Project to attract children to library

Encouraged by the good response to the project launched a few months ago, at Indira Priyadarshini Children’s library in Cubbon Park, the commission has decided to extend the project to other parts of the State to attract children to the library.

M K Sridhar, executive director and member secretary of the commission, said during a series of meetings on decline in the reading habit among children, some suggested setting up more libraries and constructing new library buildings. But, he said, the committee finally decided to upgrade the existing libraries and turn them into resource centres for children.

Sridhar said Department of Primary and Secondary Education, Public Libraries, Department of Horticulture, Department of Women and Child Development are involved in the project. The collaboration among the departments had helped the commission to add new features, including training on ornithology, telescope, gardening, mobile science lab and aquarium.

R K Badigannavar, deputy director of the State Central Library, said story-telling, conceptual painting, ‘pick and speak’ and magic shows were organised as part of the project in the last three months.

He said over 6,000 books in the library would be available for borrowing at a nominal security deposit. The parents can borrow books for their children, he added. The library also has 10 computers, 150 CDs, toys, photographs and an innovative media kit which is a product of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (ILFS), Badigannavar said.