Media Release
Mangaluru, Jul 25: The Karnataka State Library Association (R) (KALA), Dakshina Kannada Chapter, in association with the St Agnes College (Autonomous) Library, inaugurated its student-centric project, ‘Odona, Beliyona: Indina Odu – Naalina Yashassu’ (Today's Reading – Tomorrow's Success), on Tuesday, July 21 at St Agnes Higher Primary School, Bendure.
The programme commenced with a melodious prayer song presented by the students of St Agnes Higher Primary Kannada Medium School. Philomena Menezes, in-charge headmistress of the school, warmly welcomed the gathering.
Dr Vishala B K, president of KALA Dakshina Kannada Chapter, outlined the objectives and vision of the project. She explained that the initiative is a long-term community engagement programme aimed at fostering a love for reading among school children at the primary and high school levels, with a special focus on students studying in Kannada medium schools. The project seeks to nurture lifelong reading habits from an early age and cultivate a culture of reading among young learners.
The project was formally inaugurated by Sr Dr M Venissa AC, principal of St Agnes College (Autonomous). In her inaugural address, Sr Dr Venissa highlighted the transformative power of knowledge and reading. She beautifully compared the lighting of a single lamp to the spread of knowledge, stating that just as one lamp can light hundreds of other lamps without diminishing its own brightness, one person who reads a book can share that knowledge with thousands of others. She emphasized that reading dispels ignorance and reminded the audience that ‘Knowledge is Power.’
She appreciated the initiative of the president and the entire KALA Dakshina Kannada Chapter team for launching such a meaningful project, ‘Today's Reading – Tomorrow's Success,’ within a month of assuming office. She commended the Chapter's vision of promoting reading habits among children and inspiring librarians to reach the roots of young minds, thereby nurturing a culture of reading, curiosity, and lifelong learning among the younger generation.
Following the formal inauguration, sessions on ‘Inculcating Reading Habits for Success in Life’ were conducted by the resource persons, Dr Rajatha P Shetty, chief librarian, SDM Institute of Technology, Ujire, and vice president of KALA Dakshina Kannada Chapter, and Dr Vishala B K, president of KALA Dakshina Kannada Chapter.
To encourage and strengthen reading habits among the children, books were donated to the students.
Dr Tressy Menezes, council member of KALA Dakshina Kannada Chapter, compered the programme, while Chrystal Nisha, Librarian (PG), St Agnes College (Autonomous), proposed the vote of thanks.