It was a Monday in the new Bookworm blue house. Deepali decided to forge a connection with our old library building by asking us to wear red. So at 9. 30 am the house was filled with women in shades of red all assembling together in our pretty meeting room.
It was one of our first big meetings together and I had asked Stephie and Anandita to think of a way we could get everyone to take responsibility for the space, to find themselves while working outwards to reach children and the community we wish to serve.
The instructions were brief and the organisation was splendid. Art material, paper and the selection of a space in the new library that affirms was all that we were given and here are some of the outpourings.
“All I know is that I am in the library and I am surrounded by books
and I love that!” – Anandita Rao
“ I love the reception room and want to have a giant mat that says ‘welcome’ because I feel everyone must come to our library ” – Amruta Narvekar
“I like the blue curtains in our reception room and the mural that is forming .” – Lalita da Cunha
“I really love the teenage room because I have already spent a lot of time here.” – Monica Fernandes
“ These are a few of my favourite reads in the teenage room and my favourite spot is the corner “ – Shraddha Belgaonkar
“ I love how the sunlight streams into this room ” – Terence Jorge
“ I like the teenage room because there are different spaces for everyone” – Rohini Gaonkar
“Kites, Bindi Su, tent all make the youngest reader’s room my favourite” – Shitija Naik
“ I like to spend time with the children in this room “ – Sakshi S Mayenkar
“The alcove between the stairs in my favourite” – Stephie Madurai
“Mine too ” – Velanky Dias
“I love the quiet upstairs where I work and when I need someone Pranita is at the other end” – Sujata Noronha
“ I like that I can see Ma’am Sujata at the other end of the room !” – Pranita Naik
“The bean bag in this room is my favourite place to sit and work and observe the children reading” – Sonali Lakhera
“The outside, the plants, the view of the Mala street ”
Deepali Pitre Correya
Vandana Chopdekar
Jewel Gomes