Don Bosco Public Library at Sulcorna, Goa celebrated Library Day on August 8, 2026, bringing together around 60 students of Don Bosco Farm High School, along with their teachers, Principal and Rector, for a meaningful morning centred on the joy of reading and the importance of libraries in education.
The programme commenced at 9.15 a.m. with a warm welcome to the gathering. The librarians, Ms. Fiona Rodrigues and Ms. Achala Pal Dessai ably organized and facilitated the celebration. The Principal, Rector, school coordinator and students were specially acknowledged, while the presence of the chief guest, Father Ian Pinto SDB, a published author and poet, added significance to the celebration. The programme highlighted the theme, Celebrating the Joy of Reading, inviting students to rediscover books as sources of imagination, knowledge and endless possibilities.
As part of the inaugural ceremony, students presented flowers to the honoured guests as a gesture of love, respect and gratitude. The ceremonial lamp was then lit, symbolizing the light of knowledge and wisdom and the students’ continuing journey towards truth and learning.
The programme also featured an introduction to Dr S. R. Ranganathan, widely regarded as the father of library science in India. His pioneering contribution to the development of library science and his vision for making books and knowledge accessible were highlighted for the benefit of the students. The chief guest addressed the gathering on the importance of books and encouraged the audience to take up the practice of reading. He intelligently presented the importance of books using the acronym DEF: Books teach us to DREAM—to imagine and to be creative in our thinking, they teach us to EXPRESS—books have the ability to make us laugh, cry, feel anxious and relieved, they help us get in touch with our emotions and to empathize with others as they teach us to put ourselves in the shoes of the protagonist, and finally, they help us FIND new things—we can learn better vocabulary, discover interesting facts and explanations for things and so on.
Ms. Pal Dessai, conducted a brief quiz on general knowledge for the students. Those who gave the correct answers were treated to a prize. As part of the library day celebration, a number of competitions were conducted for students: Story Canvas designing, Slogan designing, Book face Designing, and Bookmark competition; prizes were distributed to all the winners. After the programme, a book exhibition was held.
More than a celebration of a library, the event served as a reminder that books can become lifelong companions and reading can open doors to learning, creativity and new possibilities.
