Let's Open a Book

It was such an honour to receive a letter of appreciation from Shri Jeewan Singh Negi, Additional Director at Directorate of School Education, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The letter recognises our years of work and impact in Spiti Valley.

You can support Chanderkanta Ji and other determined women like her by making a contribution on our crowdfunding campaign: lnkd.in/gchrz-YA or by sending us a gift via Amazon: lnkd.in/dsNWPkFg

P.S. That's Chanderkanta Ji and I, in her apple orchard, where she lovingly tends to her plants.

Talking to her makes me realise that the library doesn’t just benefit the children that we serve, but everyone else associated with it. It is also about people like Chanderkanta Ji and their journeys.

Talking to her makes me realise that the library doesn’t just benefit the children that we serve, but everyone else associated with it. It is also about people like Chanderkanta Ji and their journeys.

“Before I joined the library as a librarian, I regretted not making use of my education because my parents worked so hard to pay for it. But I don’t feel like that anymore. I look forward to coming to the library everyday - it gives me a sense of direction, of purpose”, she says.

Chanderkanta ji recently shared that growing up her family struggled to make ends meet. Despite that, her parents ensured that she studied as much as she wanted to.

She has amazed me with the amount of learning that she has managed to do on the job and how she’s always ready to go above and beyond. She is super dependable and treats everyone with kindness and compassion. Seeing her grow professionally has been one of my greatest joys.

Now, 8 months later, Chanderkanta Ji has become an indispensable part of our library. She arrives before everyone else does, is always smiling, and makes everyone feel right at home.

I first met Chanderkanta Ji 8 months ago. She was curious about the librarian vacancy at our Manali library. And even though she holds a B.Ed. degree, she was super hesitant because she hadn’t had a job in over 15 years. But she decided to give it a shot anyway.

P.S. Our Manali library is still active and in need of support. Help us by making a contribution on our crowdfunding campaign: lnkd.in/gchrz-YA or send us a gift via Amazon: lnkd.in/dsNWPkFg

These conversations were quite emotional and equally heartwarming, giving me strength as I dealt with overwhelming feelings. But more importantly, these conversations gave me hope. Hope that even though our library in Spiti is now closed, the work will go on.

Over steaming hot cups of tea we talked about our experiences with books and how these would have made a lasting impression on children and adults who have benefitted from our free library.

Teachers from government schools. Monks, old and young, from monasteries (some of whom I’ve taught in previous years). And neighbors who became friends.

We gave away over 1200 books to schools and monasteries, so that students still have access to books. And as I gave away boxes full of books, I was very grateful to have a chance to reconnect and smile with Spitian people that I’ve known for years.

Our Spiti library is now permanently closed. It isn’t just about a library. It is about saying goodbye to a community that I’ve worked with over the last 8 years and have learned so much from. So I recently spent a week in Spiti, wrapping up our library and saying my goodbyes.

You can also send us a gift from our Amazon Wishlist tinyurl.com/39earyn3

P.S. I run a free community library in Village Jagatsukh, near Manali (Himachal Pradesh). SUPPORT OUR LIBRARY NOW by making a contribution on our crowdfunding campaign: ketto.org/fundraiser/help-ch…