If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairytales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairytales. – Albert Einstein
In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics advised its 62,000 member doctors to recommend daily reading aloud to the parents and children they see in their medical practices. Their statement said “Reading regularly with young children, stimulates optimal pattern of brain development, and strengthens parent-child relationship at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime”.
“Reading aloud is good for people of every age, but its effects are perhaps more important in infancy and early childhood. A child’s brain growth rate is high during the first three years of life. Reading to children during this period gives them more of exactly what they need: more loving attention, more language and more empathy. Infants also learn from seeing expressive human faces. Babies tend to make eye contact when they are about two months old. By six months, they make eye contact and follow the other person’s gaze. This is one of a baby’s earliest social behaviors, and by twelve months almost all babies will do it. The language of stories helps baby develop the linguistic scaffolding of early speech, and helps young children work towards fluency. When children are older, books read aloud give them access to complex language and narratives that might otherwise be beyond them. Reading out loud brings joy, engagement and emotional connection for children, teens, adults –everybody” (Gurdon).
In these days of technologies, children from middle and upper middle class families have cell phones, tablets, and televisions in their bed rooms. Most of them are glued to these devices. In the behavior literature, it is clear that children who have too much screen time can have deficits in different areas, like language, imagination, and attention. A 2012 study found that children who enter kindergarten having had little or no reading time tend to lag other children by twelve to fourteen months in their language and reading skills.
Screen time recommendations by American Academy of Pediatrics (2016)
1. For children under 18 months parents should avoid screen time except for video-chatting. For children between 18-24 months, parents may introduce high quality digital programming but watch with their children to help them understand what they are watching.
2. For children ages 2-5 years, limit screen use to I hour per day of high quality programs. Parents should co-view the media with children to help them understand what they are watching.
3. For children ages 6 and over, place consistent time limit on daily media use.
4. Designate media free time together such as dinner time or driving time.
Conclusion
. Start early, read often. Reading to babies helps build bonds, vocabulary and habits.
. Read the pictures. Illustrations are visual clues that can help children build their vocabulary and their emotional tool kits.
. Press pause button. Don’t rush through the book. Take time to look at a picture, ask question, or share reactions. Help children make connection between what they read and the world around them.
. Make reading part of your daily routine.
‘Reading aloud is a small thing, yet profound. To read to someone you love is the simplest of gifts, and one of the greatest. All that is required for a long, happy string of enchanted hours is for someone to take the trouble to make it happen. Surely that is something we can aspire to do, with love.’(Meghan Cox Gurdon)
“Please read to your kids. It’s not the school‘s job to get our kids’ reading, it’s our job- and it’s a wonderful, magical act of love and caring”. (James Patterson, International bestselling author).
• 10 Best Children’s Books of All Time (Time Magazine).
• 1-Goodnight Moon by Margaret Brown (1947), Age range 0-3.
• 2-The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969), Age-0-4.
• 3-Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendek (1963), Age-2-6.
• 4-The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (1957).Age 3-8.
• 5-Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (1952). Age-8-11.
• 6-Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johns (1955). Age 3-7.
• 7-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (1964). Age 8-10.
• 8-Little Women by Louis May Alcott91880).Age 9-12.
• 9-Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (1997). Age 8-14.
• 10-The Chronicles of Narina: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (1954). Age 8-12.
Source
• Meghan Cox Gurdon. The Enchanted Hour, The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud In the Age of Distraction. New York: Harper Collins, 2019.
Dr Saheb Sahu, MD, FAAP.

FREE TO ALL (Inscription above the main entrance to Boston Public Library)
“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.” – Jorge Luis Borges

What is a public library?
Public libraries are generally supported by taxes (usually local), governed by a local board, open to all and they provide basic services without charge. They are distinct from college, university, research and other specialized libraries. They come in all shapes and sizes.

