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KOCHI: For a generation that misses the smell of aged, worn-out books in a library rack, this is another chance. The Ernakulam Public Library is preparing to bring in more life to its Young Readers’ Forum. The forum was formed a couple of months ago, following a long literary and film camp. Participants of the camp expressed a wish to have a platform to discuss and express their talents. Since then, the forum has been meeting every second Saturday.

The forum will organise a book review competition this Saturday. Members are supposed to read either Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea or Lalithambika Antharjanam’s Agnisakshi. On Saturday, they a re to speak for 10 minutes on either of these works, about what they liked about it. Anyone aged between 16 and 22 years can participate and speak either in English or Malayalam. Those interested should reach the Public Library at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

“The attempt is to support creativity of youth, besides inculcating reading habit in them,” says V.G. Ramachandran, librarian at Ernakulam Public Library.

With literary critic M.K. Sanu as course director, the members gather for a couple of hours every month to discuss what they have read. Library officials also plan to introduce members to history of literature. Interactions with writers and critics will guide the children to quality literature. What began with a group of 30-odd children has now crossed a membership of 40. Though response has been good, not many of those who joined attend the meetings regularly.

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