Half of the state schools have no library

As many as 107,000 schools in the state don't have libraries, according to the Shikshak Parishad.

Anil Bornare, president of Shikshak Parishad's Mumbai region, said, "Almost 50% of schools in the state either don't have libraries or a full-time librarian. Some librarians work on part-time basis. The schools where there are no libraries include aided as well as unaided schools. Most librarians are not paid enough to work full time."

The parishad got the information about the libraries through the District Information System for Education (DIES), which keeps a track of all school-related information. DIES can provide details such as the number of classrooms, toilets, laboratories, libraries and so on.

In rural areas, not only the students but citizens also need libraries as source of information and knowledge. MLC Ramnath Mote has kept up the demand in front of the higher authorities for development of education by constructing more libraries.