Ferozepur, Jan. 30 -- The 14 public libraries in the districts across Punjab are in crisis due to a shortage of librarians. According to official data, 26 of the 28 sanctioned librarian posts across the state are vacant, with the last recruitment having taken place in 1998.

The MM Central State Library in Patiala, one of the most significant knowledge centres in the state, has seven sanctioned librarian posts, but all are vacant.

After the librarian retired in 2019, the Patiala library's additional charge was handed over to the Amritsar librarian, who also retired in 2023. The library is functioning with the help of attendants and subordinate staff.

Similarly, district libraries in Amritsar, Faridkot, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, K...