The library has over 300 titles of books varying from academic, technical to popular fiction.
Costly books which were once a distant dream for students at the Anaikkum Karangal orphanage in Chennai are now only a stone's throw away. This has been made possible by a group of students from IIT Madras who have set up a library for them.
The library has over 300 titles of books varying from academic, technical to popular fiction.
"We can't buy these books otherwise," said Sanjay, a class 8 student.
"Like the IIT students i'd also study at IIT and help children like me," added another student Lavanya.
Shaastra, an annual festival of IIT Madras, of as part of their 'Pledge a Book' campaign have set up eight such libraries across Chennai.They have collected over 5,000 used books from schools and colleges in Chennai by keeping boxes in designated schools.
"Reading develops them into a new personality, they get transformed. We know so many success stories on how reading have helped them. Books are a source of great inspiration," Vishal Paidimarri, coordinator of the Pledge a Book campaign.
" Technical books help children from class five to eight not just for classes but for entrance tests like JEE," says Mahesh Kurup, head of the student project.
The group of students hope to turn this initiative into a movement across the country. Besides reaching out online they've targeted twenty schools and technology parks to collect books.