DU students demand 24*7 access to Central Library

There used to be a daily ritual in the Central Library of Delhi University (DU). When the clock struck 7 pm (6 pm on Sundays), the security guards would begin their rounds in the Reading Hall — switching off the lights as they walked around. 

This was a signal for the students to pack their bags, leave the hall and find another reading space. This ritual was broken last week. While the guards, as usual, continued with their rounds, some of the students decided to switch the lights back on and decided not to leave.

From February 5 onwards, a group of DU students have been sitting outside the library demanding 24*7 access to the library. The cause has been written in 33 different languages outside the building. A 24*7 library has been on the election agenda of various political organisations for the last 25 years but nothing substantial had been done.

Now DU students, who aren’t affiliated to any political parties, have come out to claim their right for a reading room which will be open 24*7. The organisers have decided to carry on with their protest. They plan to not leave the library premises until their demands have been officially recognised. “We will continue our protest until we receive an official notification accepting our demands. In case of use of force or in the absence of an official response over the next few days, we are all prepared to change the form of our protest. It could either be a hunger strike or a call to occupy the library,” said Raja Choudhary, a first-year law student at the University.

The administration has been hostile to the protesters, who have been asked to vacate the library premises “stating disturbance” to the students who are studying inside the library as well as the functioning of the library. Ironically, the disturbance comes from the silent protesters instead of the ‘Udaan Youth Fest’ organised by the University — staged right in front of the library.

One of the concerns raised by the administration in the implementation of 24*7 library access was the safety of female students who would choose to access the library during late hours. The patriarchal mindset of keeping women from accessing public spaces for her protection must be resisted.

A peaceful reading room is every student’s basic necessity. The congested hostel rooms, as well as locations of the hostels and PGs, mostly fail to provide a conducive study environment. The closing time of 7 pm of the common reading room — the only reading room that postgraduate students have access to — poses a hindrance to their academic pursuits. 

Keeping up with the spirit of public universities, the objective of demanding 24-hour access to libraries is that a person’s social and economic background must not prevent him/her from exploring opportunities to read and write. It would also make it easier for students who work part-time to fund their education. A number of private reading rooms that thrive around the campus shed light on the lack of such facilities provided by the University. Access to these private reading halls, which charge a monthly fee of approximately Rs 2000, further deter the disadvantaged students.

A library is a repository of knowledge. As University students, we are taught to understand and question everything in and around us. As students who have chosen the path of academic research, this is our time. We should not be forced to complete a module by placing a limit on our time. We have some more time before we enter the mechanical world. This is the message from all the students who refuse to leave past the closing time from the Central Library.