A community library has come up in New Town where people can read books, take books home and return them for free.
People can also donate books to the library.
The library is near the new Futsal turf ground, not far from the Akankha Crossing in Action Area III.
It features an open architecture where people can read books and take books home without spending any money, said an official of The Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco).
Residents donated books to start the library. On its inaugural day on August 15, the library had 165 books on its shelves.
While the infrastructure of the library has been built by Hidco, which builds and manages infrastructure in New Town, the library will be run by the Kolkata Society For Cultural Heritage, an NGO that works on a variety of issues.
A Hidco official said they have specifically chosen the location as “it already has a ready footfall of young people, especially on weekends”.
“Reading is a habit that needs to be inculcated and with the age of smartphones and online entertainment, it is important to nurture this habit in any way possible. We are hoping that this community library will encourage reading habits as well as create a community zone,” said the official.
There are plans to set up a facility where people can also purchase pre-owned books for a nominal cost.
Sourav Mukherjee, who runs the Kolkata Society For Cultural Heritage, said they will also organise story-telling sessions and book-reading nights.
“We are planning to have a lot of interactive sessions on books so that the zone turns into a place where book lovers can not only assemble but also attract new readers to its fold,” said Mukherjee.
