In this second edition of Books in the Park (Sunday, 12 February), we invited Noida Public Library to collect all donated books at the conclusion of this unique book bazaar. Like and
unlike the second-hand Sunday book bazaar (in Daryaganj, Delhi), Meghdutam Rangmanch invites book lovers to display books (they no longer need), not to sell, but to offer them to other book lovers in exchange, to share, or to simply take away.
Children and adults in equal measure participated in ‘Daryaganj’ and a sizeable number of books were picked up by participants and visitors. Remaining books, around 110 titles, were picked up by Noida Public Library (NPL). These will be sorted and lodged in their library or sent to other libraries or schools.
Gurvinder Sital, resident of Sagar Apt, who enjoys reading about military history, picked up a book on Siachen and was disappointed that another title, Himalayan Blunder by Brig. JP Dalvi, had already been picked up by another book lover.
Sanjay Singh (Windsor Greens) wrote a week later to return books he had picked up at the amphitheatre. On learning that Daryaganj is held every second month, he intends to bring them back in the next episode along with some of his own books for sharing.
Manpreet Kaur (Stellar Kings), Pooja Gupta (Mahagun Manor), Anuja Agarwal (Mahagun Morpheus) and Pooja Kumari (Apex Athena, Sec 75) supported the endeavour and assisted in the conduct of the free-for-all book fair.
NPL, located in the vicinity of Sector 15 metro station, is run under the stewardship of Mahesh Saksena, secretary of Noida Lok Manch. NPL has around 80,000 books in its collection and its reading room facilities are used by students preparing for career competition examinations in medicine, engineering, administration, banking and judiciary, etc. Around 250 students use the reading room and library on a daily basis. Digital newspapers and magazines are offered to its members.
The library networks with more than 20 schools and other libraries where suitable books (including textbooks), are forwarded regularly.
Next Daryaganj in April First Week: With the annual examinations getting over, you can bring your school and college text books, and competition text books along with fiction/non-fiction books to Daryaganj. Children are encouraged to bring in their storybooks and comics. What better way can children imbibe and practice the Art of Giving!
Please bookmark the event in your calendar! Keep your giveaway story and text books ready for the forthcoming Daryganj!
by Vinod Agarwal (Sagar Presidency; 9899437350)
