PANAJI: Literature lovers across the state may be observing national book week, but only within the privacy of their homes, for their respective village library is far from being the mecca of knowledge-sharing.
Even as the state-of-the-art central library situated in the heart of Panaji boasts of the finest infrastructure, village libraries to a large extent continue to be unpopular.
"Whenever I am in need of books, I go to the Goa state central library in Patto, but if the village library has the same book, I would obviously give preference to it instead. This would save me time and fuel as well. However, the library in my village has been shut down for the past few years," said St Cruz resident, W Raposo.
There are a total of 128 libraries in Goa that are located in panchayat areas. Most of these are managed by village NGOs registered under the Societies Registration Act. Around 48 of these are run by village panchayats.
"About 15-20% of the village libraries in Goa are still in the well-functioning bracket while the others are slowly dying," said curator, Goa State Central library, Carlos Fernandes.
Most of the village libraries that are dying out are the ones close to the major cities in Goa. Library officials said that due to the availability of good libraries in Panaji, Margao and Mapusa, people residing in villages in close proximity to these cities prefer visiting the urban library instead.
Once the libraries shut down, they have to mandatorily surrender the books to the department of art and culture, else restart the library.
"The management has to take the initiative to set up again if they have failed. We offer grants that can be easily availed of. Funded under the directorate of art and culture (DAC), these grants are meant for the maintenance of the building; excluding the salaries of the staff," Fernandes said.
"There should be awareness about library facilities in a village. Even though villagers may know that the building exists, they might not wander into the premises immediately. They must be informed about the membership and facilities of the library," said a resident of Merces.
In a bid to revive the dying village libraries of Goa, the Goa state central library is in the process of sanctioning licenses for new libraries in villages.
Even as the state-of-the-art central library situated in the heart of Panaji boasts of the finest infrastructure, village libraries to a large extent continue to be unpopular.
"Whenever I am in need of books, I go to the Goa state central library in Patto, but if the village library has the same book, I would obviously give preference to it instead. This would save me time and fuel as well. However, the library in my village has been shut down for the past few years," said St Cruz resident, W Raposo.
There are a total of 128 libraries in Goa that are located in panchayat areas. Most of these are managed by village NGOs registered under the Societies Registration Act. Around 48 of these are run by village panchayats.
"About 15-20% of the village libraries in Goa are still in the well-functioning bracket while the others are slowly dying," said curator, Goa State Central library, Carlos Fernandes.
Most of the village libraries that are dying out are the ones close to the major cities in Goa. Library officials said that due to the availability of good libraries in Panaji, Margao and Mapusa, people residing in villages in close proximity to these cities prefer visiting the urban library instead.
Once the libraries shut down, they have to mandatorily surrender the books to the department of art and culture, else restart the library.
"The management has to take the initiative to set up again if they have failed. We offer grants that can be easily availed of. Funded under the directorate of art and culture (DAC), these grants are meant for the maintenance of the building; excluding the salaries of the staff," Fernandes said.
"There should be awareness about library facilities in a village. Even though villagers may know that the building exists, they might not wander into the premises immediately. They must be informed about the membership and facilities of the library," said a resident of Merces.
In a bid to revive the dying village libraries of Goa, the Goa state central library is in the process of sanctioning licenses for new libraries in villages.
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