At most airports, waiting for a flight means endless scrolling on your phone, a quick coffee, or simply staring at the departure screens. But at the Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda, Odisha, passengers now have a far better option: they can pick up a book. A cosy corner of the departure lounge has been transformed into a ‘Flybrary,’ a free-for-all reading nook, thanks to the Rotary Club of Jharsuguda Green, RID 3261. A neat shelf at the departure lounge has been stocked with children’s books, novels, self-help titles, and magazines such as Reader’s Digest, along with publications on art, travel and culture.
The idea for this library took root last year on International Yoga Day (June 21). For two years, the club had been conducting yoga sessions at the airport with staff and occasional passengers joining in. “The response has been overwhelming; many passengers even keep in touch with us later for online classes,” says club member Priyanka Patwari.
After one such session, a casual conversation with airport director Sandeep Tiwari turned into something bigger. The group reflected on how digital devices and social media were eclipsing reading habits, especially among the younger generation. “Little did we know that what started as a small chat would shape our next project, promoting a healthier society through reading,” she recalls.
The club planned to install a library at the airport. Tiwari immediately offered space for it at the departure lounge, and the ‘Flybrary’ was born. The club members and airport staff donated novels and magazines which were arranged in a shelf at the lounge area. Passengers could now reach for a book while waiting for their flight, whether it was a children’s story to read aloud, or a magazine to flip through between announcements. “Initially, we let people take books home on the promise that they’d return or replace them later. But very few did. Now, books remain in the lounge itself, with an airport staff member overseeing the library,” explains club president Anand Kumar Goel.
To keep the shelves alive, the club is collecting books from members, other Rotary clubs, and the public. A steady stream of books arrives through appeals made on social media. “We all have books gathering dust at home, why not let someone else read and enjoy them?” says Priyanka with a smile. The club is planning more initiatives such as author visits, book clubs and reading sessions for children to further nurture the habit.
RC Jharsuguda Green, chartered in 2021, has 58 members including 12 women members. “All of us are active participants, be it fellowship or community service,” says Goel. The club has recently adopted the UGME Government School in the city, transforming it into a ‘Happy School’ with fresh paint, furniture, and a computer lab for digital literacy will come up soon.
The club organised a cervical cancer awareness drive for parents and vaccinated 50 schoolchildren in partnership with E J V Foundation, with plans to extend this to 200 more children with support from JSW Steel. In another effort, members planted over 100 saplings on school grounds and public land, adding to the city’s greenery.