a photo series on them. Libraries are beautiful places to visit, they are silent and I feel a sense of peace when I am in one. It is not true that students don’t want to go to libraries. I feel there is a lack of information when it comes to the location of libraries in our country. I also think mobile libraries are a great way to encourage youths like me to read books.

Ifte Khairul Alam, Student

Our campus was in Dhanmondi and there was an old non-government library on Dhanmondi Road 15. We used to go there to read. Right now, I am preparing myself for the BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) examination, and for that, one has to read a lot. There was a time when I would go to the Central Public Library in the morning and come out in the afternoon. Nowadays, there is too much traffic on the road and that is why I don’t visit libraries far from my home. Also, thanks to the internet and smartphones, I can read some books online. I feel both public and private libraries should put more importance on eBooks.

Walid Khan, Student

I recently completed my MBA from Independent University and am now working in a private company. I am also trying to go abroad for higher education. I think due to the rise of private universities, students don’t visit public libraries as they used to _ the students don’t get the time. As a student, I used to spend four hours on the road every day, five hours at the university and three hours doing my homework. I didn’t have the time to visit libraries. We also have to realise that this is the age of technology and we should take advantage of it. I borrowed a book once from Bishwo Shahitto Kendro mobile library, but I never became a member. Now, I am thinking of becoming a member soon.

Md Kamal Hossain, Consultant, Bishwo Shahitto Kendro

Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK) has the most number of mobile libraries in Bangladesh. We have a total of 46 mobile libraries operating around the country. In Dhaka, we have 10 such libraries (which are minibuses converted to carry racks of books). The mobile library is the brainchild of Abdullah Abu Sayeed (chairman of BSK). He understood that people won’t come to libraries like they used to, rather, libraries have to go to their doorsteps. Our mobile libraries go to 1,900 different locations in our country. Readers can borrow books for two weeks from our mobile libraries. Normally, we need a photograph of the reader for verification, but in some cases, we allow people who don’t have a photo to borrow books. Our goal is to encourage young people to read. In our libraries, we have books of all genres. We don’t have any age limit when it comes to becoming a member. We have observed that 70 per cent of the readers who borrow our books are youths. We also build cultural clubs in the areas we visit. The main idea behind the libraries is to create new readers, and reach readers who can’t come to libraries. It is true that private libraries in our country are dying out, and people don’t visit libraries like before. The condition of public libraries is not that good, either. Even the behaviour of some of the librarians is rude. Today, people can buy a new book with the money it takes to go to a well-known library in the city. Until the year 2014, we received donations from different people and organisations. We used to operate with the money we received from those donors. Since 2015, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is funding us.

Sumaiya Haque, External Communication Specialist, BRAC

BRAC Education Programme works with different elements. Our multipurpose community learning centres, or ‘gonokendros’, were established in 1995. We also host community libraries in non-government secondary schools. We have partnerships with the Department of Youth and Sports Ministry, who provide our library members with training on trade and skills, based on need and demand. We also have a partnership with the Cultural Ministry, under which all the libraries are. We operate in 60 districts. We started this journey because we want students and women to read all kinds of books. We keep different kinds of books in our libraries. Initially, we start a library with about a thousand books. We have 880 mobile libraries and 2,910 community libraries. Our mobile libraries are basically made of four-wheel rickshaw vans. They allow students and women who are not able to travel to libraries to read books. All our ‘gonokendros’ and mobile libraries are open for all. But you have to become a member if you want to borrow a book. Brac Community Trust Fund bears the cost of our gonokendros, which usually contain books, magazines and daily newspapers. We have recruited local librarians who manage our centres.  

Humayun Kabir Dhali, Founder, Amader Pathagar

Amader Pathagar is a private library and I founded it in 2010. It is located at Sikichor village in Chandpur district. Our library is housed in a two-storey tin shed building. Our library is open for everyone and we have a local librarian who looks after it. We have around 2,500 books. I started the library so that schoolchildren can read different types of books. In the beginning, we all had to work hard to make the library popular. On our anniversary, we organise different kinds of programmes for children. Many well-know writers, poets and painters have visited our library. Thanks to them, our library is quite popular now among the youths of our area. Many even come from other villages to borrow books from us. I am very happy about the fact that most of our members are youths. As many would know, children’s books are the most popular genre in our book market, so we try to keep as many children’s books as we can.

AHM Kamrul Zaman, Librarian, Department of Public Library

In our Begum Sufia Kamal National Public Library, which is popularly known as Central Public Library, there are seating arrangements for 600 people. But most of the time, too many people come and we can’t accommodate all of them. As part of our job, we survey private libraries that want to be officially listed. Based on our report, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs gives books and funds through the National Book Centre. The donation is given 50 per cent in books and 50 per cent in cash. We have plans to start mobile libraries, too. On different national days, we organise essay writing, recitation, reading and handwriting competitions. We also organise book reading competitions for schoolchildren. The idea behind organising these competitions is that we want students to know about our libraries. Right now, we have 816 members. We have not introduced eBooks yet, hopefully, in future we will. We have a lending system and our members can borrow two books for 15 days. There are many non-government libraries that are doing exceptionally well. Jessore, Rangpur, Barisal and Bogra public libraries were built in 1854 and they are still in top shape. They were established by private owners. They can be considered as national treasures and many people still visit them. This only proves people will never stop going to libraries.

Photos : File, Courtesy