British Council

An issue of concern raised by a fellow member in the BC Delhi Library when I last visited the library couple of days back - the markings, scribblings on library book as if they own the book, it's their property(which is commonplace in state funded college/university libraries here). I myself own around 100 personal non fiction, academic book, but rarely have any marks. Let checking the pages - condition and content of books be made routine duty of the librarians before issue and after return that fine charges per page be levied on the defaulters, if the library actually purchases "NEW" books, instead of "USED" books. Only way to deal with defaced books IMO is digitalizing and refurbishing books and putting them in library's own electronic repository and segregation of clean book to be placed under strict librarian scrutiny as described above. I dont think big deal for library of this size, if Delhi University's Central (Science) Library with millions of books, (100s of books added annually) is undertaking such mission of refurbishing classic old dilapidated books to preserve by digitalizing. It's highly advisable that all the library owned literary resources and external resources carry the library watermark or seal to decimate misuse of library assets. If actions are to be taken for common good (benefit) then the efforts or initiatives deserve much more importance from point of view of portfolio and ambiance of library and the sincere members than just discarding or postponing. With all these library can be well maintained and even expanded by addition of high rated academic/ popular titles (as physical books as digital versions are not available lot many), without need for suggestions and recommendations. After all, library is place of learning, that it has to meet first. The British Council may be charity but the library and its members dont come under jurisdiction of charity, for both of us have rights and responsibilities; let they be made to serve each other's purpose.