Historical collections at the Goa State Central Library have survived the vagaries of nature and time, but tangled red tape and bureaucratic delays in acquiring air conditioning systems may consign them to the dustbin of history.
For instance, a sole copy of a book published in 1782 weathered the heat of conquests and the Liberation movement, but it is withering away due to the heat, mildew, and extreme humidity. Books in the Portuguese section on the 6th floor are treasures, but the lack of ventilation or AC is making them brittle; very soon, they would crumble to dust, and termites are making things worse.
According to the library’s curator, the Public Works Department (PWD) had floated the air conditioning tender three times, but no suitable vendor came forward to execute the job. Matters are aggravated by the flawed design of the library facade itself, which is dominated by glass not suitable for tropical climates.
