Pune’s traditional bookstores and libraries are feeling the effects of the digital age as more readers shift to online platforms. While literature and book festivals are popular, many physical reading spaces are struggling to survive. With the rise of digital devices and online libraries, old bookstores and libraries are fighting to keep the love for reading alive.
Pune Marathi Granthalay, a 112-year-old library, is working hard to promote physical books in today’s digital world. Librarian Sanjeevani Atre shared, “Our business has been affected as more people prefer ordering books online. To keep the love for reading alive, we host activities like handwriting and story-writing competitions. Many have lost the habit of reading physical books, especially children. Parents must encourage their kids to read.”
Atre also noted, “After the pandemic, we saw more people eager to get out of their homes. People still love physical books, but there’s always a fear that some of these old libraries may shut down, and some already have. That’s our biggest challenge.”
Akshardhara Book Gallery, established in 1994, still enjoys strong sales by offering both online and offline book options. Owner Ramesh Rathiwadekar shared, “We’ve seen a 20-25% increase in book sales, with orders from around the world.” Rathiwadekar highlighted how marketing and social media have made readers more aware of new books and authors.
However, some libraries are not as fortunate. Books Meridian, a 14-year-old library in Aundh, is closing this month. Co-founder Dhiraj Kothari explained, “After Covid, we saw good numbers and a lot of walk-ins. But prices have gone up since the pandemic, and more people are turning to Kindle.” Despite this, Kothari still believes in the importance of physical books.
Kothari’s passion for books led him to start the library with his wife, Priti. He said, “We started the library to encourage people to read, but financial difficulties, high commercial rents, and GST rates of 18% have made it hard to keep it going. Libraries need support to serve the community.”
Kothari also emphasized how people often spend large sums on mobile data and dining out, but hesitate to pay Rs 500 for a library subscription. “If we don’t use resources wisely, even mobile phones will become junk,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kothari plans to focus on his handicraft D2C e-commerce business, which has grown significantly in recent years. Despite the challenges, he remains passionate about reading and hopes libraries will continue to serve the community.
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