Reading for transformation and change

National Reading Month was being observed from June 19 – July 18, 2018, by Human Resource Development Ministry. DEF as one of the partners for the initiative organised number of activities to inculcate reading as a habit among 300 million underserved Indians. DEF in partnership with NASSCOM Foundation, organises several activities in Telangana with local government schools, managing Indian Public Library Mission in 13 district and state public libraries. District Central Library, Khammam and Mahbubnagar, conducted school children’s group activity programme by involving local NRI members as well as a Reading Habit Development class for the local school children respectively.

National Book Trust’s (NBT) ‘Book Selection Programme’ was conducted with the support of local school children and library staff in District Central Library, Vikarabad, and District Central Library, Nalgonda. The school children were in the age group of 10-16 years, and they formed ‘Reader’s club’ and selected children storybooks from NBT’s collection of books.

An awareness programme on National Digital Library of India (NDLI) Portal was conducted in regional library, Warangal. On NDLI portal, anyone can access educational materials ranging from primary to post-graduate level available in 70 languages; and content in different formats from multiple subject domains technology, science, humanities, agriculture and others. The participants comprised of youth, library staff and local NGOs.

The ‘Reader’s Month’ has effectively spread awareness about reading as a habit for social change and nation building through public libraries in Telangana to create an egalitarian and tolerant society.