Libraries in Schools started at Auxilium Caranzalem

Written by Deepali Correya

Everybody had started their LiS sessions in Aldona and Carona schools except me. I was behind schedule by almost a week as I had not received confirmation for the classes that I was to do. Finally!!! everything was confirmed and our classes were to begin on the 17th. The D-day arrived and it was raining cats and dogs. It was a brand new team comprising of me, Ana Liza and Seema that ventured to Auxilium along with Sujata, who was confidence and encouragement personified and Sheena. A school atmosphere is indescribable, the unmistakable chimes of the school bell, the children in the classes, the noise, the teachers……My first class was a boisterous std 3B. They were all adorable and energetic and super excited for the Library period as one child very calmly stated, ” There is a story to be heard. ” A storybook has all the power within its pages to enthral and capture everyone in its hold, age no bar. There was pin drop silence as ‘The Big Sneeze’ enfolded’ and everyone was eager for the pages to turn over so they could find out what happens next. As the story came to an end, everyone was eager to answer questions regarding the story and its characters and nobody remembered the first rule of a library period to raise a hand to answer 🙂

We all had a very boisterous interactive session and it was time for the extension activity which was also done with boundless energy. Everyone wanted to draw and color and label quickly to come and show me. Also there was the added excitement of going out of the class to browse through the books that were waiting to be borrowed. As everyone was finishing their activities at an unimaginable speed, they were all rushing out to check the books and that kept Sheena, Ana Liza and Seema on their toes. Books were taken, felt, turned on all sides, opened and flipped through,compared, discussed with friends, thought over and were then handed over to Seema who was entering them in the register…..Phew!!! It was such a wonderful atmosphere in the class, everyone was going through their books and trying to READ…:-) We went through the library rules again of taking care of the books and everyone promised that they would. It was like they had just met a new best friend and wanted to spend as much as time as possible with the friend. The sight of all these adorable children going through their books made my heart soar. It is incomparable. So, another week has come to an end and a new week begins, the team is ready for Auxilium  and the children are definitely ready for another new friend.