'Make the best use of libraries'

National Library Week programme at Lakshmipur

He was speaking after inaugurating the National Library Week celebrations organised at the Gram Panchayat Library at Lakshmipur in the taluk on Thursday.

‘Spend time well’
Students in rural areas should spend their free time going to libraries. This will also help prevent group clashes among the youth, he said. “Read newspapers as well as books on various topics. Work to build a model village.”

Narayanaswamy added that the government should make permanent the job of the library staff in rural areas.

Goverment help needed
Head librarian H R Chennakeshava said the libraries in rural areas are still in their early stage and have a long way to go. The government and the Library Department should provide plots of land to the libraries in every gram panchayat for their own buildings. This will help the future generations, he said.

“This, however, is all dependent on the whims and fancies of the elected representatives,” he added.

No buildings
Of the 159 libraries in the entire district, only five have their own buildings. The money that the local organisations need to pay the Department has not been given, preventing the Department from providing facilities to the libraries, explained the librarian.

“The proposal to make the job of the librarian permanent and also fix minimum wages to the staff has been submitted to the government,” he said.

Exam books
Contractor Lakshmipura Jagadish said libraries should have books in English and also on computer science, as this would help the rural people prepare themselves for competitive exams.

APMC member G V Jayarama Reddy presided over the inaugural programme. Supervisors’ Welfare Organisation state unit vice-president Holur R Narayanaswamy made the inaugural speech. Organisation district unit president Subramanyam spoke on the occasion.

Teacher Kalachari was the master of ceremony, library supervisor A Nagendra welcomed the gathering and Gangulappa proposed the vote of thanks.

Gram Panchayat members Srinivasa Reddy, Zabeen Taj and Manjunatha Reddy, contractors Srinivasa Reddy and Venkatesh, PDO Manjunatha Prasad, R Roopa were present on the occasion.

A book exhibition and a quiz contest for students were also organised. Students who won the contest were given prizes.