Free libraries in the city inspire young minds

Children at Anaikkum Karangal orphanage at Nanganallur are a busy lot these days. Whenever they find time they head to the library on their premises, newly set up by the students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, and browse through the 200-odd books on the shelves.

This is one of eight such libraries that the IIT-M students have established in and around Chennai to promote reading among kids from an underprivileged background. It is part of the ‘Pledge a Book’ campaign, a social initiative of Shaastra, an annual IIT-M event, for which they collected over 5,000 used books. “The concept is to reduce, recycle and reuse. Books are often left unused after being read. Why not give them to someone who cannot afford to buy them,” says Vishal Paidimarri, a coordinator of Pledge a Book. They teamed up with schools across the city for donations. “We received around 1,000 books from Chettinad Vidyashram alone and other schools contributed too. We were also supported by iLoveread.in. After receiving the books, we ensured that the books reached the right readers. We cannot send engineering books to school kids. So, we partnered with various NGOs that work with orphanages and schools to set up the libraries,” says Shiva Prasad, Co-Curricular Affairs Secretary, IIT-M. 

The NGOs took a call on whether to install a permanent library or take the books to the children during weekends. This year, they plan to make the campaign bigger and better. “We are in talks with various stores, outlets and gyms in Chennai that will act as our collection points, where people can leave their books. Some of them have agreed to put up our campaign posters. Schools have pledged to donate books. We plan to make it a nation-wide programme and many celebrities have pledged to donate,” says Vishal. Those, who want to donate books, can log on to: http://www.shaastra.org/pledgeabook/. 

Books are a gateway to a world unknown and free libraries are a perfect place to promote the cause. Little Free Library is a movement started in the US, where people can set up bookshelves stocked with their own collections. People are free to pick the books and also drop one in exchange for every book taken. 

Chennai too has such neighbourhood book-exchange kiosks. The first one was started by photographer Shannon Zirkle and her friends in Egmore. Now, one can find these libraries at yoga studios, super markets, apartments and even police stations. The office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mylapore, is one such reading hub. Anyone is free to walk into the premises and take a book. “I have started libraries wherever I have been posted in the past,” says V. Balakrishnan, Mylapore DCP, who began this eight months ago with the help of Shuddha, an NGO, that supports the Little Free Library movement. 

“Kids from the neighbourhood visit the library and make use of the vast range of books available. They are free to take books and donate the ones they don’t need. There are people coming to the police station who often have to wait. Instead of sitting idle they can read. Employees can make better use of their free time. People come here with grievances, motivational books in the library can help them,” he says. The police station’s shelves are stocked with over 1,000 books and Balakrishnan plans to set up more such libraries in the city.