Jatin Lalit

Feeling incredibly proud today. Our Librarians at Bansa Library have been featured in 100th Anniversary Edition of Canada’s Cranbrook Townsman Library. It’s heartening to see our work in Bansa finding resonance globally. Moments like these reaffirm why we do what we do.

A library is never just about books. For many children, it’s the joy of play that first brings them through our doors. The colorful games, the fun activities, the shared laughter, these become their entry point.

#FreeLibrary

Sunday Book Discussion Happening in the outer compound of the Library.

#FreeLibrary #ReadingForPleasure
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Our members have shared their wishes, they have asked for books and stationery that will help them learn, explore, and dream bigger.

BookNotes: The Librarians of Bansa On the Cranbrook Public Library's 100th anniversary, a shout out from northern India

We, the librarians of Bansa Library, feel truly honoured to be featured in the 100th Anniversary Special Edition of Canada’s Cranbrook Townsman Library.

Read the full story here- www.cranbrooktownsman.com/home/booknot...

Pay for Help Us Take Our Members to Science City by BANSA COMMUNITY LIBRARY Our Story and Vision. . Bansa Community Library was founded in 2020 with a simple belief: everyone deserves access to books. In a region where such opportunities are rare, we’ve built Hardoi district’...

Now, they’re dreaming even bigger. They want to visit Science City in Lucknow. For most of them, it will be their first time leaving the village. We want to take 300 of our young library members on this trip.

Contribute to their journey here- rzp.io/rzp/FromBans...
UPI: supportbansalibrary@axl

At library, something beautiful is happening. Young members, especially aged 8 and above are falling in love with science. They’re full of questions, ideas, & dreams. On their request, we organised a fun little Science Experiment Workshop. For many, it was their first time seeing science come alive.

A group of children and young adults sit in a circle of orange chairs in the courtyard of Bansa Community Library & Resource Centre. One boy stands in the middle, holding up a picture book and reading aloud, while others listen with interest and joy. The ground is damp from recent rain, and greenery surrounds the space, adding to the relaxed, cheerful atmosphere of the gathering.

With the weather finally giving us a break from the usual heat, the library courtyard filled up with young voices and laughter. Our members gathered for a read-aloud session one member reading while the others listened closely, completely drawn into the story.

We are planning something very cool & adventurous for 300 young members of Bansa. One day trip to Science City Lucknow, read more here- rzp.io/rzp/FromBans... & contribute if you can!!

On this #InternationalDayOfPlay, we celebrate the joy, imagination, and learning that play brings into a child’s life. Our Toy Library & dedicated Play Curriculum ensure that children not only read, but also explore, build, create, and grow. Because play is not a break from learning, it is learning.

We kicked off our library’s Summer Camp on 25th May with the sweetest beginning, an ice cream party! From storytelling and theatre to science fun and creative workshops, the days ahead are packed with joy, learning, and laughter.
#SummerCampAtBCL

We kicked off our Summer Camp with the coolest start: an Ice-Cream Party! Laughter, excitement, and melting sticks set the tone for the joyful days ahead. This summer, we’ve lined up a variety of fun, creative workshops and engaging classes for our members.

#SummerCampAtBCL

Monthly Movie Screening Update
We recently screened the short film "Juice" with 13 to 16-year-old girls. Juice is a film heavy with truth and layered with beauty, it tells the story of everyday patriarchy playing out in middle-class Indian households.

Summer Camp Workshops Update
We had our English Writing Workshop series with an exciting first session led by Patrichia. The focus was on introducing the basics of writing in English, and our members responded with great enthusiasm and curiosity.

YouTube video by Bansa Community Library What do Bansa Community Library Members like the most about their Library?

In this video we asked our members what they love most about their Free Community Library. From reading newspapers to studying for hours, or even just enjoying the toys, reading comics, everyone agrees—it's like a second home at Bansa Community Library! Watch here- youtu.be/snujFPA8vA8?...

A young girl stands at the front of a modest village classroom, reading aloud from a picture book to a group of attentive children seated at wooden desks. This scene is from Bansa Library, where daily read-aloud sessions like these are transforming a village once told that “no one reads anymore.” In a place where screens had taken over, storytelling, books, and the love for reading are making a powerful comeback, proving that reading is truly contagious.

It's always a highlight at Bansa Library to see our young members organizing their own read-aloud sessions. In Bansa village, which previously had no libraries and no established reading culture, these daily scenes of literary engagement are truly transformative. 1/2

We built this library to be a window to the world, so that anyone in Bansa & neighbouring villages with curiosity could reach beyond. Today, with virtual sessions/workshops & more, that window is opening wider. The work is still in progress as this is just the beginning.

