<p>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."</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was speaking at the valedictory of library week, organised by the Department of Library, here on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>
<p>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."</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was speaking at the valedictory of library week, organised by the Department of Library, here on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>
