"VAN" (Delhi Bureau - 05.08.2023) :: “I believe that libraries must be popularised as drawing room and study of the community for them to become centres of social interaction and also of contemplation.”
Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Festival of Libraries being organized from 5-6 August 2023. She highlighted the importance of efforts for conservation of manuscripts and modernization and digitization of libraries as the nature of libraries evolves with the use of information and communication technology.
As part of the Festival of Libraries 2023 and to take the reading movement to the people, National Book Trust, India has put up a prototype of a Model Village Library Project titled Gyaan Samvaad Kendra.
Gyaan Samvaad Kendra (Knowledge Communication Centre) represents the next generation of Public Library at villages and municipal wards with a futuristic approach for dissemination of two way exchange of Ideas and knowledge leveraging the traditional knowledge repository of the villages and creating intellectual heritage for the benefit of the society. The logo represents the traditional Indian way of learning and reading.
The Library has been conceptualised by National Book Trust, India as per the aspirations of Naya Bharat, combining best of the literature and reading material in physical as well as digital format.
The Library is divided into five different sections :
The inner-most section has a Children’s Corner with age-appropriate pictorial books and ergonomically designed colourful furniture with easy access of books for younger children. This section is connected with a dedicated corner for Nari Shakti, with specially earmarked pink furniture and a dedicated reading zone, so that a mother and her child can read together. The library also has a virtual reality zone where storytelling is reintroduced for immersive learning and engagement.
For two-way interactive and digital learning, and online classes/ guidance from best of the teachers around the globe, there is a provision for two-way video interaction as well. For effective usage of the upcoming National Digital Library Project, there is a dedicated computer system. For inclusive and equitable learning opportunities, there is a section of Braille books and audio books. Newspapers, journals and magazine subscriptions are added in digital and physical format.
A curated list of books across geographies, languages, genres and levels are made available at the Library with focused sections on Children’s Literature, Books on and by Women Writers, Health, Wellness and Life-skills in addition to Literature and Biographies. It has a special focus section on Agriculture and Agricultural Marketing as well as on Financial Literacy and Career, Learning & Entrepreneurship. As we move towards Amrit Kaal, there is a dedicated section on the Indian Value System, Indian Knowledge System, Fundamental Duties & Rights, Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat, and books on Environment & Water Conservation.
These public libraries are designed to be centre of knowledge communication with exchange of ideas and knowledge, and they will be abuzz with literary activities, interactions and workshops. These libraries will be stepping stones for a Naya Bharat bringing large scale fast-paced social and economic change in the society.
NBT-India is also organizing many events and sessions on library management, storytelling workshops, author interactions, etc, at its Pavilion at the Festival of Libraries (5-6 August 2023) for all teachers, students, librarians and other stakeholders, visiting the Festival of Libraries.
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