The Apeejay Anand Paul Children´s Library, attached to the Apeejay School in Park Street, Kolkata was incorporated in 1992, with the prime objective of attracting children of the neighbouring slums into a positive and stimulating learning environment. The success of the Park Street library was reason for us to start a second one, in Apeejay School, Salt Lake in 2010. The space designated for the library was completely refurbished and transformed into happy space.

Murals, wall paintings, sculptures and even a stage for performances were put in turning the Library into the kind of visually exciting place that automatically draws kids in.

The library´s doors are open every day, from 2.30pm to 6pm, giving kids free access to books, computers and vernacular reading material. In this vibrant atmosphere, they study, watch movies and play under the supervision of a Librarian. The Apeejay School faculty does voluntary work at the library – teaching the children, counseling their parents and also keeping an eye out for children who show promise, so that they can be sponsored to either Apeejay School or a vernacular school, or even sponsored for a vocational course.

This Education Support Programme also serves another very important purpose. It is integrated into the Apeejay School social work curriculum for Classes IX and XI. Students have incorporated in their academic year the "Each One Teach One" voluntary work scheme. This unique integration into the school curriculum encourages Apeejay students to feel ownership of the development of the underprivileged child under their care. But, perhaps what brings us the greatest joy out of this Education Support Programme is to see our school children working side–by–side with underprivileged kids and learning the important lesson that a world without prejudice or discrimination is possible only if each one of us lives our individual social responsibility™.