Shoolini University marked National Librarian’s Day by opening two Book Nooks, where students and staff can pick up a book and leave another for the next reader.
The community-based open library initiative promotes reading, knowledge sharing and the reuse of resources on campus. It was inaugurated by Shoolini University Chief Learning Officer Prof Ashoo Khosla. “A book becomes meaningful when its knowledge is shared. The Book Nook is a simple yet powerful idea that brings people together through reading and encourages us to share knowledge. I hope this initiative inspires our students and staff to read more, share more and make learning a part of everyday campus life,” Prof Ashoo Khosla said.
The two Book Nooks are the first phase of the initiative. Shoolini plans to set up similar spaces at the CRC near Pine Court, G-H Block, hostels, E-Block and the AI Building, making books easily accessible across the campus.
Col TPS Gill (Retd), Director, Yogananda Knowledge Centre (YKC), said the initiative also carried a strong message of sustainability and responsible consumption. Instead of remaining unused on shelves or in homes, books can now pass from one reader to another. The Book Nooks have also been created by repurposing old machines, putting the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle into practice.
The organisers thanked Chancellor Prof PK Khosla for his vision and Vice Chancellor Prof Atul Khosla for his continued encouragement. They also acknowledged the support of Vinod Chopra; Brig SD Mehta (Retd), Director Operations, and his team; Suresh Sharma and his team; the Dean Student Welfare team; and the YKC Library team, including librarians Rakesh Sharma, Neelam Thakur, Neha Thakur, Vinod Sharma, Deepak Verma and Archana.
Director of Sustainability, Poonam Nanda, was recognised for the idea of promoting sustainability that helped shape the initiative. The organisers also thanked Prabh Subramaniam of the School of Design and Prof Charanjit Singh of the School of Journalism for their support.
Dr Puja Thakur, Head Librarian, Shoolini University, said the Book Nooks would encourage students and staff to read, exchange and donate books while strengthening shared knowledge and sustainable practices on campus.
“The university plans to expand the initiative to more locations in the coming months, creating a wider network of accessible reading spaces for the Shoolini community,” Dr Thakur added.
12 August 2026
