Jungle lodges and resorts President, A N Mahesh, said that "students should not restrict themselves to reading textbooks alone. They should cultivate the habit of reading books outside the curriculum."

He was speaking at the valedictory of library week, organised by the Department of Library, here on Monday.

Stating that schools give priority to results in examinations, he said that libraries in schools have declined. The schools should help the students to develop reading habits.

Further, he said that there is a decline in reading habit among the people. "How many of us make use of libraries in Gram Panchayats?" he asked.

He said that every local body should pay 6% of cess to the public library. However, the grant is being used for development of roads, UGD facilities. ZP, TP and ULB members should show a keen interest in paying the cess for libraries.

Library Book Selection Committee President, Srikanta Koodige, said that every library should become a knowledge centre. "There is a shortage of staff in library department. A few employees retire as contract workers only," he said.

District Librarian Umesh said that 226 gram panchayats in the district have a library attached to it. The district also has a mobile library. At least 150 people read competitive examination books in the district central library daily.