Imphal, February 05: Unlike the past when staffs of the Manipur State Central Library had little time for relaxation due to constant thronging of readers and necessity to keep tap of book hirers and returners the library employees are these days literally yawning their time away as number of book readers have dwindled substantially.

At the present juncture number of visitors, book hirers and returners that could reach upto ten in a single day can be described as the busiest day for the employees as many days pass without a single visitor showing up at the library.

According to a frequent visitor the chief factor for dissuading readers are books at the library shelves that are comparatively irrelevant and outdated to the present day requirement for commoners while students keep distance from the library due to lack of reference books that could commiserate with the prescribed syllabus.

When a group of higher secondary students were urged to justify visit to the library, they conveyed of coming to study only with books brought from their own homes or exchange views with friends.

Neither are national newspapers, weeklies and monthly magazines nor foreign magazines and books capable of providing competition examination feedbacks available at the library, highlighted the students.

Subject-wise magazines could also not be found at the library, they said while lamenting that even the reading rooms are congested with only one medium size table dotted by 15 chairs in the reference section.

Moreover, desks and benches provided at the children's section of the library are also gathering dust and spider web all over clearly indicating that children were seldom present in the room unlike in the past when parents used to encourage children cultivate habit of book reading.

Even worse is the general section where the book shelves are laying empty and the few available there hardly of any use these days.

Established in 1958 the Central library is the first of its kind in the state.

Painting a pitiable picture an employee observed that rather that expand knowledge of readers the library itself is on the verge of extinction unless prompt action is taken to woo back book enthusiasts.

When queried the Chief Librarian attributed the deplorable condition to financial problem that had besieged the State Govt that ultimately curbed maintenance, purchase of new books and other necessary arrangements.

Due to financial crunch for the past many years development activities not only fell behind but even office management had become an arduous tasks, said the Chief Librarian On the brighter side, the official expressed confidence of reviving the library as Government attention had been earned resulting in release of funds to purchase new books, said the official.

Among the new purchases include encyclopedia, books for reference, guide, law and children, added the officials who informed that due to necessity of following official procedure the public will have to wait for some more time in gaining access to the fresh arrivals.

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