Chennai couple to the rescue

The Srinivasans are part of a growing number of book lovers in the city who are trying to save libraries from shutting shop. Despite shutting down of online libraries for children like Hippocampus and others, this online library is running successfully.

According to Radhika Srinivasan, the online library bookandborrow.com was taken over by them in October. She and her husband were both avid readers and felt emotional about taking it over when the owners of the library had to relocate.

“We were members of the library and we were also having a business plan so we wanted to take it over. But, we were more passionate about it. It has just been two months and the business is doing very well because Chennaiites love reading.” She also added that the business has expanded across the city.

The original owners of this library were about to sell it off. Earlier, four members owned the library, which was started six years back. Mini Suresh, who was one of the four, said, “It was moderately successful and the members were really happy. But we could not expand. Membership was restricted to only 300 to 350 and we were responsible to the members.”

Further, she added that since some of them had to relocate in Mumbai and elsewhere, they could not continue the business.

After buying the library, nearly 500 to 600 books have been added. Radhika further said the bookandborrow.com are pioneers in online library services.

“The unique concept of our library is that we do door delivery and pick up. If one feels like reading books, either one has to buy or depend on the public library, which is not well equipped. So this is the best service we can provide,” she said.

Explaining the functioning of the online library, her husband, who has been a great support to buy this library, said there were all sorts of genres. Most popular are the children’s books.

“We have four plans. Wherein a light reader may have one book per shipment, a slightly heavy reader may have two books per shipment and so on. Depending on the nature of the readers, they put all the books they want to read in the wish list which is there in the website. The good thing is they can keep the book as long as they want,” he said.

He also added they have a fairly large number of delivery boys throughout Chennai. “This is basically for the convenience of readers, especially senior citizens. Suppose one feels like getting his or her favourite book at 9 pm, we immediately try to arrange for it and deliver it the next day.

Vinitha Sivadas, a member of the library said, “The advantage of this library is we get the books at our doorstep and we can keep the books as long as we want. When we want to go to a public library, we have to travel. The books

also should be returned after a certain point of time.”

Rukmini Kumar, who has been a member for quite some time, said, “It is a great model for busy people like us where you don’t have to go to the library but the books come at your doorstep. They have a great collection. The service is also prompt.”