The library is sort of 40 years previous and is ready to be digitised quickly with a cellular software utilizing which books will likely be delivered house.
| Picture Credit score: Siva Saravanan S

The scent of tons of of books, touched and felt by human fingers, envelops us like a well-known hug after we step into Select & Learn Lending Library on Trichy Street. Strolling previous its wood cabinets bearing Secret Sevens and Well-known Fives is like going again in time to 1’s faculty days. Many youngsters within the metropolis grew up studying books from Select & Learn, that’s among the many oldest current libraries in Coimbatore. Nearly 40 years previous, it’s now on the cusp of change, all set to enter the digital world by way of a cellular software. However first, we hear it from the founder about the way it all started.

S A Noorul Ameen was in his teen years when his father bought books in a push cart in 1979 by the Instructor’s Coaching Faculty close to Clock Tower. “He was a Tamil trainer, and was well-read,” remembers the 60-year-old. “The 2 of us would go to scrap sellers within the metropolis to purchase books individuals discarded,” he says, including that they’d stroll all the best way as much as Vadavalli and again in quest of good books. This assortment fashioned Noor Ebook Stall.

In 1983, the e book stall moved to Eswaran Kovil Road in Kottaimedu. “It was round this time that we determined to take again books that folks purchased from us, for 50% of its value,” he says. This observe gave option to a devoted shelf on their cart for books that could possibly be borrowed. “We stocked books by Sandilyan and Kalki that we purchased on the e book honest at City Corridor,” says Noorul. Quickly, their assortment elevated, so did their clients.

Noorul discovered the concept interesting; one that allow individuals learn a number of books for a fraction of their value. He realised this was what he wished to do — lend books to individuals. In 1986, he took a 6×16 sq ft room for lease on Trichy Street, lining the cramped area with books that he purchased for ₹50,000. “I stocked a whole lot of Tamil books by authors who have been well-liked throughout the time, resembling Akilan, Rajesh Kumar, Balakumaran, Ramani Chandaran, and Sivasankari.” He additionally had an attention-grabbing mixture of English novels by Jeffrey Archer, Enid Blyton, and Archies and Asterix comics that he purchased from Mumbai.

Author Rajesh Kumar was current on their opening day. “We knew one another from our e book stall days,” remembers Noorul. On day one, Select & Learn managed to get 53 members. “A few of them are with us to this present day,” he provides: “Similar to no. 9, Nimmi, no. 45 Duraisami.” Like all environment friendly librarians, Noorul by no means forgets the cardboard variety of his regulars. Again then, that they had an ‘entrance charge’ of ₹25. As we speak although, they’ve membership schemes ranging from ₹500.

The library moved to an even bigger place close by in 1993, that was proper reverse St Joseph’s Matriculation Faculty. “We have been there until 2013,” he provides. This was amongst their greatest years. Noorul remembers how summer season holidays could be like festivals, with youngsters jostling for area inside, desirous to borrow the favored titles earlier than their buddies obtained to them. “We might launch a number of presents, gifting away items resembling baggage,” he says.

Noorul saved including bestsellers to his record, by no means lacking out on e book critiques in newspapers. He knew the heartbeat of the reader, and what every author was good at. In 2010, that they had over 4,000 members, with new ones becoming a member of each day. As we speak although, it’s a utterly totally different story. They get simply round 10 walk-ins a day. “Youngsters don’t appear to learn anymore; adults too,” rues Noorul.

Regardless of not making a lot income, he desires to maintain the library afloat. Having spent a serious portion of his life amidst books, some quantity of romanticism has seeped into him from their pages. Noorul talks about how one ought to take within the scent and texture of a e book earlier than getting down to studying it, identical to how one takes within the aroma of meals on a plate earlier than a meal. “Books are life itself, one thing that ought to be an important a part of society for its betterment,” he says.  

Noorul’s son S N Niyaz Ahamed has now taken over the reins and is within the strategy of including their record of over 60,000 titles into the digital area. “A cellular software is within the works, by way of which one can borrow books that will likely be delivered at their doorstep,” he explains. “Readers can even advocate the books they want to learn on the app.“ It’s set to be launched quickly and can hopefully give a brand new lease of life to Select & Learn’s books, which are wrapped in crisp plastic covers identical to the previous days.