Reading acts as a gateway to new realities, expanding our thinking beyond social and cultural limits. The Bookworm Libraries in Schools (LiS) programme fosters a love for reading among students from grades one to seven.
Supported by the State Council of Educational Research and Training Goa (SCERT) and the Cipla Foundation, this programme is transforming literacy in 160 primary schools across Goa through different interventions. By providing age-appropriate books and incorporating storytelling, Read Aloud sessions, book talks, and book-related activities, the programme fosters reading improvement, language development, and creativity. Beyond book distribution, the initiative introduces engaging library games and art activities to ensure that reading remains a continuous and exciting experience for the students. This progress is driven by the dedication of teachers and our collective effort to promote the joy of reading.
Constant Support from teachers & government bodies have enabled the access of quality children’s literature to children in 130 government schools, 28 aided schools & 2 private schools in Goa. This year, more than 11,000 books have reached 8365 children thus far through the independent schools initiative, lead schools and the Traveling Library, and 160 teachers have received mentoring and training to take forward the LiS programme.
Teja Poll, a LiS teammate, shares her experience here:
When I first joined the Bookworm Library, I thought of it as just a place with books. I quickly realized it’s so much more, it’s a world that sparks curiosity, joy, and a love for reading in children. Through the Libraries in Schools (LIS) Programme, I got to be part of two amazing initiatives: the Book Box and the Travelling Library. And what a journey it has been!
In the first couple of years, I conducted Read Aloud sessions, and watching children’s faces light up as stories unfolded was pure magic. They started asking questions, sharing ideas, and responding with such excitement, it was clear that books were opening new worlds for them.
The Travelling Library was an adventure of its own. At first, children were hesitant, and some didn’t even know why we were there. Locals would ask if we were distributing medicine, and we had to patiently explain that we were bringing books and fun activities. Slowly, trust grew, smiles appeared, and curiosity took over. Soon, children were running toward the vehicle, eagerly asking, “Where is the Gadi?” whenever we arrived late.
Every school visit was a little celebration. We lent books, led sessions, and listened to children share their thoughts. Teachers shared stories of shy children gaining confidence, of once-reluctant readers discovering joy in books. Missing a visit due to exams or events would make the children’s disappointment clear, they really looked forward to our sessions.
The joy of seeing children connect with stories, watching them think deeply, and witnessing their excitement was overwhelming. Over time, the bond between the children and books became tangible, and I realized the power of a library is not in its walls, but in the curiosity it sparks and the joy it spreads. Here are couple of responses left with me from school experience:
At GPS Jamlo Khandekar, Children were taken outside to do a nature observation activity. Before that, parts of the books were revised. The children observed nature and drew in their worksheets with excitement. All were happy after looking at each other’s unique drawings.
At GPS Verem, Rounak, a boy from the second standard, selected the book “Khotya Magach Khara” illustrated by Asha Nehemiah. He chose the book because it featured a police officer as the main character. He said he also wanted to become a police officer, which is why he borrowed that book. All the children were happy and excited to borrow and read the books.
At Don Bosco School, Odxel, Srejal Pereira shared about the book “My First Recipe”, where she found many recipes and learned about different ingredients used in various dishes. Junu Giri shared about the book “Waiting for Baby”, where she said, “When another baby comes into the house, ‘Bachha khush ho jata hai’. All the children showed great interest in reading and expressed a desire for more books on space, science, nature, geography, and fairytales.
At Pragati Vidyalaya, Taaqquib shared about the book “Leonardo da Vinci” and said that he was a great scientist. At Don Bosco school, Junu talked about the story of “Eeyore’s Lucky Day”, where a donkey goes into a pond, sits there, and doesn’t come back. Naksh also shared about a book called “Pocahontas”.
Thank you, Bookworm Library and especially Sujata for making this journey unforgettable. These moments of sharing books and stories with children are some of the happiest days of my life.
Vaibhavi Tirodkar, a LiS teammate, shares her experience here:
This year, I got the chance to be part of something truly special, the Book Box initiative. Focused on schools in Bicholim Taluka, the program isn’t just about delivering books; it’s about creating a space where children fall in love with reading.
Each school receives a box filled with carefully chosen books, worksheets, stationery, library cards, and guides for teachers. Every collection is unique, with a mix of Indian and foreign titles, designed to spark curiosity in every child. Our first sessions introduce students to the Bookworm Library, showing them how to explore and enjoy these treasures.
What amazes me most is seeing teachers become the heart of this program. They don’t just follow instructions, they get creative. It’s a very slow process. A few teachers needed a lot of motivation, but a few things kept us motivating like one teacher held a read-aloud session with “Bazar,” while another turned a story into poetic verses, which students eagerly recited back to me.
The changes in children are seen, from quiet, hesitant faces during my first visit, to enthusiastic participation in my second, summarizing stories, responding during the session. Their excitement is overwhelming. Here are few responses that stayed with me:
At GPS Ambaulim, Quepem, children responded to the story Biblioburro with thoughtful reflections: “Luis’s house is filled with books, so now he can sell these books, give them to those who have none, donate them to a library, or even build a house just for books.” They explained that burros means donkeys. They observed that Diana is filling the crate and will be happy because the books are going out of the house. They said Beto was not crossing the stream because he might be afraid. When the bandit appeared in the story, they said Luis had two options: either he could run away or face the situation.
At GPS Sal, we introduced two different theatre games “Following the Worm” and “Book ISpy” both of which were received with great enthusiasm and love by the children.
Being part of Book Box has shown me that with teamwork, creativity, and support, we can truly make children fall in love with books. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing that spark of curiosity in their eyes.
The Bookworm Libraries in Schools programme is more than just an initiative; it’s a celebration of curiosity, imagination, and the transformative power of books. From the joy in a child’s eyes during a Read Aloud session to the excitement of discovering a new story in the Book Box or Travelling Library, every moment reinforces that reading is a lifelong adventure. With the unwavering support of teachers, government bodies, and dedicated LiS teammates, these libraries are planting seeds of knowledge and creativity that will flourish for years to come. In spreading the joy of reading, we’re not just building libraries we’re building confident, curious, and inspired young minds.
Blog written by: Teja, Vaibhavi and Vishwanath