Today, the library has over 1 lakh books and more than 15,000 members.
“Of them, only around 8,000 are active,” Rajesh admits. Even so, it’s a significant number, especially considering the Ernakulam Public Library, with a century-and-a-half-long history and greater grants, serves roughly the same.
Part of this growth is thanks to the influx of young techies to the region, many of whom now visit with their families. “Family membership is a novelty of the EMS Library. Also, our most popular package,” Rajesh says.
There are also memberships for students, institutions and more. While the library’s core focus is general reading, it also has academic sections, reference materials, and rare books on Indian history, culture, and art.
The highlights are the private book collection of critic M Krishnan Nair, which includes over 8,000 books; the T J S George corner, stocked with journals from the veteran journalist; a financial literacy section and a special wing of books on Gandhi and EMS.
And, as a member of DELNET, the library also partners with national and international libraries to provide digital access to an even wider range of books.