Library in all homes: Kannada Book Authority’s push to revive reading culture

Hubballi

In a bid to revive reading habits and support the struggling publishing ecosystem, the Kannada Book Authority has launched an ambitious grassroots initiative, ‘Mane Gondu Granthalaya’ (A Library for Home), aiming to set up dedicated reading spaces in one lakh households across Karnataka. The intention behind this initiative is to make people start reading books again; the habit of reading books is rapidly diminishing with the easy availability of internet and smartphones. Authority President Dr Manasa shared this information with News Trail, stating that the initiative seeks to embed reading into daily life by encouraging families to create small home libraries.

Drawing a parallel with traditional Indian homes, he noted that just as households have a designated ‘pooja room’, a similar space for books can cultivate a culture of reading. “Our ancestors ensured every home had a pooja room, which naturally created a habit of regularly purchasing related items. We never created such a system for books. By simply dedicating a rack with 200–300 books, we are creating a permanent space for knowledge,” he said, adding that such a practice would organically boost book purchases and sustain the entire publishing chain from authors to booksellers.

The initiative was formally launched a year ago at the Chief Minister’s residence to set the tone for wider adoption. Since then, home libraries have been established in the residences of several cabinet ministers, including H. C. Mahadevappa, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Satish Jarkiholi, as well as a number of MLAs. The Authority is now extending the model to film personalities in an effort to influence wider audiences. The campaign has already made inroads at the grassroots level. In Haveri district, a small library was recently set up in the hut of a family from the marginalised Sudugadu Siddha community.

The effort drew attention from the local administration, prompting the district authorities to provide electricity to the settlement and establish a study centre for children. To ensure sustained momentum, the Authority has formed implementation committees in all 31 districts. A dedicated network of 365 members comprising a convener and nine members per district organises daily book-related activities, including discussions and outreach programmes, across the state. In addition, a decentralised distribution system has been put in place to enable the circulation and sale of recommended books across districts, bringing literature directly to readers’ doorsteps.

Families that adopt the initiative and set up home libraries are recognised through visits by committee members, felicitations, and certificates of appreciation from the Authority. To further incentivise participation, four state-level awards named after literary figures Nanjangud Tirumalamba, H.M. Nayak, P.R. Thippeswamy and Galaganatha have been instituted across the state’s four revenue divisions. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and will be presented to families maintaining exemplary home libraries.

“Reaching one lakh homes means touching nearly one crore minds,” Dr Manasa said. “Children who grow up with a library at home will naturally be drawn to bookstores and literary events. A home library is not just a collection of books—it reflects awareness, self-respect, and the cultural strength of a household.” Speaking about the initiative KB Kiran Singh, administrator of the Kannada Book Authority, said that so far around 2,000 houses have established a library and there is a good response to this initiative. In this digitally distracted world, making people read books and inculcating the habit of reading among children has become more crucial and the authority is progressing steadily in implementing this novel idea and bringing positive changes n society.