West Bengal launches world’s first tram library for children

The West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) in association with Apeejay Anand Children’s Library has launched the “world’s first tram library for children”. Making literature available to one and all as the driving focus this year, Oxford Bookstores, had curated the selection of titles and literature across various young reading age groups for the Kolkata Young Reader’s Tram Car. Passengers younger than 18 years can travel on the tram for free.

The West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) in association with Apeejay Anand Children’s Library has launched the “world’s first tram library for children”.

The beautiful library on wheels decorated with attractive artworks of children reading, hand painted by local artists housing books across genres for young readers adorning its shelves rolled on its first trip to encourage and inspire children to read and experience the joy of reading.

Making literature available to one and all as the driving focus this year, Oxford Bookstores, had curated the selection of titles and literature across various young reading age groups for the Kolkata Young Reader’s Tram Car.

Passengers younger than 18 years can travel on the tram for free.

The library was virtually launched on the tram routes between Shyambazar and Esplanade, and Esplanade Gariahat, which connect north and south of Kolkata, by WBTC MD Rajanvir Singh Kapur and Director of Apeejay Surrendra Priti Paul on Saturday (November 14)

Yearlong activities for children on board the tramcar, such as storytelling dramatized readings, poetry sessions, book launches, music and more are also on the cards, to captivate young minds.
WBTC has taken several initiatives to popularise trams by decorating them with artwork and launching a library on the Esplanade and Shyambazar route.

Maina Bhagat, Director, Apeejay Oxford Bookstores, said, “Our Heritage Oxford Bookstore Kolkata is proud to have supported the reading habit across generations of readers both across the city and the nation. It now literally, moves ahead with the Kolkata Young Readers Tramcar. We congratulate our partner WBTC for promoting ‘culture on the move’, which truly reflects the creative persona of the metropolis.”