Out of a total of about four lakh books in 69 public libraries in the valley, 42,000 volumes are either missing or are lying with borrowers who have not cared to return these despite several official letters sent to them. 2659 books unreturned are lying with bureaucrats. Even they pay no attention to the official notices. This is general loot of public property and reflects the height of irresponsibility and social unwariness. Libraries, the standard of books preserved and the visitors and readership all put together speak of the cultural level of a society. These are old libraries and, obviously, they have old and rare volumes preserved in their vaults. Libraries are the cultural treasure of a society. Remember that during World War II, Great Britain had secured most of its precious fund of books and manuscripts in the British Museum at underground safe vaults which would not get damage owing to bombardment. Libraries are public property, something that makes a society civilized, historically conscious and futuristically inquisitive. Vandalizing this national fund is a big crime and the report brought out by the Directorate of Libraries laments that there are no stringent laws to take proper action against defaulters. Firstly membership laws should be made more stringent and the registered borrowers should be asked to deposit a good amount with the concerned library authorities as security against loss or non-return. Then there should be a penalty for loss or non return also. All libraries need to be provided with photo copying facility on payment and an exclusive identity card with full home address and photograph. All books preserved should be digitalized and access to volumes made technically very easy and quick. Library buildings have to be on modern lines, airy, with sunlight coming in plentiful or air conditioned. The staff has to be well trained and dedicated to the profession.
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