(9 April 2019) In August 2017, businessman Imtisunup Longchar put up a post on Facebook seeking help to build a library for his community. The reason: There was no library in all of Dimapur, the largest city in Nagaland, India.
The response was overwhelming: People offered books, money and advice. One of the first respondents was resident Susan Lotha, a single mother and honorary member of the Juvenile Justice Board — who also dreamed of owning her own library. She saw the post as a sign. When her pensioner father was alive, he “always lamented” that there was no public library where he could read books, she says. Lotha met with Longchar and helped to create a core team of eight. They mobilized help through WhatsApp groups and Facebook and asked people to commit to library membership for six months to a year, raising Rs 30,000 ($437).
On May 4, 2018, Dimapur Public Library — the city’s only active, independent public library — opened its doors, born out of a social media post. As libraries continue to close around the world, it’s an idea worth trying.
Ozy.com has the news in full and photographs.
