IBBY-Yamada 2015: India

Good books are often not available to children in remote areas of India. The Association of Writers and Illustrators (AWIC) received funding to establish a library in the village of Kandela, (Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, about 180 km from New Delhi) to serve children of the surrounding villages and schools. AWIC selected and purchased 2100 appropriate books and also the steel cupboards for storing the books, which would be used by six libraries in nearby villages. A three-day workshop for teachers and librarians was held, emphasizing the importance of libraries and the reading habit in children. The first day outlined the aims of the library: to create an awareness of the importance of reading and right of every child to have access to books. Specific topics included the selection of books, displaying books effectively, accession of the books and teaching children to take care of them. The second day they explored book related activities and the third day involved storytelling and games with over 100 children.