What better way to spend some leisure time than reading a book? In a novel initiative to promote reading habit among residents, particularly children, the Tiruchi Corporation unveiled a roadside Open Library at Puthur on Thursday

People can spend time at the reading zone and share books at the free open library established near the Officers Colony at Puthur, opposite Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital. The Open Library functions on the principle - ‘Take a book, share a book.’ Residents are encouraged to leave books and other reading materials which are discarded or not used by them so that they can be used by people who need them.

The facility was declared open by Justice P. Jyothimani, chairperson, National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Regional Monitoring Committee for Solid Waste Management (Southern States), in the presence of Harmander Singh, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, G. Prakash, Commissioner of Municipal Administration, N. Ravichandran, Corporation Commissioner.

The corporation has invested about ₹20 lakh to create infrastructure for shelves and benches, besides a set of books initially.

Mr. Jyothimani also declared open a public park at South Ramalinga Nagar, established at a cost of ₹90 lakh. Besides a landscaped garden and pergola, the park houses a yoga centre, an artificial fountain, walking tracks, toilets, solar system, open gym and children’s amusement equipment.