‘The students love coming to the library… Often we run out of books’

Last week, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated libraries in 100 government primary schools, in “an effort to develop literacy skills, reading habits among children”.

The Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya. (Express Photo/Amitava Chakraborty)

Last week, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated libraries in 100 government primary schools, in “an effort to develop literacy skills, reading habits among children”. In association with a non-profit organisation, Room to Read, 56,671 books have been provided to the schools, where 27,672 children are enrolled. Raja Ram Mohan Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Hauz Rani, is one of the schools where Classes 1-5 attend one library class each week. Meant for girls, the school holds classes for boys in the evening hours.

Take 5 with Asha Rani, 43, Class teacher, RRM Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Delhi.

Was any seminar held to train teachers who will be running the libraries?

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Yes, we attended a class to make us aware of the programme and how to run the library. We were told about books that should be given to students of a particular class. The books are classified using a coloured tape. For instance, the books with orange tape are for students of a particular class, while the ones with white tape are for another class.

How many books were given to you?

The NGO gave us over 500 books. All books for children that we have in our library have been given to us by them. These include story as well as picture books. Most of the books belong to popular publishers such as Ekalavya, Katha Kids and the Pratham Education Foundation. Most stories in the books are based on the lives of mythological characters. All the books are new.

Also read | Delhi: 100 more libraries in govt schools, students will be bookkeepers

Is the library drawing students?

Yes, the students love visiting the library. I am the teacher of Class 4A. I take my children to the library on Tuesday. There are 10 library classes for the entire primary section. Each class has two sections, and each section has one library class every week. We do various activities in the library period. For students of the junior classes, we read out stories from these books. They like listening to them. There are picture books as well. Seeing these pictures, children often make up stories themselves from their imagination. These books have bigger and attractive fonts. This draws the attention of the children. However, children of senior classes are allowed to choose books themselves and take them for reading. But often there is a situation where there are less books in the library as many of them have been issued to children who have taken them home.

What has been the role of the Delhi government?

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The Delhi government’s Department of Education (DoE) has been helpful. Recently, we received a lot of books from them. These books have been kept in the class, and not in the library. The DoE is planning to have class libraries across schools.

Has any other organisation voluntarily come forward to donate books?

No other organisation has donated us books till now.

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