Four friends have launched an online library for you, select your book at a click and have it delivered and picked up from home
For bookworms, it cant get much better than this e-library that offers the convenience of a library at the click of a mouse, with free home delivery added.
Four friends and young entrepreneurs in search of something new to do, hit upon the idea of taking the library home, in the style of Netflicks, the online DVD rental library popular in USA. Thats how www.librarywala.com was created, after months of research about Mumbaikars book reading habits and their preferences for an online library service.
Started in August 2007, the citys first online library has 8,000 titles of bestsellers, management, and childrens books, with services spreading to Pune and Bangalore. Of the 5,000 members in Mumbai and 2,000 in Pune and Bangalore, 60 per cent are young working women.
After finishing work, we would stand outside bookstores and ask customers for their opinions. Six months of doing this survey showed us that if the online service cost less than pirated books and included books delivered at home, it would work said Hiten Turakhia, managing director of librarywala.
Turakhia, with seven years experience in software and hardware technologies, handles the company full time, from picking best selling books, forming tie-ups and making deals for corporate social responsibility.
Turakhia was joined in his endeavour by cousin Hiten Dedhia, an MBA in Finance & E-Business with six years of management consulting experience. An MBA holder and close friend Dhairyasheel Pawar with seven years of marketing experience and MBA Shibanarayan Rath with experience in IT and Operations joined in too.
At their Wadala office, 32 staff members meticulously stack books; pack them for deliveries as per order and set off with their packets by noon everyday. This centre takes care of deliveries in Mumbai and Pune. Membership offers range from Rs 139 for three books a month, Rs 199 for ten books a month for children to Rs 299 for 12 books a month.
Mostly, readers between 25 years and 50 years have logged on to the website and are nurturing their book-reading bug. It has been a great experience this year. I selected books on the day I signed in and got them delivered the same day. I can read 12 books a month in my scheme, which is good value for money. I can often get latest books through them. Now I dont have to do anything, I just have to click for a book and get it delivered, said media professional Deepshikha Sharma.
I dont have complaints with the condition of books. In fact, I had once asked for a book that was available. The team however informed me that the book had not been returned in good condition and that they were getting me a new copy in two days. They offered to get another book delivered to me in the meantime, she adds.
I dont go to any library any longer, declares Ketki Thakkar, an HR professional. Thakkar enrolled at librarywala.com in June last year. It is feasible in terms of cost, service and range of books for adults and children. Even the cheapest book costs Rs 50, so with three books for Rs 139, I think it is a good deal.
Thakkar said that she was initially concerned about the condition of books and the quality, though after her experience of one month, there was no looking back.
With services like donate-a-book, books in regional languages and dial-a-book facilities in the pipeline, book-lovers will have more and more reasons to log on.
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