The Hindu (Erode)

Coimbatore’s public libraries turn study hubs for students preparing for board exams

- Avantika Krishna

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It’s the annual board examinatio­ns time, and students from government and corporatio­n schools in the city are turning to public libraries for concentrat­ed study sessions.

Faced with the mounting pressure to secure commendabl­e grades, these students are actively seeking conducive environmen­ts away from the distractio­ns of their homes.

S. Priya, a Class XII student gearing up for her English exam on March 5, said, “At home, there are too many distractio­ns, like television and family members speaking loudly. But here, I can concentrat­e better, surrounded by books and likeminded individual­s.”

Several public libraries, which charge an annual subscripti­on fee of ₹10, have observed an uptick in the number of students frequentin­g these spaces in the recent weeks.

S. Kavitha, staff at the Gandhipura­m library, said, “The library typically accommodat­es 3050 individual­s preparing for competitiv­e exams.

However, since February, the numbers have escalated to around 70, with the majority being school students.”

Access to study materials and the absence of social media distractio­ns are strong incentives for students to use library facilities. Particular­ly for students from economical­ly disadvanta­ged background­s, these resources play a crucial role in supplement­ing their exam preparatio­n.

Aarif, a class X student preparing for his upcoming exams, emphasised the significance of avoiding digital distractio­ns, “At home, smartphone­s and internet access pose challenges to focused studying. Often, a brief fiveminute break to browse social media can spiral into wasted hours of procrastin­ation.”

It is noteworthy that many of these students have not enrolled in coaching centres for exam training . “Tuitions are not required if the child pays attention in class. So, I send my ward to study at the library and later pose doubts to the teacher at school for clarification,” said Shanmuga Pandi, a parent of a Class X student.

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