Sustainable libraries in government schools soon

BANGALORE: The library in Government Higher Primary School in Koti Hosahalli echoes the sounds of children cherishing time with books. Here, students between class 2 and 7, indulge in story telling and activities that compliment their classroom learning. The library model Oduve Naanu (I Shall Read), is an initiative of Akshara Foundation. All the 189 libraries started by the Foundation will be handed over to 565 government schools in Bangalore (Urban), which will be operated by the Education Department. “There are 1,420 government schools in Bangalore. This is an extension of our reading programme where we tried to induce extensive reading habits among students. The library programme will help students continue reading habits,” said Ashok Kamath, chairman, Akshara Foundation. The modelThe reading programme is the precedent to library programme initiated by Akshara Foundation. The reading programme makes use of story cards. These cards contain two pictures along with text narrating moral stories. With one card a day for 45 days, the stories get complex, enabling the students to become fluent with picture comprehension and reading. The library programme is the next phase of story card model.  “A library hour has been adopted in the weekly timetable. Close to 6,50,000 books will be available in these libraries. On an average, 15,000 books are borrowed in a day. Through this programme we aim to connect what happens in the classroom with library,” said Kanchan Bannerjee, managing trustee, Akshara Foundation. The impact“Students are very confident while talking to others. Also, in recent times, their focus on studies has increased. Colourful pictures and big letters in the library books are showing results,” said G Vasantha, headmistress, Govt Higher Primary School, Koti Hosahalli. How the transfer works?“We have established library hubs. One suitable school is selected for a library, which will act as a hub for the neighbouring schools. These libraries will have librarians employed by the Foundation. Once these hubs are handed over, we will pull out our people, and the government will appoint one of the teachers for the library,” said Kamath. One hundred and eighteen library hubs will be transferred to the state government into five hundred and sixty five schools in Bangalore (Urban) alone.