Letters: Lend a book to a library

T C A Srinivasa-Raghvan’s home-grown remedies for disposal of books collected over a lifetime in the article, “Raddi by the book” (March 9)”, are absolutely right.

 

The problem is widespread. I have been trying to solve the problem by suggesting the point person at my local public library to let me lend my books to it. I have explained that the lending would effectively be an irreversible, one-way street; I would have only a tenuous theoretical right to recall a book, if I were to need it.

 

The point person was foxed at my idea because she found no precedence for it. I assured her that I was ready to indemnify the library if a book was lost, stolen and/or not returned by members. Every time, I enter the library I keep hoping that my wish to lend the books would be granted, but every time I am disappointed.

 

As I become older I wonder what will happen to my books when I am gone. Why can one not depart with the sobering thought that though these books were given away during my lifetime, they only belonged to me technically?

 

It is time societies developed the concept of lending books to libraries. Or, we need a start-up with an interest in social businesses to pick up this idea and turn it around. Y P Issar Karnal