Community Library cum resource Centre An Initiative by Vivekananda Sevakendra -O- Sishu Uddyan Supported By READ Global & READ India The Oceanic Library

The Oceanic Library was the first project developed in India by Rural Education and Development (READ) Global and READ India

VSSU’s Arena of Activities VSSU Microfinance For Economic Development Savings, Credit, Insurance The Oceanic Library for Livelihood promotion Training & Skill Development Ashok Nilay For Community Development Health, Education, Environment VSSU at inception, 1983 Mission: Poverty Alleviation and human development through microfinance. Mission: Poverty Alleviation and human development through microfinance. Vision: Community Dev. through Community Resources Vision: Community Dev. through Community Resources Destitute children HomeResidential Training Campus

Background  Situated in a poorest part of the country near to Sundarban Island  Where 40% of villager’s are living Below Poverty Level  Where 30% people are still illiterate  Where no public Library was situated with in 30 km radius.  80% of the School going students didn’t have access to reference book even to their text books.  No shelter, no scopes inter community discussion for dev. among rural women.  36% of children are wasting their childhood in brickfield or being a child labuor

Objectives  To set up a Self sustainable Community Library  To set up a resource Centre for underprivileged.  Spread & initiate an Idea “Education for All”  A community Library with a diversified Scopes  A skill development cum Vocational training centre for youth & women's.  An nonprofit business initiative for community development

Inception & Milestones  READ’s first visit to India and meeting with Villagers (2007)  Proposed Library Building model approved Dec ‘’07  Lying of Foundation Stone to set up The oceanic Library (December, 2007) by Senator Omer L rains  The library operations training programme will be conducted in March  VSSU recruited its 1 st Feb  Purchase of books started by end Jan  Cataloguing of the books started by Feb 2008.

Mile stones…  Part of the library building construction (up to ground floor)work by end June 2008  Library’s Children & Women section started at mid of  2010, Jan : Vivekananda Shakti Kendra started to use renewable energy sources in collaboration with Onergy.  2010, Dec: Wild honey processing centre inaugurated in collaboration with World bank.  2011, Jan Library’s member reached up to 500  2011 Jan : The Oceanic library construction Completed.  2012 Proposed site for Nivedita College of education (B.Ed College)

A library with multiple possibilities  A community library for all  A renewable energy centre for demonstration, selling & distribution of Solar energy product in joint collaboration with Onergy  Wild Honey Processing Unit with help of World bank through ICAR.  Fish cultivation & demonstration centre at library occupied water bodies.  Training, Seminar, Conference Hall at Library campus.  Handicraft training to women group of Library  Children reading & amusement section.  Free Community Health checkup Centre  Tailoring Training among rural women.

Challenges To make a habit of reading among community To make a habit of reading among community Creation of a Women /mother's committee and take Creation of a Women /mother's committee and take them out of Social barriers in vast scale. them out of Social barriers in vast scale. Assure 100% recovery of dispatched book for in Assure 100% recovery of dispatched book for in house reader. house reader. Updating stock of text books along with frequently changing syllabus Updating stock of text books along with frequently changing syllabus Lack of electricity & Computer, in rural scenario, is creating a barrier to connect between The oceanic library & world. Lack of electricity & Computer, in rural scenario, is creating a barrier to connect between The oceanic library & world.

Sustainability Strategy  Involvement of Local youths, women, children & aged people  A spirit of team work among readers supporters & organizers  Well & updated stock of reader demanded books, journals..  Sustainability approach through business development initiatives by using different resources  Ideas beyond book…with multiple skill dev training, vocational course & orientation programmes

Sustainability Strategy  Cordial supports from stakeholders.  Experience sharing and advice of neighbor librarian, and practice of the same.  Hospitality and Service of Library staffs, group members  Enough resources & proper planning to utilize the same  Strong & devoted leadership of CEO  Continuous Support by READ Global & India team

Case Study: A walking Library Mr. Kalishankar Roy, aged 47 serving people by delivering different types of books since 1972 ignoring all kinds of natural obstacles among different villages of of Sunderban Island by walking. The Oceanic Library” With the help of pass books that belongs to the different members, he withdraws many books from local “Baneswar Library”, “Paritosh Public Library”, “ The Oceanic Library” and The “Library of Nipith Ramkrishna Mission. He begins his journey taking two bags full of books on both shoulders, to make a habit of reading among community people of distant villages. The objective is not to gain money, but it has become a hobby to him today. Kalisankar babu informs that every morning after having bath, he starts his journey at 09:00am and continue up to 5:00p.m. and walks almost 15 K.m. per day in the village path. According to him few years back he used to walk from Jaynagar to DiamondHarbour (32 km) for this purpose. At present the members of his Library are 150. According to him, “I am grateful to the all the Library particularly The Oceanic Library.”& to all my readers…

Our future Plan  To reach up to 2000 subscribers by 2012  To make stock of books  Start up a Computer Literacy Centre for students  Initiate a English Speaking Course for community People  Establish a vocational training Center for unemployed youth, women  Start up a B.ED college at Library campus by 2012  A community Hospital & nursing Training School

By providing knowledge & expertise By providing books, materials & equipment By providing books, materials & equipment By investing in our initiatives By investing in our initiatives For more info visit: Join hands with us…..

We are always feeling … “All the wealth of the world can not help one little Indian village if the people are not taught to help themselves ” - Swami Vivekananda