From Yellow Pages to Quiet Spaces: Memories at Nehru Library

Since I can remember, I have always had a fondness for the library. The smell of the books, albeit musty at times, the crinkling of papers, the whispered conversations, and the now-obsolete but then very important subtle thwack of the library stamp hitting the ink pad to deposit its return date on your book, all added to the specialness of the place. And if you were fortunate enough to have a smile thrown your way from an unusually happy librarian, that was just icing on the cake. Owning a library card was like owning a unique key—a key that could open doors to all kinds of places, both real and imagined.   

Nehru Library: A Treasure House of Memories

Nehru library

During rare occasions and living situations, I could actually walk to the library. It soon became apparent, however, that my selections were too much for me to carry in one trip and required the use of a car or something similar. Before my children were born, I would often use my lunch hour (back when I worked 'outside the home'—what was that? I don't recall it now, ha!) to wolf down the contents of my brown bag, race over to the library, and spend as many minutes remaining perusing the stacks. With my arms laden with treasures, I would race back to work in the nick of time, eager for the end of the day so I could merrily drive home and anticipate the leisurely time I'd spend looking at, drooling over, and reading my loot.
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मेरी पसंदीदा जगह: Nehru Library

The habit only continued after having children. When my children were preschoolers, the library offered a quiet place to study and to breathe. On a weekday evening or a Saturday afternoon, I would leave my husband in charge of the children and steal away to the library for some alone time. Of course, I still came home with a truckload of free items borrowed with my library card. The only difference was that my arms became heavy with picture books, easy readers, and audiobooks.

Nehru Library: किताबों का बाजा़र और यादों का सफ़र

When my children were old enough to realize that not every book on the shelves had to be pulled down, and they finally decided that they'd rather read than play with toys in the kids' area, they accompanied me to my favorite place. Getting their very own library card was a big deal, celebrated with some minor pomp and circumstance. Practicing our 'library voice' was also essential so as not to upset the librarians! On our Library Day visit, we would traipse together into the world of imagination or reality, depending on which genre we chose. My children were happy with their selections, and I was happy with a quiet and free outing.

That is, until the library fines!

But this post is not about that. This post is about how wonderful and free (minus fines!) the library is. It offers so much to read, watch, and do for people of all ages. (I've only scratched the surface of what our present library offers.)

I still have a Library Day once a week, even though the actual day might change from week to week. I still return home with boatloads of books.

Really, our Nehru Library is a great institution, and the University is fortunate to have it!

 xoxo