4.28-lakh used books were donated by the people of Coimbatore

Donated books to reach rural libraries on May 1.Students collected used books from the public

Coimbatore:The 4.28-lakh used books that were donated by the people of Coimbatore and the neighbouring districts will finally reach their destination on May 1.The Community Service Project, `Padithathai Pirarukku Padikka Koduppom' of the Bharathiar University that involved collecting of used books from the public for distribution to rural libraries, has turned out be a huge success. This was envisaged as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the university.

Door-to-door programme
More than a lakh students went around their neighbourhoods on January 26, collecting the books in this door-to-door programme, the brainchild of Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam.As many as 228 rural libraries will benefit out of this. The colleges have segregated the books based on the topic, coded them and have made a computerised list that will be sent to the university by April 20. Books in bad condition have been repaired, bound and brought into proper shape.The Distribution Committee that met at the university on Friday under the chairmanship of B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore Kendra, decided on the equitable distribution of the books.

Villagers interested
District Librarian V. Madheswaran said: "There are 118 rural libraries in Coimbatore, 96 in Erode and 16 in the Nilgiris districts. Contrary to popular notion, villagers are interested in reading; only they do not have the means to buy books. This unique concept will help equip the village libraries with reading material. The number of rural youth pursuing computer-based education is as many as the urban youth. The books on computer subjects will be of great help to them."The books donated under the scheme would bear the seal of the name of the project and the university. The Vice-Chancellor has requested the principals of the nearby colleges to make visits to the rural libraries to check on further requirements of books and also infrastructure to house the books.

Certificates for students
The Kongu Arts and Science College, Erode, Kumaran College, Tirupur, and Gobi Arts and Science College, Gobichettipalayam, are the first three among the 118 affiliated colleges of the university in collection.Five students from all colleges who have collected the maximum number of books would be awarded certificates at Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science for Women in June."It is a common complaint that students are not involved in community service. This project has disproved the complaint. Given a chance they can also serve the society. What they require is proper orientation," Prof. Thiruvasagam said.

Mr. Vanavarayar said: "This is a good beginning. The Vice-Chancellor has appealed to the good sense of the students. I am sure this will become a movement. The university has acted as a catalyst between those who have books and those who do not have them."

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