Interesting facts

1. P.N. Panicker is revered as the Father of the Library Movement in Kerala. 2. June 19, the death anniversary of P.N. Panicker, is observed as *Vayanadinam* (Reading Day) across Kerala. 3. The Kerala State Central Library in Thiruvananthapuram (established in 1829) is the first public library in India. 4. Perumkulam in Kollam district was officially declared Kerala's first 'Village of Books' (*Pusthaka Gramam*). 5. The Travancore Royal Family played a pivotal role in establishing the early public library systems in the 19th century. 6. The Kerala Grandhasala Sangham (Kerala State Library Council) was formed in 1945 starting with just 47 rural libraries. 7. In 1975, the Kerala Grandhasala Sangham won the prestigious UNESCO Krupsakaya Award for its contribution to literacy. 8. Kerala levies a 'library cess' (a minor surcharge on property tax) to independently fund public libraries. 9. Kottayam was the first city in India to achieve 100% literacy, heavily supported by its local library networks. 10. Most villages in Kerala have a *Vayanasala* (reading room) which serves as a secular space for political and literary discussions. 11. The Ernakulam Public Library, established in 1870, is one of the oldest and most well-stocked libraries in the region. 12. Mobile libraries historically traveled by boat in the backwaters of Alappuzha to deliver books to remote islands. 13. Prison libraries are highly active in Kerala, aiding in the rehabilitation and education of inmates. 14. Many libraries double as local polling stations during state and national elections. 15. Women-only reading initiatives are being actively promoted to increase female presence in rural library committees. 16. The Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library in Kerala holds one of the largest collections of palm-leaf manuscripts in Asia. 17. *Vayanasalas* frequently host local arts, sports, and cultural festivals (Onam and Vishu celebrations). 18. The library movement was deeply intertwined with the anti-caste and Indian independence movements in Kerala. 19. The Bapuji Smaraka Vayanasala is the central institution that drove Perumkulam to become a Village of Books. 20. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local libraries acted as community centers for distributing information and organizing relief efforts.