Shelf-Life with Mid-day: Why this 26-year-old Mumbaikar started a study room and library in Malad

In 2016, while pursuing his Bachelor's in Mass Media degree, Parth Shah noticed a lack of study spaces for students in Malad, Mumbai. Empathizing with his peers' struggle to find a peaceful place to study, Shah decided to create a solution. Supported by his family, he established a study room called 'Dream Baux,' aimed at fulfilling students' dreams of finding a suitable study environment.

Being a student himself at that time, Shah understood the challenges these students were facing and decided to do something about it. It did not take long for him to start the study room for students to study in peace. The initiative gradually evolved into a library, thanks to a donation of close to 300 books from a generous donor. With access to books, patrons began requesting more reading materials. Today, Dream Baux serves not only students but also attracts children, adults and retired individuals who enjoy reading.

Creating a study space and library
The concept of the library revolves around two aspects - providing a peaceful study area and offering affordable book rentals. Members can rent books for a month, a year, or any desired duration at a nominal fee of Rs 1,200 per year (Rs 100 per month). This affordability aims to promote a reading culture among children, youth and senior citizens.

Shah says: "We have two things that are simultaneously going on - one is a study area, where people can sit and study, because they can't do it at home due to some noise, disturbance or distraction. The second is renting books, which is like a circulating library, where people can take a membership for a month, year or for how much every time they want, and they can come and rent books here."

Dream Baux's collection now exceeds 4,000 books, covering diverse genres and catering to readers of all ages. Interestingly, when Shah started out seven and a half years ago, it was like a small start-up but after they got a good response, he decided to expand. Shah expanded his initiative to Goregaon West in July 2022 and Malad West in March 2023 to reach more readers within Mumbai. "We have all kinds of books including self-help books, communication, negotiations, investments, finance, motivational, mystery, thrillers, love stories and enough for children too. Ek baccha agar do saal tak padhega, toh bhi books bachenge," shares Shah, who not only runs the library and study space but also an event management company and an advertising agency.

Children are the future
Children and teens between 6 and 19 years are the primary focus of Dream Baux, as Shah observes their enthusiasm for exploring and reading various books. However, the library also attracts students preparing for competitive exams and working professionals seeking leisure reading options.

Shah says those who are older know what they want and are able to buy their own books online on Amazon because they are working individuals. So, they wouldn't opt to rent books from a library. On the other hand, the younger generation takes time to spend at the library looking at different books and sitting to read them there. At the end of the day, he says, the children are their long-term readers. "As of now, most of the members are from Kandivali, Malad and Goregaon within a 5 km - 7 km radius." While the library is actively visited by all of them, it is also frequented by students appearing from UPSC and Civil services examinations.

He adds, "There are senior citizens like aunties and uncles, who have retired, who come for the Marathi, Hindi and Gujarati collections; there are also others who are reading classics like old authors." The ones who are between 25 - 35 years don't want to limit themselves to the fact that they need to finish the book within a month and want to spend their leisure time reading.

The library has developed its collection based on the reader's choice. Every time a reader comes and asks about a particular book and recommends keeping it in their collection. Shah says he makes sure that they include not only the particular book but also other books that are a part of the series.

Initially, there were people who came for Jeffery Archer and Sidney Sheldon. Then over time there have been people who come for books by Ashwin Sanghvi, Sudha Murty, Ruskin Bond, Durjoy Dutta and Chetan Bhagat among Indian authors. However, he points out, "Since the last two-three years, people have been only reading the books that are recommended on Instagram like Colleen Hoover, Anna Huang. Shah himself is a book lover and loves reading about Robert Greene, Napolean Hill, Robin Sharma and Sanghi.

Navigating Covid-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges, limiting physical access to books. Nevertheless, Dream Baux adapted by providing PDFs of books to readers during the lockdown and resumed book rentals after the restrictions eased.

Shah explains, "A lot of people wanted to read books during the lockdown and since I wasn't able to go to the library, we started gathering PDFs of the books they wanted and started sending it to people so that they can read. As soon as the lockdown was lifted, we started renting books again, even as others opted for audiobooks. So, it didn't really hit us as much as I thought it would."

For Shah, the library is a passion project rather than a primary income source. Despite wearing multiple hats as a businessman, he dedicates himself to fostering a reading culture in the Malad neighborhood.

At such times, the study room helps. He explains, "There are people who come to the study rooms for a week, month and a year. The fee depends on how many numbers of hours they want to sit and that is anywhere between Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month, depending on different kinds of services they want like AC, Wi-Fi, washroom, lockers, reserved seats, sockets. There is also a co-working space for them to use, if they are studying while they are working."

Shah's patience and dedication have been essential in growing Dream Baux. His commitment has garnered attention, with many inquiring about franchise opportunities. With plans to open more branches across Mumbai, Shah aims to make reading accessible to an even wider audience.

"Business requires a lot of patience and a lot of people do lack that because they want results in a year, but that is not possible in this business. When you invest in 5,000 books, you know you are not going to make it immediately, and it will take time. A lot of people are not willing to wait for long."

Even though he has dabbled at many different things over the years, the library has been a constant. "It is through the library that I have been able to build a network and a lot of people know me because of it."

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