NE News : Imagine you are on
a long road journey and forgot to carry your storybook. What a disaster that
would be! Now imagine, if you happen to cross over a free roadside library
where you take a book, read it during your journey and return it on your way
back. Sounds super awesome, right?
The ‘Little
Free Library‘ is one such nonprofit organisation that encourages
reading habits and helps in community building by providing access to free
books. The first free library in Mizoram has been set up
by Lalhruaitluanga Chawngte, who created little bookshelves by the
roadside, and is available to everyone.
Says Chawngte, the
‘Little Free Library’ has been installed “to propagate reading habits in the
Mizo society.” He further adds, “We started with two little roadside libraries
in Aizawl at New Market and Mission Vengthlang. Later, we opened two more
at Pachhunga University College and MZU Park. We also plan to open the fifth
one in front of Civil Hospital, Aizawl.”
Although anybody can
borrow books, there is one basic rule, “Write your name and phone number before
taking the books, so that we can evaluate how many persons have borrowed books
and have returned them,” adds Chawngte. Little Library was set up as
a tribute to his late father, Rev C Lianhmingthanga.
When asked from where
he got the concept of ‘Little Free Library’, Chawngte tells that this concept
has been prevalent in the US for around two decades. When he visited the
States, he saw small roadside libraries with a couple of dictionaries and a
couple of other books, which inspired him to start one here. While
everyone does visit the small libraries, it is the school children, who make
the majority of the readers.
Words by Sukanya Nandy / via Education World
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