This is at the heart of our hearts at the Victor D’Mello Community Centre. The library is central to what we are doing in Assagao. READERS LEAD, LEADERS READ.

The library room, as it is today, was a toilet for two decades, before that, a room-sized junk draw. Now it is a room that emotes magic, the purpose-built large window holding the room together in endless sunlight that sparkles off the bookshelves. It is the only window which is North-facing, lovely throughout the day, mystical in the morning. We feel we can fit in at least 3000 books here.

Our library is the one room that people that step into and pause … taking in what is from what once was.

Most of our shelves are intentionally empty, depending on when you are reading this. Kept empty because it is in lockstep with what Assagao would like to read. We are adding new titles and sections in a phased manner, after consultations with the village.