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ShareBeetroot and Everlasting Impression, Worli
Started in February this year, the library boasts of over 4,000 books. The library also stocks toys and has extra-curricular activities for children such as drama, chess, art and gymnastics. "The idea was to have everything under one roof, so that parents don't have a tough time running from one place to another," says co-partner Sajida
Batra, who alongwith Arpita Agarwal started the library. Their library caters to children aged between eight months to 12 years. "Parents prefer picture books as pictures speak more than words and children are attracted to pictures," informs Batra. The books range from picture books, pop-up books, fiction such as Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew to research books and encyclopaedia. "We also have activity based books which make information easier to understand," says Batra. She adds that even though people have enough books at home, they want variety and something new to read.
Fees: Rs1,800 for three months and Rs6,800 per year. (One can borrow three books in a week) Contact: 2496 6530/ 31
Reading Tree, Worli
Reading Tree, started in the year 2000, has around 3,000 books adorning its shelves. Says owner Jayashree Bhalla, "We started a library just for kids as there is a variety in case of subjects and we also wanted to inculcate the habit of reading in them from an early age." She adds that through a library, children also meet other children and make friends. Parents of children aged between 3 to 13 years visit the library. The library has a stock of general knowledge books, fiction such as the Harry Potter series, non-fiction and reference books such as Timelife and Dorling Kindersley books. "We have books in English, Hindi and Marathi," says Bhalla. The library also organises story telling sessions and craft activities.
Fees: Rs1,600 per year. (3-5 books per session)
Contact: 2497 0768
Wonderland Library, Andheri
"I would buy books for my son and started stocking up more and more books. My friends suggested me to start a library to share the books with other kids," reasons owner Ritu Kapoor, on why she started a home based children's library. Her library has over 300 books for children aged 0 to 7 years. The library has around 150 members. "The library provides variety to people as they don't have space in their houses to stock up books," she says. From pop-up books, flash cards, musical books to picture books, the library has a variety for tiny tots. Apart from books, the library also has toys for kids.
Fees: Rs150 per month (Four books per week)
Contact: 98218 36836
Unnati Library, Matunga
In its 10th year since inception, the Unnati Library boasts of a huge range of books -- around 30,000. "We have so many books that now we have stopped counting," says owner Vrinda Sanghvi. Apart from English, the library has a stock of books in Hindi and Marathi languages too. "We also have books for the mentally challenged kids," says Sanghvi. She adds that they teach the parents how to read a book to these kids. The fiction books range from fairytales from the younger lot to books by Enid Blyton such as Famous Five and Secret Seven for the elder kids. Children above the age of 8 years come to pick up books themselves, but the main visitors of the library are parents, informs Sanghvi.
Fees: Rs150 per month. (10 books per month)
Contact: 93225 97951