Grateful for the opportunity to moderate a powerful panel discussion on the Right to Read at the 3rd Edition of the Indian Library Congress in Delhi, alongside inspiring members of the Free Library Network.
Watch here: youtu.be/2Cngs7LkCiw?...

#RightToRead

A group of children is gathered outdoors at Bansa Community Library, sitting on bright orange plastic chairs in a semi-circle. A young girl stands in the center, holding an open picture book and reading aloud to the group. The children, dressed in colorful casual clothing, are fully engaged, listening attentively. Behind them, a yellow wall with the library's name and a mural featuring the Preamble of the Indian Constitution is visible. A free sanitary pad dispenser and a bookshelf with newspapers are mounted on the wall, reflecting the library's commitment to both education and community well-being. The setting is warm and inviting, with natural sunlight casting a glow on the scene.

Libraries are more than just buildings filled with books, they are vibrant spaces where stories come to life and minds take flight. This read-aloud session has our young readers fully immersed, proving that a library’s heart beats in the laughter, curiosity, and engagement of its community.

To keep empowering children, students, and readers, we need your help! We've curated an Amazon Wishlist filled with essential books and stationery that our members need the most. Click here to order: amazon.in/hz/wishlist/... & help us ensure that no member is turned away due to a lack of resources.

Squeezing in one last Sundar Nursery picnic before Delhi turns into a toaster!

Joy of holding a cup of Coffee!!

Our grassroots library saathis took center stage and spoke evocatively of their libraries being owned by the people who struggle against oppression everyday. Rituparna, Banu, Saba, Sumit and @jatinlalits.bsky.social spoke in one voice about the state’s responsibility to fund and the movement’s….

Alt Text: A group of women from nearby villages, dressed in vibrant traditional attire, stand attentively inside the community library, listening to a woman in a yellow and turquoise outfit who is passionately speaking to them. The bookshelves behind them are filled with a diverse collection of books, labeled in different categories, reflecting the library’s commitment to knowledge and accessibility. Some of the women hold books or bags, symbolizing their growing engagement with reading and learning. The setting is lively and welcoming, embodying the spirit of the Women Readership Enhancement Project, which aims to empower women by providing them with a space to read, learn, and connect. This moment captures a significant shift—where more women are not only accessing books but also finding a place where they can truly be themselves.

We have been actively working to enhance women's readership and are thrilled to see a growing number of women accessing the library, even from neighboring villages. It’s incredibly inspiring to witness this shift—where women not only find a space to read, learn, and 1/4

A group of children, mostly girls, sit in a circle on bright orange chairs in the open courtyard of Bansa Community Library. A young girl, dressed in a denim jacket and floral skirt, stands in the center holding a book and reading aloud to the group. The children, dressed in warm clothing, listen attentively, some leaning forward with curiosity. The yellow-painted library building in the background has a sign that reads "BANSA COMMUNITY LIBRARY & RESOURCE CENTRE," with bookshelves visible through the open doorway. Lush greenery and a white brick wall surround the courtyard, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere for this interactive reading session.

Nothing beats the joy of gathering around for a read-aloud session! With curious minds and eager ears, these young readers dived into a new story, discussing characters, sharing thoughts, and letting their imaginations soar.

Today, on Constitution Day, We celebrated the spirit of unity & learning. We all came together to pledge the commitment to values enshrined in our Constitution. We created a book display on 'Hamare Adhikar', reminding everyone of their rights and the shared fight for justice and equality.

Recently, got a chance to talk about @bansalibrary.bsky.social wonderful work at Ambedkar University Delhi. Bansa Library is the first free community library of Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh.

Two children stand close together, pointing at a colorful vocabulary wall filled with words in English and Hindi, organized in vibrant paper pockets. They are deeply engaged, with a notebook in hand, capturing new words to expand their learning.

Little hands, big dreams! At the Bansa Community Library, these curious minds dive into the vocabulary wall, turning every word into a stepping stone towards endless possibilities. Learning truly has no bounds when it’s fueled by wonder and joy!

#FreeLibraryForAll

Yay! @freelibsnet.bsky.social is here!
Give them a follow, friends. They do the hard work of putting books in the hands of those who can’t otherwise access them.
AND being anti-caste and feminist is baked into their foundations.

we are here too now bsky.app/profile/free...

We need projects like these everywhere. A thousand libraries for every bookstore.