THE Punjab government initiative to popularise the idea of e-library for readers in 20 districts of the province is commendable.

Recently I decided to take my children to one such public library. The newly built e-library set up in the premises of Rawalpindi’s Nawaz Sharif Park is close to my home. It had been ages since I had visited a public library. My children were thrilled as it was the first time they had visited a public library.

I found the library well-stocked, well-lit and well-managed.

What was a treat to watch was the fact that despite being the holy month of Ramazan, many students were in the library and benefitting from its resources in one way or another.

I was happy to learn that the e-library provided online access to full text eBooks, eJournals, eTheses, online reference collections, Nobel laureate collections, documentaries, simulated videos and other local and international resources. Digital tabs and computers were readily available in good number. The staff was courteous and efficient. They gave an orientation session to my kids after handing over tabs to them.

Hats off to the Punjab government. Other provincial administrations should follow the example for reading will make for enlightened citizens and a progressive country.

Zeeshan Ahmad Siddiqui
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2018