Festival of libraries 2023: a major boost to libraries by Government of India

As a part of the second phase of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', a two-day festival, "Festival of Libraries 2023," was inaugurated by the President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu, on August 5, 2023 in keeping with the Prime Minister's vision to promote the growth and digitization of libraries and encourage a reading culture in India. It is a special event created to inspire and actively involve people in a wide range of library-related activities. A varied group of participants—librarians, academics, district collectors from 100 districts, and directors of model libraries—met to develop a plan for re-imagining libraries as thriving community centers and readers as future leaders. This is consistent with the idea that a country that places a high value on reading will lead the world facilitating the development of useful policies to advance model libraries in India, expanding their impact to the village and community levels.

Aim of the festival

The festival was celebrated with the aim of inspiring and encouraging to engage the participants from the library fraternity and educationists in India and making it easier to formulate action-oriented policies for the creation of Model Libraries throughout India, all the way down to the village and community levels. At this event Indian Government has launched few initiatives and publications.

Some of the main features of the event

► The Festival of Libraries is a distinctive occasion designed to actively involve and motivate individuals across the entire spectrum of library-related activities.

► Gathering of a diverse group of participants, including librarians, scholars, district collectors from 100 districts, and directors of model libraries, with the purpose of creating a strategy to transform libraries into vibrant community hubs and readers into aspiring leaders. This aligns with the belief that a nation that prioritizes reading is a nation that takes the lead.

► Enabling the creation of practical policies aimed at advancing Model Libraries in India, extending their reach to even the village and community levels.

Highlights

► It uses famous libraries from around the globe as examples of how to update and modernize libraries in India.

► Participants can learn about the finest library practices from Indian states and libraries worldwide through round table talks and panels.

► Discussions with literary festival directors, young authors, publishing houses, and more.

► Plans for libraries and their holdings, such as National Missions on Libraries, Manuscripts, and Archives, will be the subject of special sessions.

► 10 fascinating displays comprising cartography, calligraphy, cursive writing, tribal typefaces and scripts, as well as a stunning exhibition with rare archival collections and illuminated manuscripts, are on display.

► The event will include podcasts, digital exhibits, interactive drawing rooms with book author talks, and the Human Library Project.

► Children's activities in a designated Children's Zone will encourage a love of reading in them.

Govt. of India launched following initiatives

► Tripartite MoU between three prominent libraries of India: Three prominent libraries: Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna; Rampur Raza Library, Rampur; and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Arabic Persian Research Institute, Tonk, signed MoU for long term collaborative events. Rampur Raza Library, Rampur has also completed 250 years and celebration of that also started in the festival.

► A crowd-sourced directory of libraries in India was launched.

► A unique ranking system for libraries in India is unveiled at the event, further fostering quality and innovation in the field of libraries.

► One Nation, One Digital Library: Efforts are also being done by Govt. to develop National Virtual library as single digital library for the nation.

Book releases

► The Sassy Library Series was launched with the plot based on Rampur Raza Library.

► A set of Cursive Writing Books in the 22 vernacular languages was released.

Under the presidency of the G20 this year, the Indian government has taken the decision to opt for the One Nation One Subscription plan and to develop a national archive and interlink it with the national archives of G20 countries to share open access research among G20 countries. In continuation of these initiatives, the organization of such a unique festival of libraries and the envisioning of having one digital library for the nation, a unique ranking system for libraries, and giving boost to the aims of the National Mission on Libraries are some major step stones in the evolution of libraries in India.

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