The bus, run by Delhi Public Library, has books in four languages – Hindi, English, Urdu and Punjabi. And registration charges? Rs 14 for five years!
Every Monday morning, as the clock strikes 10.30 am, a green bus with wire-mesh windows rolls into East End Apartments in Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension. Dusty and time-warped, this mobile van has been the refuge of many who seek the quiet of books.
Anita Gupta, a resident of Block 27, is one of them.
A homoeopathic doctor by profession, Gupta is an avid reader, and every Monday, she waits eagerly for the mobile library to arrive at her society premises.
“My husband, who is an author, also comes every week to this library to access books. I am fond of short stories in Hindi, and I get books that I want here. It’s a great weekly library at my doorstep,” says Gupta.
And what do you need to do to have access to the books? Pay Rs 14 as fees for the next five years! There’s a registration form to be filled out, and it’s available at the van.
Like Gupta, there are others, too, who wait for Monday mornings. The van leaves at 11.30 am.
Sandeep Rawat, the van’s librarian, explains the rules. “We issue books for a period of 14 days. In case the reader is unable to finish the book, we re-issue it for the next 14 days. But if the borrower fails to submit the book and doesn’t bother to re-issue, we charge Re 1 per day as fine.”
Radha Bisht, a Class X student, also likes to borrow books from this van. She says, “I take one book every week — mostly competitive books. But sometimes, I also take home short stories.”
The van, run by Delhi Public Library, has books in four languages – Hindi, English, Urdu and Punjabi.
Though the library is small and does not have curriculum-specific books, it does store plenty on sociology, politics, religious, history and geography. It also has books on competitive exams. There are books on a variety of other topics as well, including cooking, health and art.
As is wont to happen with all things old, this library lacks rigorous upkeep. Sometimes, the books come with missing pages; sometimes they are badly torn. And, of course, the collection is not up to date, complained a resident.
A senior librarian at Delhi Public Library, Hari Om Sharma, in a telephonic conversation with City Spidey, said, “At present, there are six mobile libraries of Delhi Public Library that visit 10 to12 locations every day.”
If you are a resident of East End Apartments, maybe you could go pay this mobile library a visit next Monday.
The van's weeklong itinerary:
Monday: Sainik Enclave, DDA flats Kakardooma, Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension, Laxmi Nagar, Kailash Colony
Tuesday: Mukherjee Nagar, Model Town, Azadpur
Wednesday: Gokulpur, Ashok Nagar
Thursdays: Ashok Vihar 3
Fridays: Dilshad Garden, GTB Nagar, Yamuna Vihar
Saturdays: Kamla Nagar, Shakti Nagar and Timarpur
Sundays: Off
