Last date for nomination: May 10, 2026
Selection Process: Nomination by Org leaders > Orientation Session > Registration by Applicants > Interaction with RO / Wipro Foundation team > Confirmation.
About This Course
Course Objectives
The vision of this course is to engage educators, and development sector entrepreneurs into spring-boarding their library practice and learn from an organization that devotes its energies to enhancing the library for all users.Course Outcomes
Participation in the entire experience of the Introduction to libraries' workshop would support the following learnings for the participants:- Gain first-hand experience of the library and its curated collection of Bookworm, Goa
- Know and recognize what the critical elements of library practices are, and how these elements must be refreshed to ensure vibrancy
- Understand how to set up a library collection by carefully focusing on diversity within the collection of children's literature.
- Build a deeper understanding of the engagement of children in libraries by networking with like-minded organizations.
Pre-requisites
This workshop is designed for educators, practitioners, professionals, or anyone else who is interested in knowing the library and its practice. We encourage founders and directors along with one practitioner to attend the workshop as they can shift the practices within the organization.Participants possessing eagerness, openness to new learning and commitment would greatly benefit from the workshop experience.
Expected Commitment
| Phases | Module | Activity/No of hours | Mode of Delivery | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Pre-workshop | Participants are given pre-workshop tasks to prepare them to enter into the library discourse and prepare for the workshop | Online | Virtual |
| Phase 2 | Six-days residential workshop | 6 days (10 hours per day from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm) of immersion at Bookworm through different pedagogical and practical sessions. | Face to Face | Goa |
| Phase 3 | Library activity | 8 sessions, 60 hours, including proposal, planning and facilitation, and report writing. | Face to Face | At participant's work location |
| Phase 4 | Four days virtual engagement | Four days of virtual engagement, which will include library activity presentations and other pedagogical and practical sessions. | Online | Virtual |
Course Details
Libraries have long been imagined as store houses of collection for the chance visitor/reader to stumble upon. Millions of children grow up in India without a library experience. Yet, the library has the potential to be the mind and the heart of all thinking and imagination.For almost two decades, Bookworm has demonstrated that libraries can be active, vibrant spaces that enable access for everyone. Diverse communities need diverse approaches to be invited into a relationship with libraries. Bookworm, with years of experience and its robust on-ground practice with varied communities and professional development offerings, continues to believe that. Courses like 'An introduction to libraries' gives an opportunity to experience why and to think about what one can do to change the language and practice of libraries in one's own work.
Part 1: In-person workshop from 6th July to 11th July 2026
- Vision for libraries within learning spaces for children
- Elements of a children's library space
- What constitutes a library
- Hands-on activities with the library set-up
- Hardware and software for day-to-day running of a library
- Activities to nurture reading joy and learning
- Demonstration of varied reading activities across ages
- Planning and preparation for reading in the library
- Introduction to children's literature and a diverse collection
- cognitive benefits of reading and links to learning
- Bookworm field sites
To enable the implementation of learnings directly in the field. Library activities will be mentored by Bookworm's field mentors. There will be a mid-course catch-up call, and participants can reach out to the mentoring team for any assistance and queries.
Part 2: Virtual workshop from 14th October to 17th October, 2026
- Library activity project presentation
- Extended leaming on key ideas seeded during part one of the course
About The Resource Organization
Bookworm is a library-based organisation in Goa with a vision to inspire and nurture a love for reading as a way of life, nurturing humane engagement in everyone. For over two decades, Bookworm has worked across schools, communities, and professional learning spaces to reimagine libraries as active, inclusive, and reflective spaces that centre children, books, and relationships. Capacity building has been a core strand of this work, shaped by sustained on-ground practice and long-term engagement with educators, librarians, and organisations across India through our Professional Development program.
The organisation offers various long-term and short-term courses. The details of these offerings are here:
https://www.bookwormgoa.in/professional-development-program-prod/
Since 2018, Bookworm has partnered with Wipro Foundation to strengthen library practice through professional development, mentoring, open resources, and alumni engagement.
Website of the organisation: https://www.bookwormgoa.in/
| Phases | Module | Mode of Delivery | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 July 6th to 11th, 2026 | Vision for libraries within learning spaces for children | In-Person | Bookworm, goa |
| Elements of a Children's Library space | In-Person | Bookworm, goa | |
| Activities to nurture reading joy and learning | In-Person | Bookworm, goa | |
| Collection Curation | In-Person | Bookworm, goa | |
| Library Activity | Planning, Doing, Reflection and Cross-Shanng | In person | At participants' respective organisation/field site |
| Phase 2 October 14th to 17th, 2026 | Library Activity Project Presentation | Virtual | - |
| Extended learning on key ideas seeded during Part One | Virtual | - |
Facilitators
Ashwini Padwal
A library educator and Bookworm alumnus, passionate about working with children. Ashwini runs all of the Bookworm alumni network and loves bringing people together.
Anandita Rao
Anandita is an experienced library educator with a specialization in leadership and communication. Enjoys bringing pedagogy and programming together to create learning experiences with her immense knowledge of book collections.
Melcom Braganza
Melcom is an experienced library educator with a specialization in community mobilization and working with children in schools and outreach locations. With a natural flair for dramatic storytelling, brings immense enthusiasm to all library based experiences.
Samantha Kokkat
Samantha is a library professional with experience in operations, communication, events and curation. She enjoys how the library brings holistic experiences together, which helps her to multitask.
Guest Faculty
Jennifer Thomas
Jennifer is an experienced library educator with formal school practice and academic background in language, literacy and education. She anchors multiple professional development programs at Bookworm.
Bookworm Team
The larger Bookworm team hold different aspects of the workshop, facilitation of practice based sessions with regard to library engagement, and are field mentors.
Library Workshop Mentor
Sujata Noronha
An educator with a keen interest in libraries, languages, and learning. Experience with content development, enrichment, and critical discourse. Enjoys working with children and loves how small beginnings can scale up over time.
Testimonials
Rigzin Lhamo, Manjushri Educational Services
“The perspective towards libraries has changed. A library is not just a collection of books; rather, it is a dynamic space for learning, discussion, creativity, and community engagement.”
- Participant from Vikalp Jan Vikas Evam Swavlamban Sansthan, Rajasthan.
“Earlier, I had not associated arts, culture, and activities as integral parts of a library. My perspective has shifted — I now see how grounding oneself before reading time is vital, and how creative and cultural elements can enrich the library experience.”
- Participant from Vathsalya Charitable Trust, Karnataka.
"मैं ये बदलाव मेहसूस कर रही हूँ कि लाइब्रेरी की शुरुआत से ही हमें किस प्रकार कलेक्शन का ध्यान रखना है और बच्चों के लए एक ही गतिविधि को कितने अलग प्रकार से मैं लेके जा सकती हूँ जिससे बच्चों में पढ़ने के प्रति लगाव बढ़ेगा, साथ ही मैं खुद में उत्साहित और कॉन्फिडेंट महसूस कर रही हूँ।”
(“I understand that from the beginning of the library, it is important to curate a good collection and plan activities in multiple ways. This will spark children's interest in reading, and I will also feel excited and confident.”)
- Participant from Varitra Foundation, Haryana
Video - Participant from Door Step School Foundation
Video- Participant from Aldu Foundation
