The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : American Library keen to expand service domain

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

American Library keen to expand service domain

Staff Reporter

Will try to reach out to people living in rural areas and children: Consul

USEFUL TO ALL SECTIONS: Members of the American Library browse the racks after an open house organised as part of the `American National Library Week' celebration in Chennai on Monday. — PHOTO: V.GANESAN

CHENNAI : The American Library here would try to reach out to all sections of society, including people living in the rural areas and children, said Frederick J. Kaplan, Consul for Public Affairs at the U.S. Consulate- General.

Speaking at a programme organised on Monday as part of the American National Library Week, he said the Library was looking at increasing its service domain. It was eager to expand the membership base, he told an open house for members.

Located on the premises of the Consulate-General, it has about 15,000 books besides videotapes, DVDs, journals, newspapers and an electronic database providing access to over 5,000 journals. A large collection of books on subjects ranging from politics, economics and geography to literature, pertaining to the U.S., is available.

Members spoke of the facilities at the library. In addition to the huge database, information on latest advancements in science and technology in the U.S. was periodically made available at the library, they said.

Many of the members said the library did not attract too many members due to the tedious security check procedure adopted. "Some are put off by the elaborate security check at the entrance. The library should be made more accessible to the public, particularly students," a member said. Former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation R.K. Raghavan, participating in the session, recalled his college days when he frequented the library as a student of political science. Several retired professors attributed the success of their research to material gathered at the library. Books were also mailed to members on request, they recalled.

Members suggested that a mobile library for students be introduced. It would benefit students who relied primarily on "second hand information" available on the Internet, a member pointed out.

Security check

Responding to their suggestions, Mr. Kaplan said the security check was part of the precautions taken due to the worldwide threat of terrorism. "We will do what best we can to make this library more accessible," he added.

At present the library has about 2,000 individual and 120 institutional memberships from South India. The library is on the Net at http://americanlibrary.

in.library.net/

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