Public libraries exist in almost all parts of the world. They are considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Public access to books is not new. The Library of Alexandria, Egypt goes back to 4th century BCE. It is estimated that it housed 400,000 papyrus scrolls. The Library of Nalanda in the 5th century BCE had hundreds of thousands of volumes. Over the centuries there have been many more libraries around the world. Most of them were for well do to literate people who were very few. There were also many private libraries and lending libraries. The world’s first tax –supported public library was founded in Peterborough, USA, in 1833.

Functions of Public Libraries
A public library adopts its role to the need of the local community. Some of the usual functions of a public library are to provide:
1- Reading rooms for children and adults.
2-Loan books, audio and video disks, tapes, children toys and other materials as suitable for the local community.
3- Get books for the patrons from other libraries for a small fee (inter-library loan).
4-Provide meeting rooms for small groups.
5-Host authors, painters, musicians and story tellers.
6- Provide computers with internet connections wherever feasible.
7-Provide computer education for the patrons.
8- Can preserve local writings, arts and crafts.

Public Libraries in Odisha
There are very few public libraries in Odisha (as defined in this article). When I googled “public libraries in Odisha”the only one I could find was the Harekrushna Mahatab State Library at Bhubaneswar. It houses the state Library of Odisha and the public library for the city of Bhubaneswar. The Orissa Public Libraries Act was passed in 2001 to establish a network of public libraries in Orissa. To the best of my knowledge, very few public libraries have been established since the act was passed. Odisha has a population about 46 million with very few public libraries. By contrast USA with a population of 320 million has 120,000 public libraries.

What Government of Odisha should do to establish more public libraries?
1- Implement the 2001 Orissa Public Library Act.
2- Give money to villages, panchayats, towns and cities to establish more public libraries. The big towns and cities should establish branch libraries in various localities (paras). Give the money but leave the day to day operation to the local library board.
3- Provide mobile library services to remote villages and schools.
4- Each community, each school, small or big should have access to books.

Conclusions
I grew up in a village in the present Bargarh district in the 1950s and 1960s. My village’s elementary school had no library. I finished Bhagabata Purana in Oriya during my third grade. I attended Kamgaon government middle school and stayed in the hostel but the school had no library. The C.S. Zila School which I attended from 1958-1962 had a nice library. During my summer vacation, after the 10th grade, my library teacher gave me “The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes’’ by Arthur Conan Doyle. The book was in English and was about 1000 pages long. I finished the book in my village in about two weeks. I was hooked. I loved the book and it was the beginning of my love affairs with books. I have been a voracious reader since that time. I was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, in 1968. AIIMS had an excellent medical libray but one corner of the library was named ‘Rajkumari Amrita Kaur’ section. Rajkumari Amrita Kaur was the first health minister of India. She had donated all her personal collection of books to AIIMS. That section was a heaven for me. I had an opportunity to read all kinds of non-medical books there and I still do so.

Books have enriched my life greatly. I know that everybody will not be a reader but at least, all have the access to books. It is the obligation of the government of Odisha to open as many public libraries it can, small or big, in all parts of Odisha especially in rural Odisha. I am hoping that youth of Odisha will pressurized their local elected officials, panchayat members, MLAs and MPs to open many more public libraries in the areas they represent.

