 The 3rd Community Library inaugurated at Kigwema Village on July 23. (Photo Courtesy: Thepfukelie Phira) Kohima: From a modest single shelf library set up outdoors in a stone sitting area of the village to bringing the third one to its community readers, the 3rd Community library in Kigwema village in collaboration with Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Nagaland was inaugurated by Joint Director, Department of Art and Culture, Government of Nagaland, Meseno Peseyie on July 23. The programme also commemorated the 4th anniversary of starting the library. With the latest shelf, the Community Library Kigwema houses a collection of diverse reads with more than 600 books in their repository, Akho Phira, one of the founding member among the two brothers said. This effort was materialised through the collective effort of well-wishers and patrons who chipped in financial support to install the largest/ biggest shelf since the project inception, he added.  Speaking during the inauguration, Peseyie expressed how despite the digital age replacing many things today, the advantage of reading itself was irreplaceable. The speaker appreciated the initiative adding that the self funded and open to the public 24/7 with the sole motive of inculcating reading habits and to promote the importance of reading among the members of the community is making positive impact on the society at large. Peseyie asserted that knowledge is power and the best and most efficient way to gain knowledge and information is by reading and reading has lots of benefits much more than one can imagine. "In this digital age, libraries have changed from being static and mere store houses of books and information to dynamic resource centres. In this digital age we all know that we can get information from the click of a button but this cannot replace the benefits of reading," she pointed out. The speaker said that reading stimulates the mind, enhances creativity and help us make constructive use of our leisure time especially crucial during present times when children or young people are engrossed in electronic devices and tools.  Peseyie lauded the founders for successfully enabling the library to complete four years and to further expand the library which she underscored was serving its people in the true sense of its term and a novel idea and added that the number of books was not important but the quality of how it is utilized measures its worth. During the programme, Kigwema Students' Union (KSU) delivered message and Fr. Joe Coelho SJ, Treasurer, Nagaland Jesuits Society pronounced invocation. The programme was chaired by Akho Phira, Co-founder, Community Library, Kigwema. Located at Nepi Tsekwhe, Merama Khel in Kigwema village, the library was initiated by 2 brothers Akho Phira and Thepfukelie Phira in August, 2021. 3rd Community Library in Kigwema village inaugurated | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
