Citizens are appealing the administration to allow public libraries to reopen amid the lowering cases of a novel coronavirus in the city. A total of 4,051 public libraries in Marathwada are awaiting readers. As per the officials, the libraries will be closed till October 30.
Marathwada Division Libraries Association and Marathwada Sahitya Parishad have sent a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expressing their disappointment for not allowing libraries to reopen. The president of the association, Gulabrao Magar stated that all libraries in the state have been closed since March amid the lockdown. Now if the state has allowed hotels and restaurants to resume on 50 per cent capacity, why libraries are not allowed to recommence, he questioned.
First hit by the digital affluence of e-books and now, the lockdown demanded due to the novel coronavirus, reading and lending libraries in the city have been stressed for survival. There are over 4,051 public libraries in Marathwada that have reported reduced subscriptions and revenues over the past seven months.
One of the publishers Pradip Supekar said, "Books are important for social reforms. Libraries are important for the same. Diwali is around the corner in just one month and every year there are special issues which are designated for the cultural splendour of the festival with a rich and prosperous tradition of the century. Libraries play an important role in bringing Diwali issues to the readers, so it’s the time libraries should recommence its functioning.”