KOCHI: Reading maketh a full man, said Francis Bacon ages ago. Though many agree with Bacon even today, the number of people who are into serious and good reading is gradually coming down, according to reports. To inculcate the reading habit campaigns are conducted now and then. The Education Department kicked off Vayanavasantham in June in schools as part of the reading week celebrations.On October 1 the Ernakulam Public Library on Convent Road launched a two-month campaign to woo more members. “We have over 10,000 members and we hope to rope in 2,000 more during the campaign,” said librarian V V Ramachandran. “We are visiting the Union Bank today to create awareness about our library. We intend to visit other institutions, schools and colleges too,” he said.The 141-year old library which is the oldest in Ernakulam is open from 8 am to 8 pm on all days except national holidays. It boasts 1.5 lakh books in English, Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit, Konkani and French, 200 periodicals and 20 newspapers. The children’s section and reference section are much sought after. The majority of members are women and children, said Baby T K, joint librarian.It’s a year since they set up extension centres at the Bar Association Hall of the High Court and AKG Library in Chakkaraparamba where books and memberships are offered for two hours every Thursday and Sunday. Popular books are taken to these centres depending on the members need.Nearly 300 people took up membership at these centres, said Ramachandran. Plans are afoot to open centres in Kadavanthra, Chalikkavattom and Palarivattom.The film association of the library which used to organise films shows of world classics on Sundays and Thursdays will be reorganised, they said. The library had launched an initiative around a year ago to form reading clubs with the assistance of residents associations to home deliver books to save people from travelling but so far nothing has materialised.They are also plans to make a garden on the library premises.The membership available are A class, B class, C class and lifetime. Four books can be taken at a time with A class or lifetime membership. Lifetime membership costs Rs 5,010. The deposit is Rs 1,200 and monthly fee is Rs 80 for A class, Rs 600 deposit and Rs 40 monthly fee for B class and Rs 300 deposit and Rs 20 monthly fee for C class. "Funds are a problem, as we get only Rs 30,000 from the government," said Ramachandran. "The best gift for a child would be a library membership," he said.
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