New Delhi: In a scenario where everyone is so tech savvy and wants work to be done on a click of a mouse, will they go to a library for a book? With changing trends, library is now just a click away.
Ram Gopal Sharma and Sons library at Shankar Market, Connaught Place, had started online book library where a reader has the liberty to choose from a catalogue of books and place an order only. The portal BookMeABook.com started by Nidhi Verma is trying to reach out to the masses by making it people friendly.
"In order to make it convenient for out customers, we have divided them into five categories -- super, regular, relaxed, casual and turtle reader," she says. Depending on the speed of their reading a book, they can choose from the given categories and enjoy the benefits likewise.
The portal is easy to access as a reader has to just choose the books and place an order. The books will be delivered at the given address and payment can be made online. "Even though we have an online payment facility, people are more comfortable in giving cheques or cash. I don't think they trust online payment," she says.
The membership fee ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 600 and an additional amount of Rs 500 is deposited as a refundable security amount.
The portal was started in 2007 as people complained about the difficulties they faced while coming to the place. The construction work at Connaught Place, rising parking fees, traffic were a few of the problems listed by them.
Even after launching the portal, people preferred to come to the place. "To my surprise, people come to the place and we have a different clientele for online," she adds.
The library was started by Ram Gopal Sharma, grandfather-in-law of Nidhi Verma, in 1940s. And now the place is managed by Manjula Sharma, her mother-in-law. From floor to the ceiling, the place is covered with books. It has very old romantics, thrillers, suspense and has a new collection too.
In the library, books are lend on a reading fee and that varies from book to book. It can be 10 to 15 per cent of the cost of the book and likewise. A few of the books are also available for the purpose of selling.
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