In an era dominated by digital screens, a remarkable reading revolution is quietly unfolding across Pune. Community-led libraries are successfully bringing children back to the magical world of books, creating spaces where young minds can explore, imagine, and discover the timeless joy of reading.
The Library Movement Transforming Young Minds
Across Pune's neighborhoods, passionate individuals are establishing vibrant libraries specifically designed to captivate children's attention. These spaces are challenging the notion that digital devices have permanently replaced books, demonstrating that when given the right environment and access, children still eagerly embrace reading.
What makes this movement particularly powerful is its community-driven nature. Most of these libraries are initiated and run by dedicated parents who recognize the profound impact that reading can have on a child's development.
Success Stories: Libraries Making a Difference
Kahanee Kids Library, founded by Gayatri Patwardhan in June 2022, began as a passion project in a small outhouse and has expanded to two branches in Karve Nagar and Baner. Inspired by community library cultures she experienced during her five years in the United States, Patwardhan has created a space that now serves over 1,500 young readers with a collection exceeding 40,000 books.
The library's weekly storytelling sessions have become hubs of creativity and imagination. Parents report significant changes in their children's attitudes toward reading. Dr. Rohit Behere describes the library as a godsend for his twin daughters, while another parent, Anagha Mehendale, notes how her daughter's curiosity has expanded dramatically, reading everything from fiction to space books.
In Pashan, Joy by Books, founded by Priya Riswadkar, embodies the same welcoming spirit. Starting as a personal passion for stories, it has grown to include over 1,200 members and 25,000 books, with 70% specifically catering to young readers. Riswadkar emphasizes that reading should be a lifelong journey, evolving from picture books to paperbacks and from fairytales to philosophy.
Book My Reads, with branches in Sahakar Nagar and Kothrud, has turned reading into a community celebration under Prajakta Kulkarni's leadership. The library features 16,000 books and 400 members, 80% of whom are children. Their innovative Reader of the Month Award frequently recognizes children who read more than 60 books monthly.
Kulkarni challenges the common parental mindset that treats reading as secondary to academics, stating that reading builds essential language skills, empathy, and confidence in children.
Longstanding Commitment to Young Readers
Unnati Books and Toys Library in Wakad represents one of the earlier initiatives in this movement, having been started by Nutan Gala in 2011. What began as a simple need to provide children access to quality books and toys has blossomed into a beloved community hub with over 15,000 books and 2,000 active members.
The library offers everything from sensorial books to workshops that make reading a fun, hands-on experience. Gala believes that cultivating reading habits early helps children not just learn, but fall in love with learning itself.
Parents consistently report transformative effects on their children's reading habits. Prajakta Kulkarni shares that her 13-year-old now reads daily and has become more articulate, while Rachana Shah observes that both her children love reading, which has significantly built their vocabulary and creative imagination.
Personal Touch in Reading Advocacy
Adding an intimate dimension to this growing movement is SMB Children's Library, a home library on NIBM Road founded by Tasneem Vohra in June 2023. Starting with just a few imported titles, it has expanded to a collection of 2,500 books reaching over 400 children.
Vohra's experience confirms that children still love reading when given the right access—affordable, personal, and responsive to their interests. Her library demonstrates that sometimes the most impactful initiatives begin at the smallest scale.
The Future of Reading Culture in Pune
Between small chairs, tall shelves, and the quiet hum of imagination, Pune's children are proving that some of the best adventures still begin with turning a page. The success of these libraries highlights an important truth about cultivating reading habits in the digital age.
As Gayatri Patwardhan reflects, community support remains crucial for sustaining library culture. When more people encourage reading as a shared habit, this culture doesn't just survive—it grows stronger with every story shared, every book opened, and every young mind awakened to the possibilities within pages.
These community libraries represent more than just collections of books; they are nurturing grounds for future thinkers, creators, and lifelong learners. In a world increasingly dominated by quick digital content, Pune's reading renaissance offers a powerful reminder of the enduring magic found in books and the importance of preserving spaces where that magic can work on young minds.
