Kolkata: First 'Library On Wheels' For Youth
To motivate children to reconnect with books, on 14th November a one-of-its-kind library on a tram was launched in Kolkata.
To motivate children to reconnect with books, on Saturday 14th November a one-of-its-kind library on a tram was launched in Kolkata. According to the Hindustan Times, the 'Kolkata Young Reader's Tramcar' has been developed by the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) and Apeejay Anand Children's Library. Rajanvir Singh Kapur, Managing Director of WBTC said, “The tram would run across north and south Kolkata, every day from morning to evening. The Oxford Bookstores has curated the selection of books.” Kapur said that all children should get access to read good books and the idea could travel far if it was on wheels. The tramcar has been equipped with over 1,000 books. No entry fee would be charged for children. It has been decorated with attractive artworks of children reading which have been hand-painted by local artists.
Kapur added, “The concept of transforming an AC train into a moving children's library is the first of its kind in the world.” Priti Paul, Director of Apeejay Surrendra Group, said that their organisation believed that a library was essential to a child's holistic development and knowledge. She added that books are important for the child’s future and reading on the move will also give them a recreational environment.
