The present Board of Governors of the Quaid-e-Azam Library (QAL) had decided to open the library’s over 1,20,000 books to graduate students also and have raised the condition of post-graduation, once compulsory for attaining membership. They have also decided to install two solar energy plants worth Rs 70 million to assure uninterrupted electricity, Pakistan Today
learnt on Tuesday.
Although, the administration is a little lethargic and has not made the change on the website, they have officially announced that no applicant would be turned down and even graduates would be allowed to become members of the library.
Furthermore, the QAL administration has also decided to assure uninterrupted supply of electricity to help the students in carrying out research peacefully.
“Our aim is to create a comfortable research environment for the people and that was why we had put the condition of post-graduation for membership,” QAL Chief Librarian Abid Ali Gul said while talking to Pakistan Today, adding “We have divided the membership categories as ordinary, causal, life, honorary and student and after a very hot debate, the Board of Governors decided to open the doors of the library to graduate students too.” He said the BOG hoped that a larger section of the society would be able to benefit from the resources. He said it was also decided that solar energy plants would be installed so that so that researchers and administration could do their work peacefully.
“The project is worth Rs 70 million and we have sent a summary to the Finance Department of the Punjab government,” he said, adding that the administration had been ensured that the funds would be provided soon. “Initially the solar panels would provide energy to the desk and computer sections,” he said, adding that this facility would benefit the 500 members that visited the library daily. “We have always had a large number of graduate applicants but we were not able to accommodate them but after this decision we can recruit more members,” he said, adding that before the official decision, the library had started relaxing the condition for those who had made valuable contributions in their field, had a recognised publications to their credit or were making substantial contribution to some newspapers/journals of repute and were recommended by the secretary of the BOG.
“We expect a major increase in our members after the lifting of this restriction,” he said. “This is not a good idea. More members mean more fuss,” Naeem Ahmed, an old member of QAL, said while taking to Pakistan Today, adding that he was a regular visitor and the library was always peaceful but if the number of visitors were to increase, there would be more noise.
“The available space should be expanded first to accommodate more members,” he said, adding that the number of facilities should also be increased. “QAL has always stood out from other libraries because of its facilities and that makes it a special place,” he said. Another member, Sobia Zia, told Pakistan Today that it was a good decision and she was glad that other people could benefit from the library also, adding that the decision to install solar panel was also a good one since it would help the visitors in many ways. “It used to get very hot in summers,” she said, adding that it was hard to concentrate in the absence of electricity. “But I think it would be better if the admin places more computer if the members are going to increase,” she said.
