BY: Jaspreet Singh PATIALA: The central state library of Patiala is one of the biggest libraries in India and it needs urgent repair. The ravages of time have not spared the beauty of even this structure that was opened in 1956 and named after former Punjab chief minister Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir It was once regarded as readers' delight for its rare collection of books and peaceful ambience. Data from different sources suggests that the library has more than 95,000 books and numerous titles of archival value.The trees grown outside the library need urgent pruning, since their branches now cover the front yard of the library. Moreover, the building needs internal repairs as well. Plants have taken root in the cracks of its roof. It is theapathy of the state government that has caused the library to lose its sheen. Its sofas and seats are in tatters.the shortage of staff members has greatly affected the upkeep of the precious books and reduced the number of daily visitors.The dust covering the glass cabins in which the rare manuscripts are displayed clearly shows that they haven't been cleaned since days and the art gallery of the library has more or less turned into a dump yard where different departments have kept their stuff. The two halls constructed for organising functions, too, are not in a very good shape for the lack of funds. To top it all, the authorities have failed to make any substantial and latest additions to its collection of books in the past few years following which it has more or less reduced to a storehouse of rarities. The main addition comes in the form of books from Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata, under the Ministry of Culture and Affairs and some private publishers.

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