Bhubaneswar: In a first of its kind initiative in India, a ‘Take a Book Library’ has come up at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport.
The ‘Flybrary’, as it has been named, is an initiative of Bakul Foundation in partnership with the Airports Authority of India.
Passengers flying through Bhubaneswar airport can browse through books at the airport, and take it with them if they want to finish reading it. On their next visit to the airport, they can return the book.
Passengers won’t be charged any money to borrow books. Some other airports in India, such as Varanasi, Pune and Bengaluru, have set up libraries in their respective lounge, but none of them allow books to be taken.
The Flybrary has two shelves, one each at Departure and Arrivals area.
Passengers can pick up any book of their choice, read and return it at the shelf. If anyone wants to take the book with him or her, it can be returned at one of the Flybrary shelves at Bhubaneswar airport later, or sent to Bakul Foundation.
Books can also be gifted to Bakul Foundation for the Flybrary initiative or Library Movement Bakul is setting up across Odisha.
The books, in English, Hindi and Odia, include coffee table compilations, magazines like National Geographic, novels, self-help, motivational and children’s books.
“We have tried out similar experiments at open unmanned libraries with a Little Tree Library in Forest Park, which was later replicated at Anandaban, the urban forest in Bhubaneswar, and we also have a Library in a Fridge at Ekamra Haat, and have been setting up libraries in public spaces, where people can pick up a book just to kill time, and maybe develop a love for books in the process,” said Bakul Foundation founder Sujit Mahapatra.
The idea of setting up a library at the airport was there for many years, but it was during the Pravasi Bharatiya Dibas programme that Mahapatra proposed the initiative to Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport department.
“Amazing Concept. Lovely collection of books. Will make sure to leave some of mine to contribute to this beautiful effort,” Padhee said.
There has been a tremendous response from passengers.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra was pleasantly surprised to find the library on arrival at Bhubaneswar airport. He picked up the book titled ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie because he felt that was the toughest thing, and he needed some tips on that.
He was glad that he could return the book at the Departure shelf.
