Online edition of Sunday Observer

Jaffna library rises from humble beginnings. Fruition of the efforts of many philanthropists, it is said that the, large storehouse of knowledge grew from a free library conducted at the house of K.M. Chellappah.

Taking his example, a few intellectuals got the idea of establishing a library and formed a committee to carry out the task. Jaffna library opened at a rented room down Hospital Road, on August 1, 1934 with 844 books and 30 periodicals. It did not take long for the library to 'grow' with the reading material as well as in numbers patronising it. January 1935 saw the library shifting to a more spacious building on Main Street, Jaffna.

In 1936, it was again shifted to a building near Town Hall and subscription and lending of books started. Soon, the demand for a permanent building and modern facilities began to rise and Sam Sabapathy, the first Mayor of Jaffna stood up to the task. Various fund raising campaigns were held and they managed to open the library on the present premises in 1953.

The Children's Section was opened in 1967 and the auditorium was added in 1971.At the time of its burning on June 1, 1981 it had acquired over 97,000 volumes including Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy and Isaac Thambiah collections, some valuable first editions and ola leaf manuscripts with the history of Jaffna.

The best library in the region! Again. That's what it is going to be. With the latest state-of-the-art equipment - computers, printers, scanners, colour televisions, internet facilities, micro readers; telephone, air conditioning, fire alarm and fire fighting systems. Four institutions have come forward in partnership for the task. The Ford Foundation of USA, the UNESCO, Government of Sri Lanka and the Municipal Council Jaffna. The public library of Jaffna stands proud again today. Painted white, a giant building of 27,880 square feet, with two wings added to its main structure.

A phoenix from the ashes. The Jaffna library, was once a pivotal point, the symbol of intellect in the Northern capital. "The repository of Tamil culture" it was called. However, it became a 'victim' of the war that ravaged Sri Lanka for nearly two decades leaving its walls blackened with smoke, ridden with shell and bullet holes. Two decades ago, marauding gangs burned it down, turning its wealth of knowledge into ashes.

More than 97,000 books were reported lost in the process. Priceless were the ola leaf manuscripts, wherein the history of Jaffna was penned. Severe was the blow to the community in Jaffna, for the library was the backbone of this society.

And now, as peace efforts strengthen and the truce between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE continues through its second year, there is hope and opportunity. Rebuilding of the library is only "part of the larger rebuilding of society. The citizenry of Jaffna shows a tremendous spirit. People are positive towards peace and development. Part of this hope is for their future, and the future of their children" says Dr. Sumathi Ramaswamy from the Ford Foundation. "Knowledge, especially the free access to information, is the key to rebuilding a society. It plays a vital role in restoring the dignity of people.

From left - Prithiviraj Perera, Representative from UNESCO and Dr. Sumathi Ramaswamy from the Ford Foundation.

That is the UNESCO experience" adds Prithiviraj Perera, from UNESCO. Many had been the instances where UNESCO had helped in procuring, and installing libraries in troubled situations an training their staff. "It is vital for intellectual and civic life," he says.

Back in Colombo from a visit to Jaffna, they are enthusiastic about their project. "A county's strength depends on institutions providing knowledge. They help people to come out of their dependence making them strong and self reliant," say these experts.

Their plans for the peninsula's intellectual hub include a mobile library which would take the wealth of knowledge to the remote schools. Separate sections for children and disabled persons, an auditorium and an audio visual section. However, their primary concern is whether the ground situation would allow this to happen. Discussions are under way with the government to help get connectivity, to empower people with the internet, the global information sharing system.

This will help the average citizen to learn and use the internet. The aim is to make the library the centre of knowledge for the general citizenry, which is outside the university.

Sustainability is assured through technical support programmes, training for library staff and technicians, networking with other libraries.

A small fee is proposed to be charged for library services, for maintenance purposes. A Ford Foundation grant of US $ 200,000 goes in to the project through UNESCO, its implementing agency.

More projects are to begin in the near future in the peninsula though UNESCO's cultural and communication arms. Preserving the heritage of selected ports, fortresses, kovils and temples in North an East, human rights and peace education, a peace radio station, an a media training institute are some of the furure plans in the offing.