A geographical representation of Bookworm’s work in Goa, is imbalanced to say the least. In our Strategic Plan for 2022- 2025, our Trustees indicated that we need to permanently cross the largest Tidal river in the state – Zuari. We have been flitting across intermittently for many years but we never felt brave and strong enough to set up a physical library space.
It happened on the 30th of March,2025 and with the full evidence of how library work can ONLY and will always be collaborative. Bookworm team members from beyond the furthest Taluka in the North set off on a Sunday to prepare the space in the South. If you inhabit our land, you will know how significant this traversing rivers can be !
There were Displays, there was the attractive ‘Library Sign up’ desk, refreshments, warm inviting rooms filled with books and everywhere you looked a terrific library team member . Two of our team leads who live out of Goa travelled for this opening unhesitatingly. No one needed to be reminded that children and community are at the heart of what we do. Within minutes of opening and finding golden tickets into books and badges, children took over the space.
But it is not the true picture for what unfolded, we were only one part of the agents in action. This library opening was a collaborative event, by way of the friends and stewards of reading that poured into the premises. Everyone we know who has gone before in the network of raising, nurturing reading and readers in the South of Goa came in celebration of the library. We were honoured to have Dr Ira Almeida who first led us across the river with Dr Deepa Correia Afonso into the then’ Hospicio’ hospital where we hosted a book shelf and had a lovely volunteer parent read to children in the paediatric wards. This led to Book Treasury boxes going into homes in the South of Goa and when we were unable to cross the river, parents took it upon themselves to come and get books. Maria was one amongst many of them and we felt noticed and purposeful.
We are so thankful for book publishing, book selling, book celebrating ambassadors in Queenie and Leonard who have socialised thousands of people into the act of reading as a social and collaborative community through DogEars the finely curated Indie bookstore in Margao. We have been friends of Peace Cottage for more than a decade now, collaborating on The Banyan Tree project amongst other affirmative sessions with Eleanor Viegas . When Eleanor heard we would permanently come to the South, she supported us with possible locations and energy to keep looking. But we would have never found our wee first house in Seraulim without the unstinting support, drive and energy of Dr Deepa Correia Afonso. To know her and to work alongside her is possibly what ‘movements’ of all shapes and kinds need. She put in our path the gentle and kind Morgan D’Souza and Sofia D’Souza whose only response was “but of course, what can we do to help ”
As we waited by the teal coloured gate, selected for us by our visual arts mentor Rhea D’ Souza in way off Gothenburg, it felt like a party with family and friends. Children’s writer Arthy Muthanna Singh came bearing gifts of books and the undiluted offer of doing sessions with children. When I spotted Savia Veigas, I felt the library is now empowered. To have Savia come in, gently be present – listen and participate is to know we are on a path. And then as we continued to welcome so many known and new community members, Teresa Almeida, founder of Manovikas walked up from her home down the road. To have a library on the street where Teresa lives is yet another sign from the universe indicating again and again that this must be.
Our ‘Sponsor a child’s membership’ drive was gracefully welcomed by ‘friends of Bookworm’ who are able to see beyond the immediate and we had nineteen families sign up for membership. Bags were received, books were browsed and borrowed but that is not all. The Bookworm team performed an old favourite adaptation of “ The Librarian from the Black Lagoon’ by Mike Thaler and Eleanor revealed our April Program Calendar while Leonard and Queenie unveiled the Summer Reading Challenge. For 2025, Bookworm’s three libraries in the North will also encounter readers in the South as we bring all four library readers together in June for an ALL PLAY challenge. Which library will earn the rolling trophy this year ? We wait, we support, we celebrate but until then, we thank everyone who made the Opening possible. There are always the invisible, the unnamed( often because my memory is not as sharp as it used to be) but we know.
Our children deserve a world that they can imagine, think and respond to and the library enables that by being present and open.
Come visit, join us in supporting children’s reading in Goa and thank you for being with Bookworm. We are here in our 20th year because of community and may we never forget that libraries are social and community spaces always imbued by values of collaboration and affirmative action.
Was so glad that I could be there for the opening of your new library in Seraulim! See you soon at those cozy premises!
This is an extraordinary reach out you have achieved and looking back over years pf friendship with bookworm, I want to cheer you on and congratulate you on this amazing and caring journey you are on with children with no boundaries or borders!!
Bookworm team- you are making history every moment in the library. I am humbled to know you all.