INTERVIEW 1: AA Books and Lending Library, Palakkad

The first interview was with Mr. Khaja Moideen, Manager, AA Books and Lending Library, Palakkad. We conducted all the surveys in Malayalam and the transcript in English is given below:

AA BOOK CENTRE AND LENDING LIBRARY

Surya: Good Morning Sir. We are from Kendriya Vidyalaya Kanjikode and we are conducting a survey on Reading Habits of Students in Palakkad. So please spend a few minutes with us.

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Sure.

Nirupam: Thank you sir. How long have you been in this business?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Me. For about 16-17 years

Vishnu: Is book selling a profitable business now?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Yes.

Nirupam: In the previous years, whether there is an increase or decrease in the sale of books?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: See. We are mainly dealing with Engineering, computer and other textbooks here.  We are also dealing general books. Mainly we supply to the college students. No problem in the sale. Its going smoothly.

Vishnu: Do you think the reading habit of the students has decreased now?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Little bit. If we compare with five years back and now, yes, there is a decrease. Now the Internet and Television have caused a decline.

Nirupam: What are the major reasons for the decline?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Now all the books are available as e-books over the Internet which has affected our sales. Then the television programmes also cause a diversion. This has not only affected the students, but of the adults too.

Vishnu: Do you allow people to read the books available here?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Not exactly. We have a lending library here. So if they join as a member they can borrow the books from us.

Vishnu: How can we become the member of the lending library?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: You need to deposit Rs. 400/- which is refundable when you cancel the member ship. You can take two books at a time for a period of 10 days. We charge a reading fee of 10% of the MRP of the books.

Nirupam: What kind of books do you sell most?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Computer books, novels, general books and children’s books all do well

Vishnu: How many members are there in your lending library?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: About 400 members are there now.

Nirupam: How many years since you started this lending library?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Seven years

Nirupam:  Can share with us some best sellers in your library?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Of course. Childrens novels like Goosebumps, Enid Blyton books, Famous five, mysteries.. then Eldest, Brisinger series and Vampire Academy etc.

Vishnu: How many books do you sell in a month?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: We cannot say that for all the months. It is seasonal

Nirupam: On an average?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: That varies. In season time around 500-1000 books will sell.

Nirupam: Among your library members, how many of them are children?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Around 500 will be there.

Vishnu: You regularly conduct book fairs in schools. What is the response from the students?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Very good. We get very good response from the children and we get good business too.  They show keen interest.

Nirupam: Then, is there an increase in the library membership in the previous years?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Memberships…we started in 2006 then we got 200 members,  in 2008 we got 300 and in 2010 it became 400. Now it is 400 an year. We expect another 100 in the next six months or an year, so it will be 500.

Surya: Is there any loss in this business?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Loss… if you run it correctly it will be profitable. But both profit and loss will be there when you run a business.

Nirupam: Are you there in the social sites… or do you have a website?

Mr. Khaja Moideen: Not yet. We are planning to have a website.

Surya: Thank you sir.