Madras Literary Society’s active initiatives attract youth members 

Besides 53,600 books, out of which 500 were stored two centuries ago when the library on College Road in Nungambakkam, MLS also houses a flutter of 18-29 year-olds. These students discovered the space after attending one of its events that took place on one of the second Saturdays in the past couple of months. A charge of Rs 5,000 is levied by MLS to rent the venue for two hours to host an event.

Citing that large groups of students from Women’s Christian College, Stella Maris, Anna University, Measi Academy, CADD Institute come to study, discuss and do their assignments, Uma Maheswari says, “Several literature students from Ethiraj College have opted for our volunteering programme as their internship projects as well. Our volunteers classify and organise books, as well as dust and clean them.” Uma Maheswari has been the librarian at MLS for 25 years now.

Punithavathy Gunaseelan, 27, volunteering at MLS for over two months, said, “I am a typical fast-paced youngster and never thought I would spend days together in a library. Coming to this space changed my life, and my view of it, to slow down and reflect rather than keep running towards something.”

She added that it was a great place for networking and having interesting conversations with people from varied backgrounds. “Courtesy of the highly educated people who visit this space, and my interactions with them, I learn something new every day,” divulged Punithavathy.

An image of a letter Annie Besant had written addressed to MLS, back in 1919, clarifying her subscription payment, was posted on the library’s active Facebook and Instagram profiles. Thirupurasundari Sevvel, Secretary, MLS, said, “Besides events, social media certainly helps us reach out to youngsters. While they have Kindle and various apps on their smartphones to read from, they find the idea of holding first editions of books very appealing. Hence, they become members at MLS and visit us on occasion.”

The fee for annual subscription is Rs 1,000 - and members can borrow up to four books every week. A home delivery system set up at the library also gives the members the benefit of getting the books at their doorstep. Members receive newsletters, alerting them on the events happening in the library in the consequent weeks. “Some members across various states travel to Chennai to partake in the events we have planned,” said Uma, the librarian.