Author: Usha Mukunda

Usha Mukunda is a passionate advocate of conversations around books with children and young adults. She has been happily engaged in such interactions for 35 years. She is also deeply interested in learning about and sharing the nuances of good literature for children. Her greatest wish is to enable discernment of good books in herself, and in readers wherever they may abide.
<strong>The Open Library</strong> <i>at Centre for Learning</i>
Issue 12 – February 2020, Spotlight

The Open Library at Centre for Learning

From the start, the library at Centre for Learning was visualised as a space of freedom, autonomy, relationship and responsibility. This approach is in harmony with the overall philosophy of the school but it seemed important to demonstrate this in multiple ways through the library space. The library is a space where ownership is equally shared by the students, the library educators and the teachers. Once that is clearly internalised, the consequent action is effortless and happens seamlessly. But channels of communication, listening, and relating play a crucial role in sustaining this spirit of an open library. An important experience for every child is the library project. This is usually in the last term which ensures there has been ongoing immersion in reading and library practices o...