Ernakulam's EMS Cooperative library goes digital

KOCHI: The EMS Cooperative Library under the Ernakulam District Cooperative Bank is planning to reach out to more readers across the state by linking them with its digital platform. EMS Library, the first-of-its-kind in the cooperative sector in the country, has been linked with the Delnet Library Network System to connect with 5,500 libraries in India and abroad. As part of its commitment to provide more facilities to its customers and the general public, it has been making all-out efforts to convert the library into a unique one in the state in the cooperative sector. 

Started in October 1999, with 100 members and 5,000 books on the top floor of its headquarters at Kakkanad, the library had attracted more members in a short time. By 2001, its membership grew by 1,050 and the number of books crossed 12,000. Later, the bank purchased 25 cents of land from the GCDA at Mavelipuram, Kakkanad, to set up an own building for the library. Spread over 13,500 sq ft, the library which is adjacent to a park has all modern facilities.

The private book collection of critic M Krishnan Nair was brought to the library which includes over 8,000 books. The T J S George corner, set up using the journals contributed by renowned journalist T J S George, is a treasure house for journalists. The cartoon-painting corner is another speciality. The financial literacy corner set up by using the Nabard fund of `5 lakh is a great step to inculcate financial literacy among children. Librarian Rajesh K D told ‘Express,’ the library had 12 staff, including a librarian. Having a membership of 13,000, the library has 98,142 books, 316 Braille books, 91 periodicals, 15 dailies and 2,557 CD roms.

With a  reference section on several subjects, periodicals, foreign journals, children’s section and research section, the library has grown in size and numbers. But the main highlight of the library is its Delnet Library network system which links the library with that of 5,500 selected libraries in India and abroad.  The SARA text-reading equipment records the text into audio format to help the visually challenged. Different softwares like Joves talking software, Weir software, Prisma CCTV and Braille audio texts are made available. 

Rajesh said in the completely computerised environment, information on a book is given online. The books are classified under Dewey Classification Scheme (DDC). “Being the first library in Kerala to get connected to the Delnet library network, over 13,000 members can access information from 5,500 libraries included in the network from their house itself,” he said. 

Setting up a reference data bank on the cooperation-related books and journals is also on the anvil. As part of this, all information related to the cooperative sector is gathered and transformed into digital format. The facility to use the services of the Delnet network will be made available to the members from their own houses from this December. The steps to link the library software with the mobile app have also been started.