It is true that the state government has initiated numerous development schemes and extended enough social justice but, in spite of all these achievements and activities of the government, it lacks one thing i.e., a standard state central library.

A library is a very important thing for a civilised society. It is the reservoir of strength, grace and wit. It maintains our past and determines our future. However, the present state central library of Sikkim is in a very pathetic condition. The state central library which was in the community hall of development area two years back has been shifted and squeezed into a damp room of the State Sports Department adjacent to White Hall as it still does not have its own building.

Most of the books on the shelves of the library are full of fungus. Reading these books is a trying task as one has to think twice before even touching them with bare hands.

“We are facing big problems as we can not show the readers the books on the shelf as they are full of fungus,” a member of the staff grieves.

It is also said that a member of the staff had caught eczema and some fungus related disease from these books. However, the books are being taken to the archive section for treatment and these are put in fumigation chambers to remove the fungus. only 100 books can be treated at one time and it takes more than two weeks for a book to be fully treated.

Dearth of books is another problem for the readers. In total there are only 18000 English books, 14000 Nepali, 5000 Hindi and Bhutanese books. They, however, are just ‘space fillers’. There are no good and important books available.

The copies of the government documents like parliament and assembly proceeding, white papers and documents of the policies of the government, the copies of the publications in the State are not available there. Neither is there any facility of internet, book catalogues and other facilities to access knowledge. It is thus not surprising that the students and scholars hardly visit this library.

Dr. Jyoti Praksah Tamang, a professor of Sikkim University and a renowned scientist of North India, says that the state is in need of a state of the art state central library. “As in Sikkim, many modern educational institutions are coming up. The intellectual activities are growing day by day. Thus a well equipped central library is a must and it is the need of the hour,” Dr. Tamang says.

He also opines that the number of library users is an indicator of development in the state. “The more users, the more human development”, he says.

As to why the central library of the State still has not come up to standard, Mr. P. Lepcha, the curator of the library said that no fund is kept aside for the library. It has to bank on the Cultural and Heritage Affairs Department for funds.

He also holds the view that a Directorate of the library could work out the pathetic condition of the library of the state. The state still lacks a sufficient system for making a standard and well equipped library. “We are living at the mercy of the Cultural Heritage Department like parasites. So, if there was a Directorate, there would be trained manpower and sufficient funds would be allocated by the government for smooth functioning of the libraries of the state,” Mr. Lepcha said.

But, people are also equally responsible for the grim condition of the libraries especially when it comes to the Central State library. Absence of a good library is not completely the fault of the government. “The government is only a facilitator of basic infrastructure and the real development should be brought about by the users,” Dr. Tamang opines.

Mr. Lecpha says that nowadays, people go to internet cafes to gather information and want to watch TVs for infotainment. Nobody is interested in the libraries anymore.

Kundan Kumar, a journalist working with PTI, says that a central library would not only provide knowledge but such a library will also be an ideal place for the writers and journalist to discuss and share their knowledge.

An advisory board comprised of member with an intellectual background is necessary. If there are such members, the library administration can get sufficient feedback and good suggestions to improve the standards of the library. On this, Dr. Tamang says that half of the members should be selected from the intellectual field so that they can advise the respective departments on how to run the libraries.

Mr. Lecpha, however, says that there is already a library advisory committee wherein a prominent intellectual and littérateur Mr. G.S.Lama, President of Sikkim Academy has been nominated as a member. “But he alone can not bring about any change,” Mr. Lecpha says.

Mr. P. L. Sharma, secretary (administration) of Sikkim academy also thinks a complete and modern library would not only provide the public with books and knowledge, it will also be a matter prestige for the state.”