Sharon Public Library

23rd , July 2013

My Dear Kush,

Have you visited your city library ? I know it is very big and possesses many valuable books. Here also every city is having its own library- so is the case with Sharon , though it is a small town. I was curious  to watch this library and on Friday ,we visited this library along with Ruhan.

 

This library  is housed in a two storied building , made of bricks- from outside, the size of the building was quite impressive ; I could see a gentleman coming by cycle else you will see only cars , though there is not much space of car parking and we parked it only on road side.

 

By using lift, we went upstairs and I was left to screen their racks. There were various categories of the books on these racks. As this was a public library, you can aspect all types of the books. I went to the rack , exhibiting history and bibliography ; I have to admit that the library was enriched with good books. On the racks some good posters were pasted to enhance curiosity hence asking books on that topic. It appears that purchase of books continues each year ; more over it is costly books which you can observe on the racks. I could see some books related to partition of India , about India and other countries.

 

There was  a separate children's section which was depicting many short story books ; interestingly, there was a whole section showing various types of CD. There were computers also installed on some tables and persons, including children who  were surfing the computers. These CD are important for this country as public may surf any CD in the library as downloading of software is not free- it is priced.

 

On the counter , there were three woman who were handling issuing of the books and other material . I was interested to know more about Europe and asked your mausajee to burrow this book for home reading ; he brought not only this book but four more-for Ruhan. These are simple books written with the help of imminent scientists and narrates scientific facts in simple language and drawings ; there is one book telling about moon while other relates to sun. These books are issued for 15 days and a computer slip is provided while you are taking books to your home.

 

In the ground floor also, we could see readers as well as library assistants ; there were also computers. I do not know about their annual budget or how many books are purchased by the librarian ,each year. According to your mausajee , this is a small library ,the size and budget of library depends on the size of town. Of course , there is a huge public library (J.F. Kennedy) in Boston which is open to the public.

 

This library system is not so mature in our place. Though every city is boasting a library, it is always short of new books or library persons. I was a member  of Jabalpur Library but became less interested as only old books were there with scarily any new arrival.

Most amazing and special fact is that this library is interlinked with 27 more libraries of this area and comes under OCLN. You can search any material through internet ,at your house . The surfing also informs which library (out of 28) is having the desired book, with identity number, rack , its availability or issued to some one; it also provides new arrivals of books etc  full address and timings of particular library  so that you may reach there to procure the material. you will surprise that there are 6,00,000 materials (books, magazines, CD etc) which you can assess by becoming member of any one of these library. Not only this, the library has reference material which you may assess directly through internet; I surprised to note a full article informing all details about slavery in Boston - again there are further readings on the subject. I am sure you can search all the material on the subject which is next to impossible in India.
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There is a lot to be done to improve our public library system . It is also important to inculcate reading habit to our  young generation. I will desire that you make a habit of visiting your school library and start searching some books of your subject ; if you will read a chapter of light in different books, you will understand how differently the subject is presented by each author- so is the case with your mathematics . And if you will start visiting library from this age, you will understand that your books are your best friend- always and of all times.

 

With love and affection,