Tamil Nadu: 'Friends of Library' scheme launched to promote reading

DINDIGUL: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday launched the 'Friends of Library' scheme here, wherein books will be personally provided to those who are unable to visit state-run libraries.

The service of volunteers will be used for this purpose, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who inaugurated the scheme here, said. Accordingly, differently abled persons, senior citizens, children and hospital in-patients among others who cannot come to a library will benefit from the initiative. Volunteers will hand over the books to such people from the libraries, he added.

Also Read | Jharkhand: govt primary school students to have access to child-friendly libraries to 'develop reading habit'

The beneficiaries should be registered with the library concerned. In its first phase, the scheme will cover 2,500 libraries including 31 district libraries. The aim of such an initiative was to promote a knowledge-based society. State food minister R Sakkarapani, district collector, S Visakan and others participated.

"We will give up to 25 books to these volunteers to circulate in their neighbourhood. It will help elderly people, disabled and others to get the books at their doorstep," said K Elambahavath, director of public libraries. The easy availability of books at home is expected to attract more children, housewives and others towards books. Volunteers will be asked to ensure that books are returned within 15 days and if needed the readers can also renew the books. They will maintain a separate register to distribute books till the launch of a mobile app.

In addition to this, determined to bring the State’s public libraries at par with the best, Tamil Nadu is all set to equip 76 of these with 152 virtual reality devices. The objective is to attract kids and youngsters to books while also enhancing their reading experience.