Art and culture minister Govind Gaude announced on Friday that Goa’s library policy will be implemented this month, with Nandkumar Kamat serving as the chairman. The policy aims to develop libraries across the state, ensuring that children in rural areas have easy access to library facilities, similar to their urban counterparts.
Being one of the first policies of its kind in the country, the library policy seeks to expand the library network, promoting a reading culture in rural Goa. The plan includes the development of NGO-run and village-level libraries, with special emphasis on providing top-notch amenities to new libraries. Notably, a new library will be established in Vasco.
Responding to a question posed by Velim MLA Cruz Silva regarding the efforts of the Goa State Central Library to encourage reading habits among Goans, Gaude mentioned that the library continuously updates its collection for the benefit of students. Additionally, a mobile library bus is available to serve various areas. To support academic purposes, an internet section is also provided. The government is actively raising awareness about the significance of libraries and reading across schools, higher secondary schools, and colleges throughout the state. With the implementation of this policy, Goa aims to bolster its reading network and foster a culture of reading and learning among its citizens.
