Name: Sheethal Shyam
Membership No: 30256
Gender: LGBTQ
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Established in 1829, the State Central Library (or, more popularly, Public Library) in the city threw its doors wide open to the third gender on Tuesday. In what is being termed a small step toward a larger goal, Education Minister C Raveendranath handed over the membership card to transgender activist Sheethal Shyam. Billed as the first such initiative among libraries in the country, it began with the institution including an option for the third gender in its application forms and database.
Later, seated in the cavernous Malayalam section of the library, Sheethal posed for photographs holding a copy of ‘Oru Malayali Hijadayude Atmakatha’ by Jereena. “I am here as a representative of a group. I’ve taken membership on their behalf,” the activist said. “When I was younger, I could never visit a library or borrow a book. Transgenders face the same discrimination when it comes to gaining an education,” Sheethal said libraries should include more books on transgender issues in their collection. “Books speak of the love of a man for a woman. But what is the love of a transgender, or that of a gay person? What are their dreams about marriage or family life?” Sheethal said, adding that libraries in other states should take the State Central Library as a model.
Lauding the library’s initiative, the Education Minister - who also inaugurated the National Library Week celebrations - urged libraries to promote and strengthen the democratic mentality in all aspects of life. This is essential in an age of rampant privatisation and threats such as fundamentalism and extremism, he said. State librarian P K Shobhana said that the library’s decision to become third gender-friendly has been aimed at creating an awareness about their rights among the public.
On Tuesday, the library also fully switched over to open source software KOHA. The software enables mobile phone, email and SMS alerts for the members; rating of books by readers and online reservation and renewal.
V S Sivakumar MLA presided over the function. Former director of State Institute of Languages M R Thampan and writer George Onakkoor spoke.