Dr Saheb Sahu

ୱିଲଫେରୋ ପେରେଟୋ ଗୁଟେ ଅର୍ଥଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଥିଲେ ଆର ୧୮୯୭ରେ ଇଂଲଣ୍ଡ ବାବଦରେ ପଢୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ପଢଲା ବେଲକେ ଗୁଟେ ଅଜବ ଜିନିଷ ପାଏଲେ କି ଇଂଲଣ୍ଡର ସବୁନୁ ଜହ ଜମିିନ କମ ଲୋକର ପାଖେ ଥିଲା । ୨୦% ଲୋକ ୮୦% ଜମିନ ଆର ସଂପତିର ମାଲିକ ଥିଲେ । ଇ କଥା ଜାନଲା ଉତାରୁ ସେ ଇତାର ବାବଦେ ଆର ଗବେଷଣା କଲେ । ଇ ନିଅମ ଟା ନା ଖାଲି ଦୁସରା ଦେଶ କି ଦୁସରା ସମିଆଁ କି ପଏସା ଲାଗି ସତ ଥିଲା ବରମ ଅଲଗା ସାମାନ ମାନକର ଲାଗି ବି ଲାଗୁ ଥିଲା ଜେନ୍ତା କି ତାକର ନିଜର ବାରି, ୮୦% ମଟର ଚନା୨୦% ମଟର ସେଂଗା ନୁ ବାହାରୁଥିଲା । ତେହରୁ ପେରେଟୋ ନିଅମ ବାହାରଲା ଘାହାକେ ୮୦-୨୦ ନିଅମ ବି କହେସନ । ଯେନଟା କି ବୈଗ୍ୟାନିକ ପଦ୍ଧତିରେ ସବୁ ଜିନିଷ ଥି ଲାଗସି ଜେନ୍ତା କି ପାଠ ପଢା, ସଂପର୍କ, ଦିହଁ’ପା ଆଦି । ଇ ନିଅମ କହେସି କି ଆପଣକର ୮୦% ଫଲାଫଲ ଖାଲି ଆପଣକର ୨୦% କାମ ଲାଗି ମିଲସି । ଇ ନିଅମ ଆମର ସାଧାରଣ ବିଚାର ନୁ ଏକଦମ ଉଲଟା ଏ । ଆମେ ଭାବସୁଁ, ଜେତକି ମେହନତ କଲେ ସେତକି ଫଲ ମିଲବା । ହେଲେ ସତ ତ ଇଟା ଯେ ଆମର କମ କାମ ହିଁ ଆମକୁ ଜହ ଫଳ ଦେସି । ଇ ନିଅମ କେ ଅଲଗ ଅଲଗ ଲୋକ କେତନିଟେ ଜିନିଷରେ ବେଭାର କରି ଦେଖଲେ ଆର ପାଏଲେ ଯେ:

୨୦% ଅପରାଧି ୮୦% ଅପରାଧ ଲାଗି ଦାଇ ଆନ
୨୦% ଡ୍ରାଇବର ଲାଗି ୮୦% ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣା ଘଟସି
୨୦% ବିହାରି ଲୋକ ୮୦% ଛାଡପତ୍ର କରିଥିସନ
୨୦% ରାସ୍ତାରେ ୮୦% ଟ୍ରାଫିକ ରହେସି
୨୦% କପଡା ଆମେ ୮୦% ସମିଆଁ ପିନ୍ଧସୁଁ
୨୦% ମଦୁଆ ଦୁନିଆଁର ୮୦% ମଦ ପିସନ
୨୦% ଜମିନ ୮୦% ଖାନା ଆର ଖନିଜ ଦେସି
୨୦% ବାଦଲ ନୁ ୮୦% ବର୍ଷା ହେସି
୨୦% ଅଭିନେତା କେ ୮୦% ଲୋକ ଜାନସନ
୨୦% ବୈଗ୍ୟାନିକ ୮୦% ଆବିଷ୍କାର/ଉଦ୍ଭାବନ କରସନ
୨୦% ଲେଖକ ୮୦% ବହି ବିକରି ହେସି

