NEWS
Village School Library Initiative Takes Flight at Don Bosco, Polur
The Butterfly Express initiative—an effort to counter digital distraction and strengthen reading habits among rural students—marked a significant milestone on Friday with the launch of its second dedicated school library at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Polur, in the Tiruvannamalai district. The inauguration, led by Fr. John Alexander, Vice-Provincial of the Salesian Province of Chennai and Patron of Butterfly Express, reaffirmed the Salesian commitment to expanding learning spaces beyond classrooms for rural children.
The new facility, renovated under the Don Bosco Kalvi Solai project, offers students in the predominantly agrarian town a vibrant, distraction-free environment to explore books during school breaks. The Polur library follows the successful first installation in Gedilam village, Villupuram district, launched in September 2024.
Joined by distinguished guests—Dr. Jayakumar Reddy, pediatrician at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, and Mano Solomon, Managing Director of 99 Km Coffee Group of Restaurants—Fr. Alexander highlighted the initiative’s mission to provide rural pupils with access to diverse literature. “This project aims to enrich students’ knowledge and help them channel their focus towards academics and career aspirations, offering a positive alternative to excessive mobile phone use,” he said.
The updated facility features separate sections for newspapers and magazines and houses a rich collection of around 4,000 books in both Tamil and English. Subjects span history, law, politics, economics, philosophy, agriculture, computer science, and mathematics, ensuring a broad intellectual reach. Many books were contributed by volunteers committed to fostering a reading culture in village communities.
To cultivate consistent reading habits, students will be required to spend at least one hour per week in the library during school hours. The space, designed to accommodate 15 to 20 students at a time, will introduce a book lending system once regular usage stabilizes.
Adding colour and youthful energy to the inaugural programme, students presented cultural performances celebrating reading, storytelling, and creative expression. The event was also attended by Fr. John Britto SDB, Director of Kalvi Solai; Fr. Francis Pinto, Rector and Correspondent; and Fr. Robert Abraham, Headmaster of Don Bosco School, Polur.
The Butterfly Express continues to spread its wings—one village library at a time—opening new pathways of knowledge for rural learners.
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