The scent of tons of of books, touched and felt by human arms, envelops us like a well-known hug once we step into Choose & Read Lending Library on Trichy Road. Walking previous its picket cabinets bearing Secret Sevens and Famous Fives is like going again in time to one’s faculty days. Many youngsters within the metropolis grew up studying books from Choose & Read, that’s among the many oldest present libraries in Coimbatore. Almost 40 years outdated, it’s now on the cusp of change, all set to enter the digital world by means of a cellular software. But first, we hear it from the founder about the way it all started.
A younger reader on the library
| Photo Credit:
Siva Saravanan S
S A Noorul Ameen was in his teen years when his father bought books in a push cart in 1979 by the Teacher’s Training College close to Clock Tower. “He was a Tamil teacher, and was well-read,” recollects the 60-year-old. “The two of us would visit scrap dealers in the city to buy books people discarded,” he says, including that they might stroll all the best way up to Vadavalli and again in search of good books. This assortment fashioned Noor Book Stall.
In 1983, the e book stall moved to Eswaran Kovil Street in Kottaimedu. “It was around this time that we decided to take back books that people bought from us, for 50% of its cost,” he says. This apply gave approach to a devoted shelf on their cart for books that could possibly be borrowed. “We stocked books by Sandilyan and Kalki that we bought at the book fair at Town Hall,” says Noorul. Soon, their assortment elevated, so did their clients.
In 2010, they’d over 4,000 members, with new ones becoming a member of day-after-day
| Photo Credit:
Siva Saravanan S
Noorul discovered the thought interesting; one that allow folks learn a number of books for a fraction of their value. He realised this was what he wished to do — lend books to folks. In 1986, he took a 6×16 sq ft room for lease on Trichy Road, lining the cramped house with books that he purchased for ₹50,000. “I stocked a lot of Tamil books by authors who were popular during the time, such as Akilan, Rajesh Kumar, Balakumaran, Ramani Chandaran, and Sivasankari.” He additionally had an fascinating combine of English novels by Jeffrey Archer, Enid Blyton, and Archies and Asterix comics that he purchased from Mumbai.
The library was first arrange in a 6×16 sq ft house on Trichy Road
| Photo Credit:
Siva Saravanan S
Writer Rajesh Kumar was current on their opening day. “We knew each other from our book stall days,” recollects Noorul. On day one, Choose & Read managed to get 53 members. “Some of them are with us to this day,” he provides: “Such as no. 9, Nimmi, no. 45 Duraisami.” Like all environment friendly librarians, Noorul by no means forgets the cardboard quantity of his regulars. Back then, they’d an ‘entrance fee’ of ₹25. Today although, they’ve membership schemes ranging from ₹500.
S A Noorul Ameen, the founder of Choose & Read Lending Library
| Photo Credit:
Siva Saravanan S
The library moved to an even bigger place close by in 1993, that was proper reverse St Joseph’s Matriculation School. “We were there till 2013,” he provides. This was amongst their finest years. Noorul recollects how summer time holidays could be like festivals, with youngsters jostling for house inside, keen to borrow the favored titles earlier than their pals obtained to them. “We would launch several offers, giving away gifts such as bags,” he says.
Noorul saved including bestsellers to his listing, by no means lacking out on e book opinions in newspapers. He knew the heartbeat of the reader, and what every author was good at. In 2010, they’d over 4,000 members, with new ones becoming a member of day-after-day. Today although, it’s a fully totally different story. They get simply round 10 walk-ins a day. “Children don’t seem to read anymore; adults too,” rues Noorul.
Despite not making a lot income, he needs to maintain the library afloat. Having spent a significant portion of his life amidst books, some quantity of romanticism has seeped into him from their pages. Noorul talks about how one ought to take within the scent and texture of a e book earlier than setting out to studying it, similar to how one takes within the aroma of meals on a plate earlier than a meal. “Books are life itself, something that should be an essential part of society for its betterment,” he says.
Noorul’s son S N Niyaz Ahamed has now taken over the reins and is within the course of of including their listing of over 60,000 titles into the digital house. “A mobile application is in the works, through which one can borrow books that will be delivered at their doorstep,” he explains. “Readers may advocate the books they need to learn on the app.“ It is ready to be launched quickly and can hopefully give a brand new lease of life to Choose & Read’s books, which are wrapped in crisp plastic covers similar to the outdated days.
Published – May 05, 2025 05:13 pm IST
