Keep your kids engaged with reading adventures at these libraries across Mumbai

Summer vacation is here and with temperatures shooting way past usual telling your kids to go outside and play isnrsquot really a viable option But adventures can be had within the pages of books as well Herersquos a roundup of libraries around the city you can take your kids to keep them productively engaged this summerThe Book Nest Library and FunScienceClubPacked with an array of colourful editions this library aims to be a haven for children to read and grow which is why founder Dr Shonali Rathi christened it lsquoThe Book Nest Libraryrsquo ldquoItrsquos a nest for kids to come inhellipa nest thatrsquos nurturing a love for books in childrenrdquo the founder whorsquos also a doctor explainsThe 12 year old library also has a book discussion club to encourage thoughtprovoking conversations among kids ldquoWe try and promote Indian authors because todayrsquos kids should be exposed to writing from Indiardquo Rathi says The libraryrsquos 10000odd collection features books by Ruskin Bond Sudha Murty and Roald DahlgtgtgtWHEN Monday to Saturday 1030 AM to 7 PMWHERE Dr Ambedkar Road DadarCall 9819580259Pai Friends LibraryThis 37yearold library began with a humble collection of 100odd books Pundalik Pai the owner reminiscences about how he started the library in 1986 after he graduated At the time the library stocked popular Marathi and English novels of the day Now it boasts a stock of over five lakh books The library was the first in India to organize a Book Streets programme on the occasion of World Book Day with over one lakh books displayed on Dombivlirsquos Phadke RoadgtgtgtWHEN Monday to Sunday 8 AM to 9 PMWHERE Dombivli EastCall 9833732713The Gyan LibraryThe Gyan Library can be seen parked on the corners of the bustling streets of northern Mumbai Started by Chintan Dagli in 2021 the free mobile library has more than 9000 books for children of all ages An engineer by profession who lived in the US for 16 years Dagli was inspired by the kind of infrastructure the US has for public libraries ldquoTrying to get someone to read is a very difficult jobrdquo Dagli says talking about how children are more attracted to technology than books ldquoThe hope is that your child gets into the habit and that habit stays with them foreverrdquoThe mobile van parks itself in different locations throughout the week in Dahisar Borivli Kandivli and Malad Dagli proudly tells us that more than 2500 parents have signed up so far with over one lakh books being read Thatrsquos around 40 books per child on an average The secret he says is in the curation of the books which are arranged in a colorcoded layout The Geronimo Stilton series Peppa Pig Sudha Murtyrsquos books and Harry Potter are popular favourites ldquoThe usual feedback we get is that the parents are surprised by how much their kids get attracted to readingrdquo Dagli says happily ldquoItrsquos a revelation for them as wellrdquogtgtgtWHEN Every day 12 PM to 830 PMWHERE Dahisar to MaladCALL 7208391799Bandra Books on WheelsBandra Books on Wheels was launched in 2019 by the 105yearold National Library of Bandra Pramod Mahadik the general secretary of the library says that the initiative stemmed out of a desire to promote reading among the public ldquoAs a library our intention is to increase the circulation of books so that they reach a larger number of peoplerdquo he says ldquoWe have around 4000 books in four different languagesmdashMarathi Hindi English and Gujaratimdashand books for children toordquoThe library which currently boasts of a subscription of 200 members can be found at prominent junctions in the western and northern suburbs of the city including Bimbisar Nagar in Goregaon Bandra Reclamation and Saraswat colony in Santa Cruz West The van halts for 30 to 45 minutesat each spotgtgtgtWHEN Monday to Saturday 3 PM to 7 PMWHERE Kurla to Goregaon and Borivali Alternate SaturdaysCALL 8928605783