Rawalpindi Municipal Library (RML), the only public library in the garrison city, is now in shambles as broken furniture, dusty shelves, shabby books, improper lighting and absence of staff greet visitors.

The library, situated on the Benazir Bhutto Road, was established by the British in 1873. Originally, it had 1,000 books and 25 members, and once boasted 50,000 books and 7,000 members.

It is currently the third largest library in Punjab with about 46,000 books and other facilities. About 8,000 of these were lost and many more damaged in the July 23 floods which hit the garrison city in 2001.

To make up for this loss, the education ministry provided 3,000 books, while an additional 5,000 were donated by the French embassy. The Norwegian embassy also donated carpets and some other necessary items to the library.

However, the library has now lost its hustle and bustle.

Once the heaven of book-lovers and researchers, RML now presents a deserted look. Even the number of general members has reduced to 200 due to the absence of facilities at the library.

“Only a few people regularly visit the library. Approximately, 40 people visit it daily, but none of them use the reading halls which are now in shambles,” Library Attendant Syed Altaf Kazmi told Dawn.

Seven years ago, more than 200 people used to daily visit the RML, he maintained.

“After the flash flood in Leh Nullah in 2001, the library was renovated and members actively visited it. However, since 2005, members have lost their interest in the library due to the absence of basic facilities such as heaters or coolers,” he said.

A visit to the library clearly shows the appalling conditions.

Dilapidated chairs and tables are found in the reading halls while the main hall’s floor is cracked. There is no natural gas or even electricity for readers.

Furthermore, no photocopier is available in the library, and facilities such as water coolers and toilets are also missing.

When asked about the absence of these facilities, a library official said, “Natural gas was suspended three years ago due to non-payment. Even now, Rs52,000 utility bill is pending but the education department has no money to pay it.” He said air-conditioners were also available, and bulbs and tube-lights had been installed. However, since there was no proper electricity wiring system, none of these appliances were operational.

“An estimated Rs80,000 is required for the installation of a proper wiring system, but the department has turned a blind eye to the issue,” he said.

Therefore, due to the absence of such facilities, people have avoided visiting the library.

“I used to be a regular visitor of the library but its appalling condition forced me to abandon it two years ago,” Ahmed Ali, a 24-year-old private university student and resident of Arya Mohallah, told Dawn.

He said with internet available, it was much easier to research but reading books was still a dream for him. “The last time I went to the library, I was forced to return as there was no proper lighting there,” he said.

The library has three main halls. Earlier, the administration paid attention to women visitors and allocated a separate women-only reading room. It was later closed and women were allocated a single table only.

Madihah Rasul, a resident of Satellite Town, said there was a library in her university but she had gone to the RML instead for membership two months ago. “Books are available there but there is no system for their upkeep. It is not an ideal place for women as me and my friends are afraid to go to various sections which lack proper lighting,” she said.

Asif Iqbal, a retired government employee, said he only came to read newspapers in the library.

“I can peruse through them (newspapers) on sunny days by sitting close to a window. The government should improve the condition of libraries to encourage youngsters and the public,” he said.

In addition to the absence of facilities, the library also suffers from lack of staff. There is no permanent librarian at RML and its affairs are being run by the clerical staff.

The post of librarian has been lying vacant since 1992 following the death of the then librarian Ahmed Hasan Siddiqui. However, for the past two decades, the city district government has failed to appoint a new librarian or promote a junior staff member.

According to a library official, RML has not purchased new books for the past three years. “The district government raised several objections when we tried to purchase 1,000 new books to attract more people,” he said.

Former Incharge of Library Tahir Mehmood Khan told Dawn that people were not interested in the library mainly due to the absence of proper facilities.

“For the past 10 years, no new book has been added in the library. The posts of librarian, assistant librarian, watchman, clerical staff and office boy are all lying vacant but the government has not even considered the issue,” he claimed.

“Only some elderly people come to read newspapers and pass their time at the library,” he maintained, adding that if the environment was improved, people would definitely visit the library more often.