Arrupe Library Book Fair 2026 Draws 1,400+ Readers and Book Lovers! A Celebration of Books, Reading and the Joy of Discovery at St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli.
Arrupe Library of St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, successfully organized a vibrant two-day Book Fair on September 8 and 9, 2026, at K. P. Joseph Hall, bringing together more than 20 publishers and book distributors and attracting over 1,400 visitors from the college and the wider community.
The Book Fair was organized with the vision of bringing books closer to readers and readers closer to books, while encouraging students and faculty to rediscover the value of print reading in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.
Inauguration
The Book Fair commenced on September 8 at 9.00 a.m. with an inaugural programme attended by the college community, publishers, booksellers, students, faculty members and invited guests.
Dr. X. Mercy Angeline, Librarian and Organizing Secretary of the Book Fair, welcomed the gathering and expressed her gratitude to the management, publishers, faculty members, students and all those who had contributed to making the Book Fair possible.
The Principal inaugurated the Book Fair and blessed the occasion. In his address, he congratulated all the participating publishers and booksellers for travelling to the college and bringing a wide range of books for the benefit of the readers. He appreciated the initiative of the Arrupe Library in creating a lively reading environment on campus.
More than 20 publishers and distributors from different places participated in the Book Fair, displaying books covering a wide spectrum of academic disciplines, literature, competitive examinations, research, general reading, personal development and other areas of interest.
The first day witnessed an encouraging response. Around 500 visitors visited the Book Fair, including students and staff of St. Joseph’s College, students from schools and colleges, members of reading clubs, researchers, book lovers and the general public.
The atmosphere remained lively throughout the day, with readers browsing through the stalls, interacting with booksellers and discovering titles of their interest. The Book Fair continued until 7.00 p.m. on the first day.
Day Two – A Hall Full of Readers
The second day, September 9, began at 9.00 a.m., and the venue soon filled with readers and visitors. The steady flow of people gradually turned into a vibrant crowd, with students, faculty members, staff, researchers and members of the public moving from one stall to another.
For the organizers, seeing the venue filled with readers was one of the most fulfilling moments of the Book Fair. The sight of students holding books, discussing titles and exploring unfamiliar subjects reflected the very purpose behind organizing the event.
Over the two days, the Book Fair received more than 1,400 visitors.
A significant outcome of the Book Fair was the active participation of the academic departments in library collection development. An amount of ₹30,000 was allocated to each department for the purchase of books. Based on the recommendations and selections made by faculty members from different departments, books worth approximately ₹5,00,000 were purchased for the Arrupe Library.
The Book Fair also provided students with an opportunity to recommend books for inclusion in the library collection. Student recommendations resulted in books worth approximately ₹90,000, reflecting the students’ active interest in shaping the resources of their own library.
Valedictory Programme
The valedictory programme commenced at 5.00 p.m. with a welcome address by Dr. X. Mercy Angeline, Librarian and Organizing Secretary. This was followed by a report on the two-day Book Fair, highlighting its participation, outreach, book purchases and the enthusiastic response from the visitors.
The Rev. Fr. Secretary felicitated the participating publishers and booksellers. He appreciated the beautiful arrangements and the systematic organization of the Book Fair and thanked the publishers and distributors for their participation. He also encouraged them to continue supporting the college and its library initiatives in the future.
The Principal, in his address, highlighted the importance of developing and sustaining reading habits among students. At a time when Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies are increasingly dominating the learning environment, he emphasized the continued importance of reading and encouraged the college community to make reading a regular habit.
Chief Guest’s Address
The Chief Guest, Ms. Nahla Nainar, Senior Assistant Editor of The Hindu, delivered an insightful address on the historical journey of books, reading and publishing.
Taking the audience through the historical perspective of books and publishing, she spoke about the evolution of reading and the significance of print resources. She also drew attention to the history of Tamil publishing and referred to the first book printed in Tamil by a missionary priest, connecting the history of publishing with the broader historical and social context of the region.
Her address provided the audience with a deeper appreciation of books—not merely as printed objects, but as carriers of knowledge, history, ideas and human experience.
Booksellers Appreciate the Organization
A feedback session was held as part of the valedictory programme, providing an opportunity for the participating publishers and booksellers, students and members of the audience to share their experiences.
The participating booksellers expressed their appreciation for the hospitality, arrangements and systematic organization of the two-day Book Fair. Several of them made special mention of the dedicated efforts of Dr. X. Mercy Angeline, Librarian and Organizing Secretary, in coordinating the event and ensuring that the participating publishers and distributors were well supported throughout the programme.
The booksellers also expressed their gratitude to the management of St. Joseph’s College for the hospitality extended to them, including food and refreshments, and for the support provided throughout the two-day event. They appreciated the allocation of funds for book purchases and encouraged the college to continue organizing such book fairs in the future.
Students Rediscover the Value of Books
The feedback from students was equally encouraging. Several students shared that this was their first experience of visiting a book fair of this scale and meeting so many publishers and booksellers in one place.
For many, the Book Fair was an opportunity to understand the variety of books available beyond their regular textbooks and online resources. Students spoke about discovering the value of print resources, reading and book selection.
Some students expressed that the Book Fair had motivated them to develop a stronger reading habit and promised to continue reading books even after the event. Students also expressed their gratitude to the college management and the library for giving them the opportunity to participate as student volunteers during the two-day event.
A Collective Celebration of Reading
The Librarian expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the management of St. Joseph’s College for the encouragement, financial support and arrangements extended towards the successful conduct of the Book Fair. She particularly thanked the management for allocating ₹30,000 to each department, enabling faculty members to actively participate in strengthening the library collection.
She also thanked the publishers, booksellers, faculty members, staff members, student volunteers and visitors whose participation transformed the Book Fair into a genuine celebration of reading.
The two-day event demonstrated that even in an age dominated by screens, technology and Artificial Intelligence, the printed book continues to attract readers. The sight of a crowded hall filled with students and book lovers stood as a meaningful reminder that the desire to read, discover and learn remains strong.
The programme concluded with the Vote of Thanks, followed by a group photograph involving the dignitaries, publishers and booksellers, library staff and student volunteers.
The Book Fair concluded on a note of gratitude and fulfilment, marking the successful Book Fair organized by Arrupe Library. What began as a library initiative became a shared celebration involving the entire college community and the wider public.
The Book Fair 2026 thus ended, but the hope it created remains simple and powerful: that every visitor who walked into the hall walked out with a book, an idea, or at least a renewed desire to read.
