[LIS-Forum] Bandaramaram Library and Information Centre (BLIC) inaugurated

[Library at Arboretum.org.in]

Dear Friends,

A small lamp of knowledge was lit in Bandaramaram village of
Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh last Friday, January14,
2011. Bandaramaram Library and Information Centre (BLIC)
was inaugurated by Mr. Vinod Reddy, Chairman of Nalgonda
Zilla Granthalaya Samstha at an impressive function attended
parents, children and local media. As a symbolic gesture and
first contribution, Mr. Vinod Reddy presented two big bundles
containing books received by him as complimentary copies from
publishers/authors. He exhorted the gathering not to depend on
the Government for library development but mobilize resources
on their own and strive to start libraries in villages. Mr. A.
Srinivas of Gundrampally Library and Information Centre
provided a large number of books from his duplicate collection
to BLIC and guided on its establishment.

The driving force behind BLIC is Mr. Gaddam Satyanarayana,
Librarian of Fergusson College in Hyderabad. He struggled for
almost three years to smoothen out political differences among
the local leaders belonging to various parties and finally could
enlist their support for establishment of a village library.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gaddam Uppalaiah, sarpanch of
Bandaramaram Gram Panchayat appealed to the parents to
send their children to the village library whenever the children
have free time to gain knowledge and information. Responding
to the appeal made by him, several donations in the form of a
book rack, chairs, newspaper/magazine subscriptions, etc.,
were announced by the participants at the meeting. It is
heartening to note that an amount of Rs.1000 was donated to
the library by a young, low-salaried constable belonging to ST
community.

Bandaramaram is in a backward area with poor literacy level
(30%). Unemployment is the major problem faced by the local
youth. It has a high school with a strength of around 250
students. This school does not have a library of its own. It is
hoped that BLIC would serve both as a public library cum
school library for the whole village. Of the total population of
3000, STs form a major part numbering 1400. The people of
this village need books in Telugu and English mainly of the
following types:

Reference books (dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories,
career guides, etc.)
Religious books
English—spoken and written
Agriculture
Light reading (novels, stories, childrens literature, etc.)

I appeal to all LIS professionals and library lovers to support
this fledgling library in whatever manner they can. You may wish
to contact directly Mr. Satyanarayana at the following address:

Mr. Gaddam Satyanarayana,
Librarian, Fergusson College,  P.G. Centre,
Mushirabad, Hyderabad - 500020.
Mobile No. 9490019787.
Email:  gsatyam at gmail.com

OR

Bandaramaram Library and Information Centre (BLIC)
Bandaramaram Village
Pasthala Post
Thungathurthy Mandal
Nalgonda District
Andhra Pradesh, India
PIN CODE 508 279

On the return journey, Mr. Vinod Reddy visited the Konda
Gadapa, another small village in  Thungathurthy mandal and
motivated the local village development committee to start a
library in their village. Hopefully, this library should also start
serving the people within the next six months.

Who says public libraries are on the decline?

Thank you

Sincerely
T.V. Prafulla Chandra
T.V. Prafulla Chandra
Research Officer
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