Pustaka library in Manikonda reimagines reading room for digital age
Hyderabad: In an age of dwindling attention spans and inescapable glowing screens, a gentle revolution is blooming inside a lovingly restored 20-year-old house turned library now called Pustaka, in Manikonda, a suburb of Hyderabad. Here, the visionaries are two professionals who fiercely believe that the feel of a book and the warmth of a shared space can still be the heart of a neighbourhood.
Pustaka, with the tagline 'A New Library for All Ages!' sprang from the imaginations of Mallika Pathi, a CPA auditor, and Divya Pathi, a graphic designer. The spark was not a business pitch, but a mother’s frustration. When Divya, mother to a curious five-year-old, discovered that quality children’s books were a rare luxury for most families. They are often only available online and out of reach for many families.
“Our idea was to start something sustainable and useful to society,” said Mallika Pathi. “We saw reading habits declining, replaced by screen time. We wanted to know how we could bring those habits back and inculcate them in the new generation.” The library was thrown open to public on 27 September, 2025.
Their first idea was to open a bookstore, but that changed quickly. “I am against the idea that people buying books and keeping them is a waste of paper,” Mallika explained. “A library is different. One book can pass from one hand to many.” So, they decided to welcome people of all ages, making a place where everyone can feel at home.
A Library beyond books: Activities, Hobbies, and Discussions
Nonetheless, this is not a typical library. The founders are determined to avoid the stereotype of a silent, sterile place where one can easily grow bored. “We want to bring something new to the table,” Mallika said. “It’s not a typical library, it’s also an activity, hobby, and discussion space.”
The space itself breathes this vision. The once-quiet house now features a vibrant reading area that transforms into a lively stage for activities. Already, the Hyderabad Book Club has joined forces with Pustaka to host meet-ups and screen films based on beloved books, sparking spirited conversations afterwards added Mallika.
To captivate children, the approach is all about hands-on fun. Storytelling sessions, Do it Yourself (DIY) crafts, and pottery classes are planned to draw families in, allowing children to explore the space and, with luck, stumble upon the magic of books.
The library’s soul, however, is in its carefully curated collection of over 3,000 books. The curation was led by Sofia Bhattacharya, who was given a unique directive. “I told her that if you blindly pick up a book from the Pustaka’s collection, it should make some sense. It should hit the reader hard,” Mallika recounted. “Every book need not be a bestseller, but it should have something in it.”
The result is a collection that has already sparked delight among early visitors. “Some people have spent months hunting for certain books, only to be amazed to find them here,” Mallika shared. “Just in the past two days, we’ve seen this happen several times.”
Exclusive access to vintage titles from the 1960s
One of the library’s crown jewels is its vintage collection, curated by Abhishek. Nearly 400 delicate, treasured books, some dating back to the 1960s, rest on a special, restricted shelf, waiting for exclusive members to pore over their pages. “Whoever is mad about them is going to love them,” Mallika promised.
For the founders, this project is deeply personal. Mallika credits her own love for reading to her father, who worked at a printing press and brought home books. She spent her formative years at the Ramakrishna Math, where she read the works of Swami Vivekananda.
“Books open a lot of doors,” she reflected. “I want everyone to experience the feeling when you complete a book, a sentence that hits you. Sometimes, you find the solution to your problems in books.” added Mallika.
Membership plans for every reader
The founders created a tiered membership model to make the library accessible to all types of readers. The ‘Beginner’ plan allows members to borrow up to 3 books per month. The ‘Avid Reader’ plan allows up to 12 books monthly. Both plans are priced lower for members who commit to longer terms. The ‘Family Pass’ allows family members to share a single account and pool their borrowing limits. A ‘Vintage Exclusive’ membership offers in-library access to rare, fragile historical books on the restricted rack. Readers who do not wish to subscribe can use a ‘Walk-in Pass’ for one-time library access and on-site reading.
Further Pustaka is also planning to add Telugu books collection and encourage Telugu reading. With plans for a 200-square-foot cafe underway, Pustaka is poised to become a vital hub for connection and discovery, aiming to revive community spirit and inspire a new generation.