Akshara Children’s Library in Colaba is more than just a quaint library

Reena Agrawal @dna

Tucked away in a small lane off Colaba Causeway is a library exclusively for children, its location lending itself to everything you would want for your child. As you enter Garden Road, lush green trees bathed squeaky clean welcome you; you walk down further and you find yourself in a dilemma for on your left is a garden enticing you to the green open space where kids from the neighbourhood are playing. But look to your right and the doors beckon you to a world of books.

How it all started

Akshara Children’s Library proudly wears its accolades on its nameplate—13,000 books and counting. The library was started 14 years ago as a private collection by Radhika Kundalia and her daughter Akshara. Soon, children from the neighbouring pre-schools and nurseries began frequenting this one-stop destination for books.

The vast collection of books for ages up to 18 years includes puzzles, dictionaries, games, encyclopedia and more. The books are pored over by parents and teachers alike to prepare their children for the much-dreaded school interviews, class assignments or simply for the pleasure of being engrossed in the literary world.

The reading club

A reading club was set up recently, as part of which parents and grandparents are seen reading to their young ones—their happiness knows no bounds as they now have a common love, especially in an age where social media rules.

Akanksha and DoorStep School are some of the NGOs that bring their children regularly to Akshara Children’s Library. It’s an amazing sight as children are given full access to the library, to touch and feel the books, see the colourful pictures, enjoy the serenity of a library and be transported to another world. The children also sit down to hear stories told by storytellers. Over the years, the love for reading and sharing books has seen Radhika Kundalia installing libraries in municipal schools and NGOs as part of Akshara Foundation.

reader.revert@dnaindia.net

Source:

http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=92565&boxid=167461&ed_date=2016-08-2&ed_code=820027&ed_page=6

Published Date:  Aug 12, 2016