The Free Library Movement: The TCLP Members’ Perspective

Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art,
in collaboration with The Community Library Project (TCLP), presents:

The Free Library Movement:
The TCLP Members' Perspective

Thursday, 14 November 2019 | 6:30 pm

FICA Reading Room
F-213/E-2, 2nd Floor,
Old Mehrauli-Badarpur Road,
Lado Sarai, New Delhi 110030
Location pin

This Children's Day, we're talking about every child's fundamental right to books and reading in the context of free community libraries. Join us for a fascinating fishbowl conversation with members of The Community Library Project as they delve into how the library impacts them as readers and citizens of the world, and why free libraries matter.

TCLP librarians Sumit Parewa and Bhawna will moderate the discussion with student leaders Divya Singh (13 yrs), Ajay Singh (14 yrs), Nunihar Khatun (15 yrs) and Rajni, TCLP intern.

The conversation will begin from each member leader's story - from when they first heard about the library, to visiting the library, eventually becoming members, and then leaders. They will speak about how membership has affected their lives, both positively and negatively. This is where we will visit the question of how their families view their involvement in the library. 
 
The conversation intends to also cover the relationship one can have with books and libraries, in terms of accessibility and the lack thereof, It will also look at what it means to bring children in a community into the library, closer to books, reading and thinking. The session will conclude with how the member leaders imagine their futures and the future of the library movement. Q and A session with audience to follow.



About TCLP: 

The Community Library Project (TCLP) runs 3 free libraries which serve around 4000 people of all ages. All are equally welcome in our libraries. TCLP also serve as a provocation to the city of Delhi and its citizens. TCLP asserts that most people in India have been actively excluded from reading. Through the development of best practices that best serve our members, TCLP demonstrates that the social space of a library and a pedagogy that emphasises reading as an act of thinking is a powerful draw for all.