Syangja, Aug 25: Neighbours, school teachers, students and villagers of Leena Pandey of Kaligandaki rural municipality in Syangja district were amazed and baffled beyond bounds when they learned that Leena had finished reading 867 books within a year.
The second grader at Satyadevi Secondary School in the locality availed most of the books from her school’s children library. The-8-year-old said that she often brings home children books and sometimes she would read out stories to her parents and friends.
‘I read one book after another out of sheer curiosity and due to a rage for knowledge. One of the reasons why I enjoy going to school is having a children-friendly library there. We can take home any books we like and return them within a certain time,’ the bookaholic admitted.
According to her, books are her best company. Thus, she brings home books in bulk (from library and elsewhere) when her school is closed for a long holiday. Students like Leena and her class mate Bibha Bhattarai and another third grader Kritika Neupane have developed a deep interest in reading extracurricular books that the library offers, said librarian Rupa Neupane.
Neupane divulged, ‘I was amused to find out that Leena took home a total 867 books from the beginning to the last of the last fiscal year 2022/23 from the library. It speaks volume for her voracious appetite for reading.’ Leena’s mother Renuka Dumre observed that her daughter spends most of the time at home reading text books and children books. ‘Since the establishment of library in the school, my daughter spends more time with books and has stopped squandering time watching television and mobile phones,’ revealed the proud mother.
‘Her first task as she comes home from school is to finish her homework. After dinner, she sits to open colourful children books and keenly reads them,’ she boasted. According to her, Leena does not need a support in her homework nor for maintain personal hygiene. She said that they have taught Leena to be disciplined and study diligently both in school and at home.
School principal Pashupati Pandey said that after the establishment of child- friendly library, children eagerly started reading books without external pressure. He also informed that because of the charm of library, the rate of absenteeism and drop-out among the students is thus decreasing lately.
Rural municipality Chairperson Khim Bahadur Thapa said that the libraries set up in 35 communities schools in their local level including Satyadevi Secondary School, were operated on the basis of European standards, a pull factor for the studious students like Leena and fellow students to attend school regularly.
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