GUWAHATI, Aug 27 - In this age of Internet, does a modern-day reader prefer to read a book or turn its pages? Has the traditional reading habit changed over the years? The District Library, Guwahati, established in 1955, however, has a different story to tell.
Located near Dighalipukhuri, a bustling area, this library currently boasts of a total collection of 46,128 books which cater to all age groups. The library also maintains an online catalogue which is handled by its authorities. It is headed by Krishna Bordoloi who is the district librarian.
In 2016-17, around 2,000 books were brought in and the collection is updated annually. The public can also donate old books, if they are in good readable condition.
The District Library also has a branch (Bishnu Nirmala Shishu Library), exclusively for children under the age group of 16, at Latasil in Uzan Bazar. For the physically challenged persons, a section exists in the District Library here. This section is being run with the support of the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), Kolkata.
According to the Mcafee Report (2014), 70% of youth in India spends more than five hours on the Internet in a normal week. It cannot be ignored that information on the Internet is just a click away and saves time but reading a book helps in better understanding and leaves a lifelong impression.
�There should be a culture of reading books so that people can develop an interest and habit of reading and learning,� said Jaya Chowdhury, assistant librarian.
Most of the visitors who come to the District Library are regular readers. Ashok Rajkhowa (63) has been a regular visitor to the library for the last six months and enjoys the wide collection of books here. Another regular reader Abhijit Bordoloi (26) has been visiting the library for two years now.
