To encourage reading, Odisha sets up its first public library in a park

The BDA has provided the space and the physical infrastructure required for setting up the library. As the library is located within the park, it would be open between 7 am and 10 am then between 4 pm and 7 pm daily except on Mondays.

Published on: Mar 21, 2021, 18:59:44 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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In a novel initiative to inculcate the reading habit in students, youngsters and the community at large, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority on Sunday opened a public library in one of the parks of Bhubaneswar where children can come and read books for 6 hours every day.

The library, a collaboration between the BDA and city-based Bakul Foundation, started functioning at the Biju Patnaik Park, popularly known as ‘Forest Park’, and will have around 2000 books, including fiction, non-fiction, biographies, classics and textbooks. Though this library caters to people of all age groups, it would focus on children and students. It would have among others all-time favourite series-- Wimpy Kids, Geronimo Stilton books, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew books, Enid Blyton books and the Harry Potter series.

Former IAS officer and chief advisor to CM Naveen Patnaik, R. Balakrishnan who inaugurated the library on Sunday morning, said it is a great step by the BDA to promote the park library culture at a time when the reading habit is declining among youngsters.

“In the age of Internet and social media, there is a steady decline in the reading habit. Therefore, initiatives like a park library will surely help in encouraging and promoting reading habits among all. This library will definitely attract children, students, book lovers and people visiting the park who can spend some time in reading amid a cool and peaceful environment,” said Balakrishnan, adding that more such libraries will come up in other big parks in the city.

The BDA has provided the space and the physical infrastructure required for setting up the library. As the library is located within the park, it would be open between 7 am and 10 am then between 4 pm and 7 pm daily except on Mondays.

Founder-secretary of Bakul Foundation, Sujit Mahapatra said the library has a collection of Odia and English books and has shelves with books for children too, with chairs and tables meant for them. “The books have been graded into difficulty levels and genres to get a child interested in reading without intimidating him or her. The library has books in English and Odia, but there is a shelf each for children’s books in Hindi and French as well.

The foundation will engage its volunteers – comprising students, retired people, homemakers and professionals – who will conduct storytelling sessions, creative workshops and live performances to attract students and youngsters to the library,” Mahapatra said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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