Libraries on Wheels
Since the reading habit among the people especially the younger generation is waning, some efforts to cultivate the reading among the younger generations are needed and that too urgently.
To address this issue a novel idea has been conceived by the Department of Libraries and Research and Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), Kolkatta who are jointly going to launch a novel initiative ‘Library-on-Wheels in Jammu and Kashmir to reach out to the readers in the remotest corners of the UT by offering free library services at their doorstep.
The mobile libraries are being planned in all the districts of J&K to make the quality reading material available in places or areas, where it is hard to find a public library.
Notably, the administration has to spend least on such scheme as the resources for the purchase of vehicles for Mobile Libraries would be arranged from Corporate Houses and Philanthropic organizations under CSR while the recurring cost for these vehicles including fuel, maintenance and other charges would be borne by RRRLF. The books and other reading material would be provided by J&K’s Libraries Department with the District Libraries serving as the base libraries for the initiative.
Lack of public libraries in Jammu and Kashmir was proving an impediment for those who want to experience book reading as very little effort has been put by the previous governments to establish libraries that have a varied and interesting collection of books.
Book reading has been one of the favorite past time among students in Jammu and Kashmir and the past few years have witnessed a surge among the students to resort to book reading and later writing as well.
But unfortunately this hobby among the younger generation could not be cultivated to its full owing to various lacunae. One among them was the non availability of libraries at various points especially in rural belts where the students wish to have such facilities.
Now that the library on wheels is emerging as a solution to this problem it needs to be taken seriously and the mobile libraries should prove an answer to the needs of the student’s community. The mobile libraries need to be fitted with all the latest facilities that will attract the younger as well as older people towards these points and seek knowledge.
Besides, a good number of books that are in demand among the readers should occupy the shelves of the mobile libraries so that they can prove to be a treasure trove for the readers.
KV Network