ଇଥି ନମର ଟିକେ ଆଗ ପଛ ହେଇପାରେ ହେଲେ ନିଅମ ଇଟା ହିଁ କହୁଛେ କି କମ ଜିନିଷ ଜହ ଉପଜ ଦେସନ । ଇତାର ଅର୍ଥ ନେଇଁସେ କି ଆମେ କାମ କରବାର ଛାଡିଦେମାଁ, ବରମ ଆମେ ସେ କାମ କରବାର କଥା ଯେନଟା ଆମକେ ଜହ ଫଳ ଦଉଛେ । ଇ ନିଅମଟା ଜହ କରି ବେପାର ଲାଗି ହିଁ ବେଭାର ହେସି । ଷ୍ଟାର୍ଟଅପ ଥି ଲୋକ ନିଜର ପଏସା ଆର ସମିଆଁ ସେ ଜିନିଷ ମାନକୁ ଦେସନ ଜେନ ନୁ ଉପଜ ନି ମିଲେ । ଜେନ୍ତା କି କଂପାନିର ଲୋଗୋ କେନ୍ତା ହେବା, ୱେବସାଇଟ କେନ୍ତା ଦିଶବାର କଥା ଆଦି । ଇଟା ସେ ୮୦% ଏ ଜେନ ନୁ ଫଳ ନି ମିଲେ, ବରମ ପହେଲା ନୁ ଆପଣକର ମୁଖିଆ କମ ହେବାର କଥା ଆପଣକର ସାମାନ କେ ବଢିଆ ବନାବାର ଜେନ ନୁ କି ଲୋକର ଜିବନ ସହଜ ଆର ଭଲ କରିପାରେ । ଇଟା କରଲା ଉତାରୁ ଆପଣକୁ ମାର୍କେଟିଂଗ ଆର ଅଲଗା ଜିନିଷ ଥି ନଜର ଲଗାବାର କଥା । ଆର ଆପଣକୁ ସେ ୨୦% ଜିନିଷ ଥି ଧ୍ୟାନ ରଖବାର କେ ପଡବା ଜେନନୁ ଆପଣକର ଉପଜ ଜହ ମିଲୁଛେ । ଆର କିଛି କଥା ଆପଣ ସୋର ରଖବେ, ଆପଣକର ୨୦% କ୍ଲାଏନ୍ଟ ଆପଣକୁ ୮୦% ଫାଏଦା ଦେବେ । ଆପଣକର ୨୦% କ୍ଲାଏନ୍ଟ ୮୦% ଅଭିଯୋଗକାରୀ ହେବେ । ତ ସେ ୨୦% ଲୋକର ଉପରେ ନଜର ରଖୁନ ଜେନମାନେ ଆପଣକୁ ୮୦% ଫାଏଦା ଦେବେ ।
ସାମାଜିକ ସଂପର୍କ ଲାଗି
ପହେଲା ମୁଇଁ ଭାବୁଥିଲିଁ ମୋର ଜେତକି ସାଂଗ ହେବେ ମୋର ଲାଗି ସେତକି ଫାଏଦା ଦେବେ । ସେଥିର ଲାଗି ମୁଇଁ ସମକର ନୁ ସାଂଗ ହଉଥିଲିଁ । ଆର ସମକିର ସାଂଗେ ସମିଆଁ ବିତଉଥିଲିଁ ଆର ସେଥିର ଲାଗି ମୁଇଁ ମୋର ଦରକାରି କାମ କରି ନି ପାରୁଥେଇ । ମୁଇଁ ଭାବୁଥିଲିଁ ଜହ ବଏଲେ ଭଲ । ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ଆପଣକର ୮୦% ଉଷତ ୨୦% ସାଂଗ ମାନକର ଲାଗି ମିଲସି । ସେଥିର ଲାଗି ଗୁରଦୁ ଠିକଠାକ ସାଂଗ ବାନାବାର ଠାନୁ ଆପଣ ସେ ୨୦% ଲୋକ କି ସାଂଗ ମାନକାର ସାଂଗେ ସମିଆଁ ବିତଉନ ଯେନମାନେ ସତେ ଆପଣକୁ ଭଲ ଲାଗସନ ଆର ଆପଣକୁ ବି ସେମାନକର ସାଂଗେ ମଜା ଲାଗସି । ଇଥିରୁ ଆପଣକର ସମିଆଁ ବି ବଁଚିଯିବା ।

