The West Bengal Transport Corporation and Apeejay Anand Children’s Library team up and gifts Kolkata, The Kolkata Young Reader’s Boat Library. This first ever children’s boat library for Kolkata would give access to children across age groups and segments to pick and read their favorite books while floating on the beautiful Hoogly river.
The beautiful library on water decorated with attractive artworks of children reading and housing books across genres for young readers adorning its shelves rolled on its first trip to encourage and inspire children to read and experience the joy of reading. The WBTC that runs the cross ferry service in Kolkata under Surface Transport is running this unique boat library.
The famed Oxford Bookstores have curated the selection of titles and literature across various young reading age groups for the Kolkata Young Reader’s Boat Library. The boat library will eventually host yearlong activities for children on board the boat, such as story telling dramatized readings, poetry sessions, book launches, music and more are also on the cards, to captivate young minds.
Mr. Rajanvir Singh Kapur, MD, West Bengal Transport Corporation, said “The idea behind the Kolkata Young Reader’s Boat Library is that once can read some good collection of books while appreciating the beauty of Kolkata from the floating marvel in river Hoogly. The boat Library would take people for a nice 2 hours trip in Hoogly and there would haf ticket for children and Kanyashrees (18 or below) in this boat. People more than 18 can surely enjoy the boat library as well“.
On the occasion, Ms. Priti Paul, Director Apeejay Surrendra Group said “Our collaboration with West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) in the novel venture of ‘Young Readers’ Boat Library’ is one which brings to life our vision. The River is the life breath of Bengal and a waterway of tremendous sacred and cultural significance. We celebrate the river with this initiative – and , further, reading and learning on the move will undoubtedly create an environment where children can celebrate and re-discover our history and roots as we make our way on board the floating library and delve into books through this educational-recreational endeavour to which we are all so committed“.
Timings: 11am, 1.15pm, 3.30pm. Days: Monday to Friday. Facilities includes, Music, About 500 books for youth in English, Bengali, Tuck Shop, Free Wifi. Charges: Rs 100 for adults (more than or equal to 18). Rs 50 for children (17 or under). Full boat charges for schools/ educational institutions: Rs 4000 for one trip
