Blog written by Sujata Noronha
A few months ago, Melcom declared joyously that we had found a room in Moti Dongor. A community the Travelling Library has been serving. With the monsoons finding safe spaces to continue our library outreach becomes critical and I was delighted that a space was found, lease signed and security for the children and engagement enabled. I heard nothing more about this space, so I asked Melcom,
Melcom, have you not turned the Moti Dongor space into a library ?
We have, Sujata .We keep boxes and we gather the children and we do our sessions.
Melcom, is that a library ?
What do you understand about a library space and all the elements that make up a library ?
Sujata, I am on it. It will be done.
And thus ended a short conversation between our MOP( Mobile Outreach Program) lead Melcom and myself barely 10 days ago.
Today, was the opening of the new Moti Dongor Community Library.
I found my way easily to the location, passing the spot at the foot hill where in 2015 we offered the MOP program in the middle of a row of small houses. We lasted about a year in this location and had to leave because we had no team who would travel to the South of Goa.
Pajifond, 28th April, 2015
As I drove up the Monte in Margao, I also passed the side entrance to the Hospicio Hospital where we stacked a shelf of books in the pediatric ward, gaining access through a maze of corridors always being greeted kindly by the staff nurses who knew of the library project.
Hospicio Hospital, 17th December 2016
More than a decade later, I park my vehicle and am already greeted by Melcom. He looks happy.
We pass a bar and a vada pav cart and Melcom discreetly points to an entrance and I see a radiantly positioned sign that says , Bookworm Library. My dreams grow through the head, heart and hands of others.
We enter a covered space, acknowledging a table which held flowers today, but that hosts a man who collects bets later in the evening and we look upon a bright jewel of a room – decorated with books, children’s art work and the smiling joy of more team members – Farheen and Sonali.
25th June, 2026
What did you enjoy about setting up this library?, I asked Farheen
Everything, every little thing , she answers glowing like the paint on the clean walls.
And you, Sonali, what did you enjoy ? I asked.
Clutching her hands to her chest , Sonali says, shelving, understanding the collection, noting that we need more Non Fiction narrative and expository books and also decorating the space.
25th June, 2026
A group of boys gathered outside and I turned to Farheen and asked , are the library sessions hard to manage with all these children ?
No, not at all. She said, They are so helpful and so kind and sweet. They listen to me and they are very happy to have the library.
I turned to the children, and asked them why are you happy to have a library ?
We can read, we can learn, we can do art, we play games and we play cricket !
In the library ? I asked. Yes, said one of them, all you need is a pencil, a small stone and a piece of paper as a pitch. So true , I said and your imagination.
As I turned to beam back at this small MOP team that make the impossible happen, two little girls stand outside and call out to Farheen. They tell her something and she beams even more. What did they say ?,I ask.
They are going home to dress up and come for the library opening, she says.
And dressed up and keen, eager and open – they came ! Melcom and the MOP team are magical !
A moving account of a magical space.