Let’s respect the amenities provided to us

A Girgaon Chowpatty garden for senior citizens aged 60 and above has started a free library for its members. Membership to the space is also free of cost. The library comprises at least 200 books donated by people from across the city. These are currently stowed in a cupboard on the garden grounds. Visitors, walkers, exercisers can read them during their time in this garden.

The logistics are being worked out still but there are plans to let people take the books home and bring them back in good faith, a report read in this paper. When a new citizen centric facility is offered to the public, there is always reason to cheer. More so, when it is our silver haired set, who can benefit from initiatives.

There are a number of such libraries in public spaces, so we must see the civic authorities work with citizens, shoulder to shoulder to bring new dimensions to our green spaces. We should also see that amenities are respected and maintained. This is not just the responsibility of the managers but the people using them too.

ADVERTISEMENT In this case, books must be put back once read, if they are allowed to be taken home, they should be brought back by the reader. No tearing these books, bending pages, breaking the spine just out of carelessness. Keep in mind that there are other readers after you, and one’s behaviour must reflect and be an acknowledgement of that.

When founders and those behind the installation realise that people are using the library with care and a thought for others, they will be enthused to set up similar models elsewhere. While this is specific to the library, the same can be said of any amenity given to the public. It is often said that people do not respect something if it is given free.

Let us strive to change that narrative and, in fact, prove that they respect it even more so..