A closed chapter in the annals of book culture

With only one employee left to take care of Baba Farid Cultural Centre in Faridkot, the book culture is losing out to the fast-growing popularity of the Internet among city residents. 

The annals at Baba Farid Cultural Centre, Faridkot, issued last book in February. A class-4 worker 

is the only one left at job since the employee competent to issue books retired on January 31. The library's 40,000 records were locked when the last worker remaining reported sick on July 18. "The library will reopen on July 22," read the notice outside.

Last month too, the library was shut for about two weeks on same account. Of its four sanctioned posts, librarian's fell vacant in 2000 upon the official's transfer. No sweeper, no restorer; the facility is left to only an attendant. The additional charge of the librarian is with another official since 2000. "The director of public instructions, colleges, in charge of the library, has released no money for the facility," said a source in the official set-up.

Readers want the library back in the main city, for the current site is too outside Faridkot.

Years ago, it was shifted to the Baba Farid centre. "A new restorer will join this week to replace the retired employee," said Raman Kumar Marwah, who has the additional charge of librarian. "After he takes over, readers will be issued books regularly."

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