Book Donation Scheme –
Enriching the libraries

Enriching The Libraries andThe Book-Culture Trust :

Image is also concerned about those who want to read good books but whose resources are so limited that they are not able to buy books. IMAGE wishes to help them by making books available to them through libraries, especially those in the rural areas, thus also enriching the libraries. IMAGE wants to stock libraries by gifting sets of books. A step was taken in this direction by launching ‘Library Enrichment Campaign’ in 1998. There are people who donate generously for setting up hospitals for physical well-being of the people. IMAGE knew that there are those who are willing to donate equally generously for gifting sets of books to libraries for cultural well-being of the people. With this idea in mind launching of the ‘Library Enrichment Scheme’ took shape.

There are 6,822 libraries, in all, in Gujarat out of which many are in a sorry state of affairs and in dismal conditions. They are housed in ill-ventilated structures and are stocked with old, worn out books and with books which are out of tune with the contemporary idiom. In order to stock these libraries with new books, huge funds are required. With the aim of collecting donations for this purpose, Image Book-Culture Trust was set up in 1998. It is a public charitable Trust and donations given to it are exempted from tax under S. 88G of the Income Tax Act.

In the year 2003-2004 we will continue our drive to draw more donors and from the donations received we will enrich libraries. From a donation of Rs. 5 Lacs ($ 11,000 / £ 8,000), 250 libraries can be enriched with books worth Rs. 2000/- each. If the amount is less, proportionately less number of books can be gifted to limited number of libraries. The books thus gifted will bear a sticker with the name of the donor in the following manner:

Our Achievement in Library Enrichment:

In the last six years Image Book-Culture Trust has distributed books worth Rs. 69,01,155/- (Rupees Sixtynine Lacs one thousand and one fifty five) among 6,371 libraries and institutions.

Image has evolved a unique scheme for spreading book culture with the blessings of Pujya Morari Bapu. It has taken up the task of enriching the libraries of Gujarat, especially the ones located in the rural areas of Gujarat.

At present most of such libraries are in poor shape being run in dilapidated buildings and having only old and torn books. The libraries get a very meager grant and are not in a position to buy good, attractive and modern works, as they are becoming more and more expensive.

Image has approached philanthropic Industry Houses and individuals to give benevolent donations to Image Book Culture Trust. Donations to the trust are exempted u/s 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. From these donations, Image arranges to send
gift parcels containing books to various libraries. The donor is encouraged to be a participant in the selection of the books as well as the libraries. The trust undertakes the process of printing the name of the donor on each book, arranging to make the parcels available to the library, receiving the acknowledgement of receipt from the libraries and forwarding it to the donor.

The donor has a privilege to avail this book donation scheme for educational institutions, hospitals, or other such public institutions.

In the short span of two years, the trust has enriched about more than 1,600 libraries by sending book parcels worth Rs. 32,00,000. India's leading corporate houses like H.D.F.C., Reliance Industries, Nirma and many other individual donors have enthusiastically supported this book donation scheme.

We heartily welcome efforts on the part of Gujarati NRIs in the preservation and propagation of Gujarati Language, their mother tongue. Gujarati NRIs can donate to the libraries of their native place under our book scheme, and in this manner strengthen cultural links with their native place. Just as one donates to hospitals for physical health, one should donate for enrichment of mental-cultural health.