Meghalaya has been putting considerable emphasis on promoting literature, celebrating writers and hosting high-profile literary festivals. But beyond these celebrations, is it even giving attention to the everyday reading culture? The newly renovated State Central Library in Shillong brings this question into focus, particularly when concerns remain over the condition of its books, the availability of new titles and the preservation of old literary works.
On November 3, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the renovated State Central Library, bringing a fresh look to one of Shillong’s important knowledge centres. The renovation, supported under the National Mission on Libraries, has introduced improved reading facilities, an archive section, a dedicated children’s reading area and an upgraded Knowledge Corner for students preparing for competitive examinations. The library has also adopted digital facilities such as e-Granthalaya software, an Online Public Access Catalogue and Web OPAC to make searching for books and accessing information easier.
The scale of the library’s collection is significant. According to information shared around the inauguration, as of March 1 this year, the library housed more than two lakh book volumes, had approximately 31,000 registered members and issued around 200 books daily. These figures indicate that the institution continues to serve a considerable number of readers. However, the bigger question is whether the collection is being maintained and updated to meet their needs.
While the infrastructure has received an upgrade, concerns remain about the condition of several old and important books. Some reportedly have torn or missing pages, while there are also concerns about books borrowed by members but never returned. One such example is Khasi Folktales by Rafy, where pages are reportedly missing. This raises a larger concern about the preservation of Meghalaya’s literary and cultural heritage. If important titles are damaged or lost, is there a system to restore them or purchase replacement copies?
The availability of new books is another area that needs attention. When was the last major purchase made? How frequently does the government add new titles to the collection? And is there a regular budget to ensure that the library keeps pace with changing reading interests? A library may have more than two lakh volumes, but the number alone does not tell us how many books are in good condition, how many are relevant to today’s readers or how many new titles are being added.
There are also questions surrounding membership and accountability. What is the process of becoming a member? Is there a membership fee, and how long can a reader keep a borrowed book? What penalty is imposed for late returns? More importantly, what measures are taken to ensure that borrowed books are returned and that valuable titles are not lost from the collection?
Meghalaya Monitor sent these questions to the Arts and Culture Department seeking clarity on the library’s collection, book procurement, membership rules, missing books and future reforms. However, the department responded only to the question concerning modern digital initiatives at the State Central Library, leaving the other questions unanswered.
Digitalisation is certainly a welcome step. The introduction of online cataloguing and improved access to library resources can make the institution more accessible, particularly for younger readers. But technology cannot replace the need to maintain physical books, replenish damaged collections and ensure that important literary works remain available for future generations.
The larger concern is the gap between celebrating literature and nurturing a reading habit. Literary festivals may bring together authors, publishers and readers, but the real test of a reading culture lies in whether people have access to good books throughout the year.
Public libraries are particularly important for students and readers who cannot afford to purchase books themselves.
Meghalaya’s literary identity is deeply rooted in its oral traditions, folklore and written works. Preserving these resources should, therefore, be a priority.
The newly renovated State Central Library should be more than an upgraded building with modern facilities. It must function as a living institution with updated collections, properly maintained books, effective borrowing systems and meaningful digital access.
Ultimately, promoting literature cannot end with inaugurations, infrastructure upgrades and literary festivals. The real measure of success will be whether readers find the books they are looking for, whether old works are preserved and whether the next generation develops a lasting reading habit.
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