WCC’s Annual Book Fair: A Preview with the Librarian

Elizabeth Peter, III BA English

July 2025: The Information Resource Centre (IRC) of Women’s Christian College is getting ready to host the third edition of its Annual Book Fair, from August 4 to 6, 2025, at the Assembly Hall in the Science Block. What began as a modest initiative in 2023 has become a much-anticipated event on campus, welcomed by both students and faculty.

In a conversation with Dr Lisa Sheba Rani, Librarian, and one of the key organisers, she shares the vision, planning, and purpose behind this year’s Fair.

📖 A Space Beyond Buying

“A book fair is more than just a place to buy books - it’s about the experience of being around books, feeling them, flipping through pages, and sharing thoughts,” says Dr Sheba.

In conversation with Dr Lisa Sheba Rani, Librarian, WCC

She emphasises that the fair is not just limited to buyers. Students are welcome to browse, read, or sit together in groups and discuss books. Her vision is to nurture a culture of meaningful book conversations among students.

📚 What to Expect This Year

The 2025 book fair will feature 7 to 8 publishers and booksellers, covering a wide range of genres and academic disciplines. Students can expect books on:

🖊️Fiction and Literature

🖊️Competitive exams

🖊️Language and other subject reference materials

The fair will be open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, catering to students from both Shift I and II. The event will be inaugurated by the Principal Dr Lilian I Jasper on August 4 at 9:30 am.

“A minimum of 10% discount is provided on books. It may vary based on the sellers,” Dr Sheba adds.

📚 Adding to the Library, meeting student needs

Another key aim of the book fair is to expand and update the college library’s collection, where teachers pick relevant books according to their disciplines, which will in turn be added to the library.

👩‍🎓 Encouraging Student Involvement

IRC invites students to take an active role in the event. Senators and students enrolled under the ‘Earn While You Learn’ scheme assist with:

🔹Arranging book displays

🔹Monitoring footfall

🔹Collecting feedback

🔹Taking book suggestions for the library

💡The Vision

Dr Sheba’s vision for a book fair in college began when she took charge of the library in 2021. By 2022, she introduced the idea of a Library Week, and in 2023, the Book Fair became a reality.

“The culture of a book fair should be part of any institution,” she says.

Despite the rise of e-books and digital media, she firmly believes in the irreplaceable feeling of physical books.

“Being a librarian, it is a joy to see students enjoying the physical reading process in the era of digitalisation,” she reflects.

“Touching and turning the pages of a book, no e-book can match that.”

🏛️ A Library Without Walls

Dr Sheba fondly recalls the phrase “Libraries without walls.” To her, the Book Fair is an extension of the library, a valuable part of student life.

The choice of the Science Block as the venue is deliberate because it ensures visibility and accessibility for all.

With over 2,000 visitors recorded every year, the IRC is hopeful that this year’s fair will see even more participation and engagement.