“Pick a Book”, a community-based free street library project was officially inaugurated by SDO (C) Phek, Zhoi Lohe in the presence of district administrator, civil society leaders, head of educational institutions, students and well wishers at Mission Compound Colony, Phek HQ. The event was sponsored and managed by Mission Compound Colony Youth Association (MCCYA).
According to a press release, giving an insight on the project, founder and initiator of Pick a Book and ex-assembly speaker, Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU), Vezito Tetseo said that he had always dreamt of starting the project and has been collecting books from friends and well wishers.
According to him, the project would be “a catalyst of creating an impact towards community building” and stated that certain books and novels written by prominent authors would be featured on their official Instagram handle at pickabookastreetlibrary for avid readers which can be borrowed within Phek town at minimal rental charge for maintenance of street library.
Tetseo expressed gratitude towards District Administration and DLCW MSK-BBBP, Phek for acknowledging his effort. He also acknowledged the colony youth for tirelessly working round the clock, in assisting him financially and materially and thanked every individual who donated in books and in kind.
He informed that those willing to donate books were welcome as he would come up with more street libraries in the future.
Guest speaker, SDO (C) Phek, Zhoi Lohe maintained that reading would improve and enhance the thought process, vocabulary and writing skills among the people. He expressed happiness on the new project which would empower people from all walks of life, as many were not equally privileged to access and afford books. While lamenting that people in the society wasted time instead of making their lives more meaningful, Lohe held that the project should sustain and be a seed for a public library in the district headquarter.
It may be noted that the project was started to encourage both young and old to read books as well as to enhance the literacy rate in the state by beginning at the grassroots level.
The street library contains a slew of books of different topics of interests and encourages students’ community to read books by providing them easy access and affordable book materials round the clock. The street library project is first of its kind in Nagaland and will be managed by MCCYA.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by general secretary MCCYA, Nuvekulu, invocation by youth director PBC DEF Phek, Rukuzo Rhakho, short speeches by chairman mission compound colony, Kekhweru K Tara and president, Phek town Chakhesang Students’ Union, Surhoveyi Khesoh, song by Veluno and Wewuzo-U and benediction by deacon PTBC, Ngosayi Keyho.