If you are a bibliophile, here is a chance to share the love for books with government school and college students.
With the Department of Public Libraries being short-handed by civic bodies, who have not handed over hundreds of crores collected as library cess, officials are looking at residents for a way to keep alive the reading habit. Drop boxes are being set up at several popular malls in the city that will allow residents to come and drop off their book collection. The initiative, Pustaka Dana Abhiyana (programme for donation of books), is focused on creating awareness about book donation.
The first collection drive was conducted at Garuda Mall on Monday and similar events will be collected in other malls in November. On Monday, the organisers received over 500 books from various publications, bookstores, writers and people from different walks of life.
ADVERTISEMENT
Satish Kumar S. Hosamani, Director of Public Libraries, said people could drop off books of all genres irrespective of languages. “We want to encourage the reading habit among youngsters and want to attract new readers to our libraries,” he said. There are over 7,000 public libraries, apart from government educational institutions, across the State.
The department decided to come up with this initiative as the libraries have seen funding dry up. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has collected library cess of ₹350 crore, but has not handed it over to the department.