Help Keep the Dream of Free Reading Alive for Every Rural Child
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500
Books Goal -
0
Books Received -
60
Days to go
Know more about us
Who we are
Lokanath Library & Museum is a non-profit rural reading movement based in Odisha, dedicated to ensuring that every child has free access to books, regardless of their financial background. Founded over 30 years ago by Bikash Satapathy, the library began with just a few hundred books and has grown into a unique collection of over 35,000 books and magazines, rare manuscripts, and cultural artefacts. Built entirely without government support, the library continues to thrive through personal sacrifice and the generosity of readers and donors.
Beyond preserving Odisha's literary heritage, our mission is to foster a culture of reading in rural communities where access to books is often limited.
Our work and its impact
1. Free Access to Books
Through our "Read Books Instead of Scrolling Mobiles" campaign, we personally take books to schools, villages, colleges, and tuition centres using our own funds. Children borrow the books free of cost, read them at home, and return them, allowing each book to inspire hundreds of readers over time.
2. Preserving Heritage
We maintain one of Odisha's unique privately managed libraries and museums, housing over 35,000 books, more than 1,200 palm-leaf manuscripts, over 1,100 rare coins, and numerous historical artefacts. These collections help preserve India's literary and cultural heritage while inspiring young minds to value history, knowledge, and reading.
3. Building Readers for Life
Many children in rural communities have little or no access to libraries. By taking books directly to them and encouraging reading over excessive screen time, we nurture literacy, curiosity, critical thinking, and imagination. Our mission is not just to distribute books but to create lifelong readers who will help build a more informed and compassionate society.
How we will utilise these books
The funds raised through this fundraiser will help us procure high-quality children's storybooks from Pratham Books, which will become part of our Rural Community Reading Programme. Rather than being used by just one child, every book will be borrowed, read, returned, and shared with many more young readers, creating a lasting impact.
We will take these books directly to government schools, villages, tuition centres, and community reading sessions across rural Odisha, ensuring that children with little or no access to libraries can enjoy engaging and age-appropriate storybooks free of cost. After each reading cycle, the books will return to our library and continue their journey to the next reader.
The books will also strengthen our open-access library, where children, students, teachers, and researchers can read without paying any membership fee. Every book is carefully catalogued, maintained, and actively circulated because we believe books are meant to be read and shared, not left on shelves.
A single book can inspire hundreds of readers over its lifetime. By supporting this fundraiser, you are not simply donating books—you are helping build a lasting culture of reading, curiosity, imagination, and learning among rural children who deserve the same opportunities as every other child.