ISLAMABAD: The community libraries in the federal capital are losing charm among the readers due to the lack of facilities.

Five out of the six libraries are without basic necessities. In some of the libraries, there are no proper furniture and water connections while one is without electricity. The roofs of two libraries leak when it rains partially damaging the books.

“During the last two years, the libraries have lost over 70 per cent of their visitors due to the lack of basic facilities,” said Chaudhry Nazir, the director general, department of libraries, while talking to Dawn.

In 2007, the then chairman CDA, Kamran Lashari, established makeshift libraries in six residential sectors - G-7, G-8, F-11, I-10, 1-8 and G-11. These single-storey libraries were built with fabric sheets, giving a look of containers.

The same year, the CDA handed over the libraries to the department of libraries.

“According to an agreement, the CDA was supposed to maintain the libraries and equip them with basic necessities and we were to run them with our stocks of books and manpower.”

Mr Nazir said he had been trying hard for the last two years to get the attention of the civic agency to fulfil its obligations.

Sana Iqbal, a graduation student who used to visit the G-8 community library, said the facility neither had proper seating arrangements nor sufficient stock of books.

“Some years ago, over 100 readers visited the library daily but now only 15 to 20 readers come here,” said Ajmal Hussain, a junior librarian at the G-7 library.

He said during rains the roof of the library leaked keeping the visitors away. It may be noted that all the community libraries do not have sufficient stocks of books.

Mr Nazir, however, said the shortage of books was not an issue. “We have sufficient stocks of books but cannot keep them in the dilapidated makeshift libraries,” he said.

“After being disappointed, sometimes we consider handing over the fabric-made structures back to the CDA but at the same time we think this step will deprive the citizens of their basic right to the library facilities.”

He said according to the initial agreement, the CDA was supposed to set up libraries in 11 sectors. “But we are even unable to manage the existing six what to talk of more libraries,” he said.

In reply to a question, he said the community library at sector 1-8 was relatively better than others. “In the 1-8 sector, we have sufficient readership and the library is also in a better condition,” he said. When contacted, Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal said he was not aware of the status of libraries. He, however, said he would personally look into the matter.

“The issue of one library is in my notice but I’ll check the status of others,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2014