Home / Education / State Library's Cash-Only Policy Frustrates Users
State Library's Cash-Only Policy Frustrates Users
8 Dec
Summary
- Digital payment facility for membership and overdue fees is unavailable.
- Lack of infrastructure forces books to be displayed on the floor.
- Library needs a bank account for digital payment, facing bureaucratic hurdles.
The State Central Library, recognized as one of Kerala's premier public libraries, is currently not offering digital payment options for its services. This oversight inconveniences many users, particularly students, who are unable to pay membership fees or overdue charges using UPI. Despite the government's broader digitization initiatives, the library's adoption of simple digital payment methods is stalled. The primary obstacle is the requirement for the library to establish its own bank account, a process that demands significant bureaucratic approvals.
Compounding the issue is the library's poor infrastructure. Although budget allocations exist, necessary improvements such as additional shelves and storage units are lacking. Visitors observe that certain sections appear dilapidated, with books even being kept on the floor in the Malayalam section due to insufficient furniture. This lack of basic facilities detracts from the reader experience, contrasting with the library's status as a key resource for competitive exam preparation and general readership.
The library boasts a substantial membership and circulates approximately 2,000 books monthly. It attracts patrons not only from the capital city but also from surrounding districts, with many traveling considerable distances to access its collection. The ongoing inability to implement digital payment options, coupled with deteriorating infrastructure, presents a significant challenge to modernizing this vital public institution.
