National Reading Month

By Natasha Fernandupulle

Since the year 2004, the month of October has been named the National Reading Month. Therefore, this year too, many events have been organised by the National Library and Documentation Services Board.

The main event was scheduled for October 12, 2006. A Canadian Book Exhibition along with a presentation of books from New Zealand, were part of the agenda. The prize giving for last year's Reading Month School's Essay Competition was also held on this day.

A national poster competition was organised for the month, conducted in two categories, open and school children. The posters will be exhibited on October 19, 2006 at the Auditorium of the National Library.

Several provincial level programmes have also been organised for this month, where public, school and temple libraries will have programmes such as lectures, conferences, book exhibitions, poster and art competitions.

In the case of the development of rural libraries two Sinhala public libraries and one Tamil public library will be on the agenda. These libraries will be those in Lunugamvehera, Bulathsinhala and Kotagala.