ପାଠ ପଢା ଲାଗି

ମୋର ଗୁଟେ ସାଂଗ ଥିଲା ଯିଏ ପରୀକ୍ଷା ସମିଆଁ କେ ଦିନ ଭଏର ଆର ଦିନେ ଦିନେ ରାତି ବି ଉସିନ୍ଦ୍ରା ହେଇକରି ପଢେ । ଆର ଗୁଟେ ସାଂଗ ଥିଲା ଯିଏ ସବୁ ହେଇକରି ଦିନକ ୪-୬ ଘନ୍ଟା ପଢୁଥିଲା । ଯେତେବେଲେ ପରୀକ୍ଷାର ଫଲ ଆସୁଥିଲା ଦୁସରା ସାଂଗର ଫଲ ପହେଲା ସାଂଗ ର ସାଂଗେ ସମାନ କି ଟିକେ ଭଲ ରହୁଥିଲା । ଦୁସରା ସାଂଗ ବେଶୀ ସ୍ମାର୍ଟ ନି ଥେଇ ହେଲେ ତାର ଅଜାନତକେ ହି ୮୦-୨୦ ନିଅମ ବେଭାର କରୁଥିଲା । ଯେନ ସାଂଗ ୮୦-୨୦ ନିଅମ ବେଭାର କରୁଥିଲା ସେ ବାଛି ବାଛି ପଢୁଥିଲା । ଆର ସାଂଗ ସବୁ ପଢୁଥିଲା ଆର ସବୁ ପଢବାର ଲାଗି ତାହାକେ ସୋର ନି ରହୁଥେଇ । ଆର ପରୀକ୍ଷା ବେଲକେ ଉତ୍ତର ଭଲକରି ବି ଲେଖି ନି ପାରୁଥେଇ । ହେଲେ ଦୁସରା ସାଂଗ ମାଷ୍ଟର ନୁ ପଚରେଇକରି ଦରକାରି ଟା ମାନେ ପଢୁଥିଲା ଆର ସେ ସବୁ କେ ଭଲକରି ସୋର କରି ପରୀକ୍ଷା ଦଉଥିଲା ।
ପହେଲା ସାଂଗ ଦିନ ଭଏର ରାତ ଭଏର ପଢବାର ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରୁଥିଲା ହେଲେ ଝନେ ଲୋକ ଏକସରଲଗ କେନସି କାମ ନି କରି ପାରେ । ସେତାର ନଜର ଫେସବୁକ, ହ୍ୱାଟସପ ଆର ହେନ୍ତା ଜିନିଷ ମାନକୁ ପଡୁଥିଲା ସେଥିର ଲାଗି ଗୁରଦୁ ବେଲ ପଢଲେ ବି ତାର ପଢା ଭଲ ନି ହଉଥେଇ । ଦୁସରା ସାଂଗ କେ ଜନାଥିଲା ଯେ ସେ ସଖାଲର ୯ ରୁ ବେଲବୁଡାର ୬ ତକ ପଢି ପାରସି, ତାର ଉତାରୁ ନେଇଁ । ତ ସେ ସମିଆଁ ଥି ତାର ପୁରା ମନ ଲଗେଇକରି ପଢୁଥିଲା । ସେଥିର ଲାଗି ସେ କମ ପଢିକରି ବି ଭଲ ଫଳ ପଉଥିଲା ।

ତ ଆପଣ ବି ଆପଣକର ୨୦% କାମ କାଣା ଏ ପତା କରୁନ ଆର ସେଟାକେ ଭଲସେ କରୁନ । ସେନୁ ଆପଣକୁ ସମିଆଁ ବଁଚି କରି ମିଲି ପାରବା ବାକି ଦରକାରି କାମ ଲାଗି ।

(ଇ ଲେଖା ରିଚାର୍ଡ କୋଚଂକର ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ବହି “ଦି ୮୦/୨୦ ପ୍ରିନ୍ସିପୁଲ” ଆଧାରରେ ଲେଖା ହେଇଛେ । )