Ludhiana ( Justice News)Panjab University Extension Library (PUEL ) has been increasing its membership fees and securities over the years, but service of the library falls short of its readers’ expectations, particularly for the general public and also for students.
The library at Ludhiana was formally opened for service in July, 1960. Funds then for the library building were provided by the U.G.C., the State Government, the Local Zila Parishad, and by the Panjab University Chandigarh from the University’s own resources.
The city’s readers who have been associated with the library for decades now have rued the increased charges and curtailing of access to the precious resources in the library. Brij Bhushan Goyal, who has also worked as a student worker in the library in the year 1972 while studying in a local college says that over the years readership from the public has been systematically discouraged deviating from the aspirations of the founders of the library. Earlier, people from every walk of life thronged the library which opened till 7 PM and also on weekends on Saturdays and Sundays besides on some other holidays. Currently, the library opens for 5 days from Monday to Friday from 9 Am To 5 PM. Goyal also said that a reader from the public has to deposit rupees 3500 as library security. Such members have also to deposit an additional charge of rupees 885/- which includes 135/- as GST @ 18% on annual fees of rupees 750 which is subscription amount. The public readers are paying these revised rates wef 13-10-2023. The rates of security and annual renewal fees for current students are less but they have to pay public members fees at excessive rates the moment they are out of college. Those students who are not on rolls of colleges, but post studies are preparing for their and other examinations using library resources have to pay excessive rates as charged to the general public. They mostly use the reading room facility. This is a great dampener on reading culture, he said. He asked authorities to provide Newspapers and E-Magazine access by the library to its members when it charges heavily already.
Dr Jernail S. Anand, an alumnus of SCD Govt College, Ludhiana and President International Academy of Ethics and an author of 160 Books , thinks that the reading habits are already on the decline and the heavy tariffs by the PUEL need to be scaled down. Access should be free for students from disadvantaged sections of society. The library must make its catalogue public so that the visitors know the treasures housed inside and it must open in holidays as well.
Professor P K Sharma (Retd.) and a freelance journalist said that the libraries ought to be open on all days. Governments can recruit more people to work in libraries to give employment to youth. There is no logic in excessive library fees which carry 18% GST. Do we want to earn even now from reading books? He said library resources should not be left underutilised. K B Singh, A PU economics Gold Medallist of early 1980 too said that the discouraging scenario of reduced working days and daily time coupled with excessive charges must be looked into by the Vice chancellor of the university. Other teachers who also rued about excessive charges and curtailed opening hours and days are Narinder S. Mason and a former KV Principal Manjit Singh Sandhu.
Brij Bhushan Goyal
Org Sec Alumni Association Govt College Ludhiana.
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