New free library opens in Porur, Chennai

In Porur, Chennai, a new little free library has opened its doors. This bright lemon-yellow cupboard is positioned outside a speed xerox shop on Mount-Poonamallee Road. It allows anyone to borrow a book and leave one for others to enjoy. The library is filled with hardcovers, paperbacks, and textbooks. B. Vaidhyanathan and his daughter, Rithika V., started this project three months ago. They were inspired by a similar library in Thoraipakkam and wanted to encourage young people to read more. Vaidhyanathan has noticed that many students spend their time on their phones instead of reading. The little free library began with just a few books, but now it has over a hundred, all donated by the community. “Someone from Ashok Pillar even donated 72 books,” Rithika shared. People are welcome to borrow books without the pressure of returning the same one. They can take a classic and leave a favorite novel for someone else. The library also includes a selection of greeting cards on the bottom shelf. Rithika hopes this will encourage people to send notes the traditional way, rather than just sending quick messages online. The father-daughter duo believes that these libraries can help strengthen the community while promoting the joy of reading.