'Tent library' for children of mahouts, kavadis

Henceforth, the school going children of mahouts and kavadis of elephants camping within the precincts of Mysore Palace can also have the privilege to a library.

In a first of its kind initiative, the Department of Public Libraries, in association with Mysore Library and Information Scientists Association (Mylisa), will be opening a make-shift ‘Tent Library’ from September 1 at the Palace compound.

Deputy Director of City Central Library B Manjunath told Deccan Herald that the library was modelled after ‘Tent School’ that has been a school outside forest, for the offsprings of mahouts and kavadis from the past several years. Prof M Harinarayan, the Chairman of Mylisa came forward with the idea, and the department decided to support it.

Through temporary library, the department wants to kindle the habit of reading among the children of mahouts and kavadis. It is also in keeping with the department’s motto ‘Sarvarigu Pusthaka’ (Book for all). 

It has been decided to stack up a rack of 200 to 300 books in the library. The books will be in Kannada only, with thrust on comics and picture oriented books suiting the children’s interest. For the benefit of educated parents, if any, (mahouts and kavadis and their family members), there will be novels and story books.

Manjunath said while one dedicated staff from the department will be managing the library, the graduate and post-graduate students of the department of library and information sciences, Manasagangotri, are tasked with the job of turning it into a centre of activities by reading stories to the children.

The books will also be lent, without charging any fee. The library will function during the school hours between 10.30 am and 1.30 pm.