PERAMBALUR: With a rural library in Perali village functioning from a panchayat building for over five years, residents have urged the authorities to provide it with a permanent building and basic facilities, including an internet connection, as they said the lack of space and facilities is affecting students and regular visitors to the library.
The library has been functioning in Perali for over 25 years and has 16,144 books, 1,335 members and 34 patrons. It remains open from 9 am to 12 noon and from 3 pm to 6 pm. Around 30 to 50 people, including students from Perali and nearby villages, visit the library every day to read books and newspapers. However, the library does not have its own building and has been functioning in a panchayat-owned building for the past five years.
Residents said the arrangement has created several problems, as the Rural Development Department sometimes uses the panchayat building for meetings and asks the panchayat to vacate the premises and shift the library elsewhere.
The existing building also lacks adequate space and basic facilities like toilets, tables and chairs. Consequently, visitors are sometimes forced to sit outside the building while reading. Residents said they have been submitting petitions at the collectorate for the past three years, seeking a permanent building for the library. But so far no action has been taken.
S Ragavan, a resident of Perali, told TNIE, “The library has been shifted from one place to another because it does not have its own building. This is causing inconvenience to students and other readers. Although the Revenue Department has identified a site, there has been no progress in providing a permanent building.”
He added, “Every time we approach the authorities, our requests are ignored. At least, the Rural Development Department should give an NOC to the Public Libraries department so that they can build a permanent library. A proper library with basic facilities would greatly benefit students preparing for competitive examinations.”
An official from the Rural Development Department in Perambalur told TNIE, “We are aware of the issue. Action will be taken based on the availability of funds and necessary approvals.”