Bit late to the chat, but would also recommend the Indian Institute of World Culture in Basavanagudi. As Bharath said, not run by government but not expensive. It also has a children's library in a separate wing next to the main building, where I spent many, many happy hours as a child.
On Fri, Jan 6, 2017 at 9:43 PM, Thaths <tha...@gmail.com> wrote: > My information is a little old. But the best private lending libraries in > and Mylapore used to be: > > 1. Rajeshwari on Kutcheri road: > https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rajeswari+Lending+ > Library/@13.0355406,80.2692849,14.81z/data=!4m5!3m4! > 1s0x0:0x3183b43b7a1ad203!8m2!3d13.0357184!4d80.2696769!6m1!1e1 > > I used to go there regularly in the 90's and it looks like it is still > operating. I don't know if they have much of a toddler section, but plenty > of reading material as the child grows older. > > 2. Easwari in Goaplapuram: http://www.easwarilibrary.com/branches.asp > > BTW, all these lending libraries were "branches" IIRC, the Easwari website > confirms my hazy memory. From the website it appears that lending libraries > have become more modern (next day home delivery, etc.). > > In the 70's and 80's my brother and I used to go on an adventure taking the > bus from George Town to South Madras to go to this library, pick up a > "koodai" full of books, visit our dad who worked in an office nearby and > make our way back to North Madras. > > 3. British Council library > <https://www.britishcouncil.in/library/about/chennai>. It costs an annual > membership. Back in my teenage years the membership (a couple of hundred > rupees annually) seemed very steep to me. I now realize that the annual > membership is a way of keeping out the riffraff from overwhelming the > shelves. I was only a member for a couple of years during my high school > years. I spent countless hours programming on the BBC micro they used to > have there that was portioned out to visitors in hourly slots. > > 4. The US Consulate's library. I only visited this a couple of times in the > 80's. Back in those days when knowledge was scarce I could not find out > membership requirements. This library was a good resource when I was > researching and applying to Universities in the US. > > 5. The government Anna Library <http://www.annacentenarylibrary.com/> in > Kotturpuram. This did not exist (at this location) back in my day. But > people tell me this library is very good. The Connemara public library was > the best government library in Chennai in my days. > > I was recently reading up on the Carnegie libraries established throughout > the US (and some parts of the world). Where is the Indian Carnegie, I > wonder? > > Thaths > > > On Sat, Dec 31, 2016 at 2:19 AM Suresh Ramasubramanian <sur...@hserus.net> > wrote: > > > Murugan in Adyar is in the basement of Gokul arcade > > https://g.co/kgs/rqo5Jf > > > > The gopalapuram one - affiliated to Murugan but much older been around > for > > decades - is Eswari Lending Library https://g.co/kgs/3D5mwT > > > > --srs > > > > > On 30-Dec-2016, at 7:53 PM, Preetha Chari-Srinivas <bling...@gmail.com > > > > wrote: > > > > > > Suresh, > > > Could you give me a link to Murugan or a contact number, and the > possible > > > name of the store in Gokul Arcade? My residences are at Mylapore and > > > Velachery currently. > > > Much thanks, > > > Preetha. > > > > > >> On Dec 30, 2016 6:26 PM, "Suresh Ramasubramanian" <sur...@hserus.net> > > wrote: > > >> > > >> Murugan in gopalapuram > > >> Another one in Adyar (Gokul arcade) > > >> Let me know where you are there should be something nearby > > >> > > >> --srs > > >> > > >>> On 30-Dec-2016, at 11:16 AM, Preetha Chari-Srinivas < > > bling...@gmail.com> > > >> wrote: > > >>> > > >>> Suresh, > > >>> > > >>> I am currently based in Madras. Looking forward to hearing back from > > you. > > >>> > > >>> Cheers, > > >>> Preetha. > > >>> > > >>> On Dec 29, 2016 11:34 PM, "Suresh Ramasubramanian" < > sur...@hserus.net> > > >>> wrote: > > >>> > > >>> Which city are you in? > > >>> > > >>> Plenty I know of in Chennai. Bangalore has its fair share + second > > hand > > >>> book stores like Blossoms. > > >>> > > >>> And there’s always the kindle / ipad and such. > > >>> > > >>> On 29/12/16, 9:59 AM, "silklist on behalf of Preetha Chari-Srinivas" > > >>> <silklist-bounces+suresh=hserus....@lists.hserus.net on behalf of > > >>> bling...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >>> > > >>> Howdy folks, > > >>> I would like to seek your suggestions on the recommended reading > > >>> list/songs/nursery rhymes etc. for a 5-month old baby girl. Is > there > > a > > >>> lending library where we can get children's books from - just > > >> wondering > > >>> for > > >>> I haven't seen one in India, so far. Could be mistaken, though. > > >>> > > >>> Cheers, > > >>> Preetha. > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >
