PVPF 2024

Kerala Assembly to Host International Book Expo from November 28th to 30th

on Nov 02, 2022

The Kerala Assembly will host an international book fair from November 28 to December 4 in conjunction with the Assembly library's centennial celebrations and the 75th anniversary of Indian independence.

The 'Kerala Legislative Assembly Worldwide Book Fair (KLIBF 2022),' which will take place throughout the Assembly compound for a week, will feature almost 150 exhibitors from international, national, and local publishers. Speaker A.N.

Mr Shamseer and Assembly Secretary Mr A.M. Basheer announced at a news conference here on Tuesday that the fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all seven days.

Mr Shamseer stated that preparations will be made for pupils to visit the Assembly hall and museum during the book fair days.

It was also considered to provide corporate social responsibility monies from public-private organizations or to make coupons accessible through sponsorships to educational institutions and students participating in the fair. Books for libraries of government educational institutions could also be acquired during the event utilizing MLA development funding.

The Speaker stated that the Kerala State Library Council, universities, and other educational and governmental institutions had been asked to purchase the books they required at the exhibition.

The Assembly lounge and other locations will host a variety of competitions, as well as cultural events including well-known worldwide performers.

Three competition categories—literary appreciation, recitation, and story-telling—would be contested. An online cartoon competition would be organized. On the days of the book fair, there would be a quiz for high school, upper secondary, and college students in addition to the general public. Students would get awards and prizes.

According to Mr. Basheer, the book fair was also planned to double as a literary festival and take place in three locations. The fair would organize panel discussions, talks, seminars, book releases, book discussions, "meet the author" events, interviews, book readings, and book signings.

There will also be awareness campaigns with the theme "Reading is my drug" in support of the state government's anti-drug initiative. The official fair logo has been unveiled, and on Wednesday, the website will be ready for stand reservations.

Additionally, a writer would receive recognition for their thorough work.

The Speaker referred to the Assembly library as one of the greatest in the nation. It started as the Diwan of the former Travancore's office library in 1888. When Thiru-Kochi State was established in 1949, it served as the Travancore-Kochi Assembly library. It had previously been known as the Sree Chitra State Library in 1921. It began operating as the Kerala Assembly Library in 1956 when the State of Kerala was created.

Mr. Shamseer said the Assembly library, with 1.15 lakh books, 150 journals, and 20 newspapers, which was hitherto accessible only to MLAs, officials, and media persons were opening its doors to the public in connection with its centenary.

Former Speaker and current Minister for Local Self-government M.B. Rajesh inaugurated the distribution of membership to the public on Tuesday, Kerala Piravi day. In the first phase, only degree holders would be given membership. The library, Mr. Shamseer hoped, would benefit the academic community, particularly those conducting political-historical research.