This one totally qualified for the Big Wow Factor. It also had us on a marathon dash to none other than the library. "Girl, it will have everyone lining up, just wait 'n' watch," Christina Singh, deputy manager British Library is in an upbeat mood. And she, in fact the entire staff and manager Bipin Kumar, have every right to sing balle-balle. Come March 10, the library will 'tune' into a whole new page - "Music. The new addition to the library is greatest music from the Great Britain, in both audio and visual format," Bipin guides us to the stock room stacked with names and concerts you've only read about - 101 children's favourites, AC/DC, All Angels, Babyshambles, Aztec Camera, Andrew Llyod Webber, Bananrama, Bronski Beat, Beatles, Bee Gees, Chris De Burgh, Cliff Richard, Daneil O'Donnel, David Bowie, Coldplay, Culture Club, Faitless, Fat Boy Slim, Deep Purple, Eurythmics, various artist, motion picture soundtracks, world music, music for relaxation, for sleep, for meditation, for yoga, for feng shui, for reiki... phew, there's a record list out there! "With a 5.1 effect to it, get ready to experience the best," claps Christina, busy finalising the schedule for the soft launch. "We are toying with the idea of having a jazz evening here for that day," she proudly presents us another thing - IPods. "You can sit here and download your very own music!" Double wow! Delhi BCL is already on, how much longer will Chandigarh take? "The CDs and DVDs can be rented by the members, and there's no extra charge. As for the IPods, these will be locked here and you can come and transfer music on yours," she tells us. But what receives a triple wow is the musical shower. FYI: a musical shower limits the sound of music only in that little radius it plays. Move out, and you won't hear a word. Again, Delhi has it. "We'll have it soon," Christina assures us.
One main point: what about theft? "That much trust we have to place in our members. Plus, it's on their request and research that we are adding a music library. If this is what they want in a library, then be it. At least, it will make them come here," Bipin is confident.
