Sun 1 Feb 2009
The importance of school libraries is well known. They play a vital role in education and learning. They promote self ? such and reading habits. Without libraries educational aims cannot be achieved. They help the students to learn and gather information independently. It generates self ? confidence and self ? reliance. The students remain in the school for a limited time. The rest of the day they have to read and study book on their own. A good library is a big asset for a school.
Our school library is very rich. It is housed in a big hall. There are a number of big wooden and steel almirahs. They are full of books on all subjects. Then there are dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps and other reference tools. They are well catalogued and alphabetically arranged. They are kept nicely and in good condition. There are a librarian, one assistant librarian and tow helpers. They are always busy in their work. Then there are newspapers, magazines and periodicals.
These books are on many subjects. They are on science mathematics, literature, language, business, commerce, computers, geography, history, arts, crafts etc. we can borrow books for a week at a time. The librarian helps us to select, local and borrow the books. When a book is already on loan, it can be reserved. There is fine on late return or spoiling a book. Once in a week there is a library period for every section of the class. It helps us to develop reading habits. It also encourages self ? study and self ? reliance. We are taken to the book exhibitions and fairs and helped in purchasing good and useful books.
There is a special ?Library Prize? of Rs. 1000 and a set of selected books. It is given annually to the student who makes the best use of the library in the year. The best library user is selected on the basis of the number of books borrowed and used. There si on oral test on the basis of the books borrowed and read. It has generated a healthy competition among students. Last year I won this prize. This year I could not repeat it has generated a healthy competition among students. Last year I won this prize. This year I could not repeat it in spite of my best efforts.
The senior students of class XI and XII can come to the library at any time in their spare time. There is big central table and many chairs around it. It is specially reserved for these students. They can borrow books to study them there. They can consult reference tools and dictionaries. It helps them to increase their general knowledge and achieve better understanding of the prescribed subjects.
In examination days, the library is kept open on Sundays and other holidays. Many students come there and study for the whole day in a very healthy atmosphere. They can bring books from home as well for study. No body is aloud to talk or to speak loudly in the library. For the teachers there is a special arrangement. They come here in their vacant periods and enjoy reading. They can be issued 3 books at a time for a period of one month. The principal often pays surprise visits to see and supervise that everything in the library is okay.
Our school library is a big source of our knowledge, hope and inspiration. It widens our horizon of knowledge and thinking. We are proud of our school library.