National Library Week celebrations from tomorrow

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh will celebrate the 55th National Library Week from Monday to November 20.

Making the announcement at a media conference here on Saturday, AP Grandhalaya Parishad chairman T. Seshagiri Rao said in keeping with changing times, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is keen on digitising the government libraries, so that up to date information is available to people.

Seshagiri Rao pointed out that libraries had played a prominent role in the Indian Freedom Movement right from 1918. They enabled people to unite for the common cause of Independence and also educate themselves. He underlined that Ayanki Venkataramaniah was the first to start the Library Week celebrations every year from November 14.

The grandhalaya parishad chairman said public libraries have staff belonging to two to three generations. “We exist to share knowledge with the society. We bring awareness among masses about the importance of libraries in acquiring knowledge. Students can also use them to prepare for their competitive exams,” he emphasised.

Speaking on the occasion, Krishna District Library Association chairperson T. Jamalapurnamma said all district chairpersons will celebrate National Library Week in their respective district headquarters.

Director of Public Libraries M.R. Prasanna Kumar said there will be various cultural and awareness programmes organised on each day of the National Library Week. He underlined that there is a need to strengthen the library system within Andhra Pradesh following bifurcation of united AP.

The state-level inaugural function will be organised from 10 am on Monday at the Tummalapalli Kalakshetra in Vijayawada. Ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Thaneti Vanitha and Jogi Ramesh, apart from MLAs and MLCs will participate in the ceremony.