Public libraries became a thing of the past ever since we lost interest in reading from the physical, hard-cover books. However, not everyone today has access to internet technology, e-books and audiobooks. There are also some bibliophiles who like the feeling of reading from a book.
Hence, taking inspiration from the ‘Little Free Library’ set up at multiple places across the country, this 30-year-old woman from Arunachal Pradesh decided to set up an open, street-corner library.
According to Times Of India, a woman named Ngurang Meena hailing from Arunachal’s Nirjuli in Papum Pare district set up this ‘Self-Help Library’ encouraging kids to develop the habit of reading by spending time in the mini library.
“I bought books of all kinds worth Rs 10,000 and spent another Rs 10,000 to make the wooden ‘Self-Help Library’. I have kept 70-80 books there and the rest are in my room. I have been asking the kids to visit the library by offering them chocolates.”
Meena was keen on setting up the library after she saw a little post-box-like structure with books in it set up somewhere in Mizoram. “Although my inspiration is Mizoram, I realise that Arunachal is very different. Kids have poor writing skills. I want students of Classes IX-XII to improve them by reading more,” Meena said.
One can simply visit the library and read books free of cost. As of now, the library has received books from two donors. “I gave a dictionary and two books on UGC NET. I felt an urge to see the library for myself when I heard of it,” said a 27-year-old from Itanagar. I couriered some books by Dale Carnegie,” added Prasanna Kumar Konch, a librarian in Arunachal.
Representative Image
Meena’s street library doesn’t have a glass door to protect the books from theft. “I know that books might be stolen. I am not unduly worried about this as I stay right opposite the library,” she said. However, she’s hung some plastic sheets to protect them from rain.
The woman added that kids, especially schoolboys are embarrassed to read in public. Hence, she might consider lending books to read at home. “I see them looking at the library but doing not much else. They would be more comfortable borrowing books home than reading with little children,” she divulged.
IMO, this is by far one of the most creative and intelligent idea for public good. It would be great to see many of these in cities across the country.