The Living Library Project was started at Government Girls High School, Housing Colony, Sheikhupura, in June 2011 by Alif Laila Book Bus Society. Earlier that year, District Sheikhupura’s public schools were approached by Alif Laila Book Bus Society (ALBBS) to set up a library on their campuses free of charge. Most schools refused outright finding no worth in having extra books, which were not ‘textbooks’, for their students. However, Government Girls High School, Housing Colony’s school administration took a radical decision to set up a brand new library in one of the recently-constructed rooms of a new wing.

The innovative thrust of the ALBBS staff to bring in a library culture to the district of Sheikhpura was fully supported by its district administration. The district officers are justly proud of the historical and literary legacy of their area. Sheikhupura has a history that goes back to 100BC and was part of the Indus Valley Civilisation. From the Mauryan kings right down to the splendid Mughals, Sheikhpura has a story to tell of each.

What more fascinating than the story of a favourite deer of a Mughal prince who gave up hunting when his pet was shot at and died? What more romantic a story than that of Heer whose mystic Sufi poet was born and buried in Sheikhupura? The majestic remnants of a Mughal fort, the beauty of the slender Hiran Minar and its artificial lake, the spiritual presence of the shrines of three Sufi saints — Shah Jamal, Pir Waris Shah and Mian Sher Mohammad Sharaqpuri — abound with stories of the past.

Thus, Alif Laila’s mobile library housed in a Suzuki van was allowed by the district administration to do the rounds of Sheikhupura district every month and visit 40 primary and elementary schools in its vicinity. The brightly decorated mobile library known to school children as ‘the story teller’ could often be seen plying the roads of the district.

The stories of Sheikhupura’s past were woven into the present by books that illustrated the narratives of yore. The excitement of young students could be gauged from the bright, intelligent faces that lit up when a story got going and the spontaneous response of oohs and aahs that followed the unexpected twists of the story.

Even more engaging and delightful was ALBBS’s use of the ‘Books on Wheels’ campaign created especially for the Living Library Project to interest and spread the library bug. Motorcycle rickshaws fitted with four boxes of books and slogans for reading books painted on visited five schools over a period of six months. As soon as the motorcycle rickshaw parked inside the school, children excitedly gathered around it to browse through books. Just the availability of books to young learners is enough to put them on the path of creativity and imagination sadly lacking in our schooling.

It was not just access to books that was the fun part of the library room set up by ALBBS. As you entered, the colourfully-decorated walls welcomed you to a world of make belief and fairy tales. Images from Jungle Book lined one wall while characters from some of the popular fairy tales lined another. Shelves had been uniquely designed to attract young learners to take a book off the shelf and sit comfortably down to read or browse through it. The library room became an instant success and the students immediately took ownership of the library. The timetable of the school was adjusted to provide weekly library periods to all classes in the school.

The possession of a library on the premise of the school created a whole new culture of inquiry and research for the young girls turning it into a valuable learning tool that was both addictive and fun to use. Both teachers and students used the library extensively during the Youth Festival and helped them win competitions in essay writing, art and debates. Earlier, the school had won the first prize in District Sheikupura’s first ever science fair after researching a project through science books available in the library. The science teacher has become a frequent visitor to this library and spends her free time there.

The roving libraries have brought a pleasant change in the Sheikhupura community. Rowdy children roaming the streets found a positive activity when the mobile library visited them in the summer holidays. The teachers at Government Girls High School, Housing Colony, also reported better discipline in their classes after their students took to the library culture.

It is to be hoped that all government schools institute the culture of reading books to promote this important aspect of qualitative learning in their students. Lack of focus on books and libraries and overlooking their connection to literacy levels and creativity means “spiritual death” as noted by an insightful teacher at the Government Girls High School, Housing Colony. Alif Laila’s continuing efforts to establish the long lost library culture back into our schools is laudable indeed.

The writer is an educational consultant based in Lahore

ismatriaz70@gmail.com