Flybrary
Education & Banking

Flybrary: Fly Through Stories

What is a Flybrary?

The term “Flybrary” cleverly combines “flying” and “library,” representing mobile book-sharing spaces that appear in unexpected locations—airports, parks, trains, and neighborhood corners. Rather than being confined to traditional buildings, Flybraries spread the joy of reading by making books accessible on the go, often through simple borrow-and-return systems. This concept is rooted in the belief that stories should be free to travel, reaching new readers and embarking on fresh adventures.

Where to Find Flybraries

Flybraries take various forms depending on the community and setting:

  • Airports & Airplanes: Many airports now feature small book stations for travelers, and some airlines provide in-flight libraries.
  • Trains & Bus Stops: A quick commute can turn into an engaging reading experience.
  • Pop-up Parks & Beaches: Ideal for enjoying a book on a sunny day.
  • Digital Flybraries: E-books and audiobooks available for download via QR codes in public spaces.

Flybrary at Bhubaneswar Airport: India’s First “Take-a-Book” Library in Transit

In a world dominated by screens and fast-paced travel, Flybrary offers a serene alternative. Located at Biju Patnaik International Airport, this pioneering “take-a-book” library allows passengers to pick up a book—no membership or fees required—and return it at any Flybrary shelf during their next visit.

This initiative, a collaboration between the Bakul Foundation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), features two unmanned bookshelves in the Departure and Arrival areas, stocked with a diverse selection of English, Hindi, and Odia books, including novels, children’s literature, self-help guides, coffee-table books, and magazines like National Geographic.

Every day, volunteers maintain the shelves, restocking and organizing around 600 books donated by readers, ensuring the literary spirit thrives. With the motto “To Read Is to Fly,” Flybrary turns airport waiting into a moment of discovery, relaxation, and connection, with words serving as anchors of stillness amid the hustle.

Why Flybrary Matters

  1. Accessibility: It eliminates physical and financial barriers to reading.
  2. Community Spirit: It fosters book exchanges and ignites conversations among strangers.
  3. Sustainability: Reusing books minimizes waste and promotes eco-friendly practices.
  4. Spontaneous Discovery: You might find a book you never would have chosen otherwise.

How to Start or Support a Flybrary

  • Start Small: Set up a weatherproof box of books in your neighborhood.
  • Partner with Public Spaces: Collaborate with schools, cafés, transit hubs, or airports.
  • Spread the Word: Encourage others to donate books and utilize the Flybrary.
  • Go Digital: Create QR codes linking to free e-book platforms.

Flybrary – Benefits at a Glance

  1. Transform idle wait times into literary adventures
  2. Relax & de-stress before boarding
  3. Discover new authors & cultures
  4. Enjoy free & light reading – no bulky books
  5. Options for all ages (kids, teens, adults)
  6. Encourage a reading culture
  7. Give a platform to local & regional writers
  8. Multilingual & accessible formats (ebooks, audiobooks)
  9. Build a sense of shared global stories

Flybrary is more than just a unique idea; it’s a movement that brings literature to life in unexpected places. Whether you discover one while waiting for a train or establish one in your community, it serves as a reminder that reading knows no boundaries. After all, books are meant to soar.

Land Pooling
Political Awareness

Land Pooling Policy in India

Land Pooling Policy in India: A New Approach to Urban Development

India’s swift urbanization necessitates sustainable, inclusive, and efficient city planning strategies. Traditional land acquisition methods have frequently resulted in legal conflicts, displacement, and social unrest. To address these issues, the Land Pooling Policy (LPP) has emerged as a forward-thinking alternative, particularly in metropolitan areas like Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat. This policy fosters a collaborative and participatory approach to urban development, transforming landowners into active stakeholders rather than passive victims.

What is Land Pooling Policy?

Land Pooling is a strategic policy that allows a group of landowners to voluntarily combine their land parcels for organized urban development. Rather than selling their land outright to the government or private developers, these landowners contribute their properties to a development authority, such as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

Once the necessary infrastructure—such as roads, sewage systems, parks, and public facilities—is established, the land is returned to the original owners in a smaller but more valuable and serviced form. For example, if a farmer contributes 1 hectare of land, they might receive back 0.6 hectares after development. The remaining land is utilized by the government for public infrastructure and to recoup development costs through sales or commercial use. Read More

Interceptor Drones
Technology

Interceptor Drones: Future Sky Shield

In an era where drone technology has become both a boon and a threat, the rise of interceptor drones marks a significant milestone in modern defence and surveillance. Designed to detect, track, and neutralize unauthorized or hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), interceptor drones are rapidly becoming a crucial asset in military, homeland security, and critical infrastructure protection domains.

What Are Interceptor Drones?

As a type of UAV, interceptor drones are designed for the specific purpose of locating and neutralizing other drones. Unlike other combat or surveillance drones which operate independently to gather information or deliver payloads, interceptor drones are employed with the singular mission of neutralizing drone threats. These defensive drones are designed to protect airspace from unauthorized drone incursions, whether for espionage, contraband, or terrorist activities.

They are fitted with sensors, high-speed motors, and various other systems for interception, including nets, kinetic projectiles, jammers, or even kamikaze-style self-detonation. Some models are equipped with AI to make independent decisions while pursuing and tracking targets.

The Growing Need for Drone Interceptors

As the commercial and recreational use of drones becomes increasingly common, incidents involving rogue or weaponized drones are on the rise. Unauthorized drone flights over airports and public events, as well as drones used for smuggling contraband into prisons or by insurgents in conflict zones, pose significant and growing threats.

Several notable incidents underscore the urgency of addressing this issue:

  • Gatwick Airport Disruption: A series of drone sightings near the runway led to a 36-hour shutdown of the UK’s second-busiest airport, affecting over 1,000 flights.
  • Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Both sides have extensively utilized drones, including interceptor drones, marking a significant shift towards large-scale drone warfare.

These incidents reveal the limitations of traditional defense systems in detecting and countering small, fast-moving UAVs. As a result, there is a growing global demand for specialized counter-UAV technologies, particularly interceptor drones. Read More