In a groundbreaking initiative, Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) has introduced India’s first ‘Take a Book’ library, named Flybrary, revolutionizing the airport experience for passengers. Unlike traditional airport libraries, Flybrary allows travelers to pick up books, read them on the go, and return them on their next visit—completely free of cost.
This unique literary initiative is spearheaded by the Bakul Foundation in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). While airports in cities like Varanasi, Pune, and Bengaluru have libraries, none offer the flexibility of borrowing books without a fee, making Bhubaneswar Airport the first in India to introduce such an innovative concept.
The Flybrary has two bookshelves, one at the Departure and another at the Arrivals area, where passengers can browse through a diverse collection of books in English, Hindi, and Odia. The selection includes coffee table books, National Geographic magazines, novels, self-help guides, motivational books, and children’s literature. Passengers can read the books at the airport, take them along, and return them at any Flybrary shelf on their next visit or send them to Bakul Foundation. The initiative also encourages book donations, allowing readers to contribute to the Flybrary or Bakul’s larger Library Movement across Odisha.
Bakul Foundation has previously experimented with unmanned public libraries in Bhubaneswar, including the Little Tree Library in Forest Park, a Library in a Fridge at Ekamra Haat, and Anandaban, the urban forest, where people could casually pick up a book, read, and return it at their convenience. Founder Sujit Mahapatra shared that the idea of setting up an airport library had been in discussion for years. The plan gained momentum during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas programme, when he proposed it to Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, who lauded the initiative and encouraged its execution.
The Flybrary has received an overwhelming response from travelers. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, upon arrival at Bhubaneswar airport, was delighted to find the library and picked up ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie, stating that he found it relevant and looked forward to returning the book before his departure.
This initiative not only promotes reading culture among travelers but also enhances Odisha’s reputation as a hub for innovation and literacy movements. By integrating books into the airport experience, the Flybrary is setting a new precedent for public engagement with literature, inspiring similar initiatives across the country.
In a groundbreaking initiative, Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) has introduced India’s first ‘Take a Book’ library, named Flybrary, revolutionizing the airport experience for passengers. Unlike traditional airport libraries, Flybrary allows travelers to pick up books, read them on the go, and return them on their next visit—completely free of cost.
This unique literary initiative is spearheaded by the Bakul Foundation in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). While airports in cities like Varanasi, Pune, and Bengaluru have libraries, none offer the flexibility of borrowing books without a fee, making Bhubaneswar Airport the first in India to introduce such an innovative concept.
The Flybrary has two bookshelves, one at the Departure and another at the Arrivals area, where passengers can browse through a diverse collection of books in English, Hindi, and Odia. The selection includes coffee table books, National Geographic magazines, novels, self-help guides, motivational books, and children’s literature. Passengers can read the books at the airport, take them along, and return them at any Flybrary shelf on their next visit or send them to Bakul Foundation. The initiative also encourages book donations, allowing readers to contribute to the Flybrary or Bakul’s larger Library Movement across Odisha.
Bakul Foundation has previously experimented with unmanned public libraries in Bhubaneswar, including the Little Tree Library in Forest Park, a Library in a Fridge at Ekamra Haat, and Anandaban, the urban forest, where people could casually pick up a book, read, and return it at their convenience. Founder Sujit Mahapatra shared that the idea of setting up an airport library had been in discussion for years. The plan gained momentum during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas programme, when he proposed it to Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, who lauded the initiative and encouraged its execution.
The Flybrary has received an overwhelming response from travelers. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, upon arrival at Bhubaneswar airport, was delighted to find the library and picked up ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie, stating that he found it relevant and looked forward to returning the book before his departure.
This initiative not only promotes reading culture among travelers but also enhances Odisha’s reputation as a hub for innovation and literacy movements. By integrating books into the airport experience, the Flybrary is setting a new precedent for public engagement with literature, inspiring similar initiatives across the country.
