The British Council Library, situated behind the Devaneya Paavaanar LLA Building opposite TVS Motors on Anna Salai had been more than a landmark in my life. I took an annual membership of Rs.550 for almost six years to access books. The library with catalogued numerous physical stock of books on shelves was next important to my alma mater.
Travelling all the way from Besant Nagar on the route bus 23C, I remember having borrowed a maximum of four books at a time and sometimes sought an extension of the date of return. I really enjoyed the screening of films at the preview theatre, the art exhibition, and speeches. ELTS language certification sessions for students happened frequently. Since it was not the internet era of emails or mobile WhatsApp, all events were promptly notified in advance through advertisements in the English daily.
Besides a massive physical library, four centre cubicles with a headphone set fixed to the chair were allotted to watch video books. Off the exit gate along the shady bylane adjacent to LLA, sometimes I halted to sip tender coconut. With an energised state, I crossed the arterial road to reach the bus stop.
Today I came to know that BCL is soon to shut down its physical library and vacate the current premises by the end of February. It is to operate a digital library elsewhere. It seems in the recently concluded Chennai book fair, all books were sold at throw away prices at the British Council stall.
No doubt, many like me would have benefited. It was a perfect alternative to my college department library to refer and borrow unaffordable books. The British Council Library will always remain in my memory to revive nostalgia. Some non-avid readers may think, 'after all a library, what is there to reminisce and describe as something special?'
-S.Chandrasekar











