Children’s library reopens after four years

The National Children’s Library (NCL), which was razed to the ground after the Lal Masjid military operation in 2007, has been reopened after a gap of about four years. The library has currently been established in the old building of the Education Ministry Project Wing in sector H/9. The library is stocked with 16000 books on diverse subjects for children.
Before the Lal Masjid operation in the summer of 2007, the library had been taken under occupation by female students of Jamia Hafsa in protest against the demolition of some mosques by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). During the operation, over 5000 books were damaged by either bullets or blood. After the operation, the CDA demolished the buildings of both Jamia Hafsa and the NCL. The books were then shifted to the National Library- a ‘red zone’ for public.
An unfortunate thing about this newly opened library is that around three dozen of the bullet-ridden and blood-stained books are still there, which could have a negative impact on young children’s mind. Talking to Pakistan Today, a visitor to the library, Muhammad Ashraf said, “I have come here with my children but when a number of the bullet riddled books were seen I felt concerned about how my children would perceive them.” However the librarian, Mazhar Iqbal Jalali, was of a different opinion about the damaged books.
“We have got some of the damaged books repaired since we are unable to buy new books owing to a shortage of funds,” he said. The newly reopened library will cater to the needs of children below the age of 14. Talking about the number of members of the library, the librarian added that so far some 18 children had become members and very few come to visit the library as it had been reopened just recently, “I hope with the passage of time the number of visiting children would increase,” he said.
When asked about the criteria of membership, he said that membership is open for all children without discrimination, “Every book is for every reader,” said Jalali. Before 2007, when the library was situated in Sector G-6, over 500 students used to visit weekly. The residents of Islamabad, especially children, have demanded that the government shift the NCL from Sector H/9 to a central place which would be accessible to children from all parts of the city.
“We are happy at the reopening of the library, but it should have been situated at a more approachable place,” said a student, Ali Nawaz. The newly opened library is yet to be formally inaugurated.