Mangalore: Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore in collaboration with Karnataka State Library Association®, Bangalore was celebrated National Library Week on 19 th November 2025 at  3.00pm in the Decennial Memorial Hall of Father Muller Knowledge Centre.

The program began with Inaugural function at 3.00 pm with prayer song followed by the dignitaries being escorted on to the dais by Dr. John J.S. Martis, Professor of General Surgery,

Chairperson of the Central Library Committee and Dr Janet Dotty Lobo, Chief Librarian and Event Coordinator. The program was graced by the Chief Guest, Dr. S L Kadadevarmath,

President of the Karnataka State Library Association (KALA), Bangalore along with other dignitaries on the dais namely, Rev. Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director, FMCI, Rev. Fr Dr Michael Ligory Santhumayor, Administrator, FMMC, FMCOAHS, FMCOP, Dr. Venkatesha B M, Vice- Dean, FMMC, Dr. Shekara H.P. Librarian, JAIN (Deemed to be University) and General Secretary, Karnataka State Library Association (KALA), Bangalore. Dr. Mamatha Pramod Kumar, HOD (I/c) and Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Science,

Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore. Dr. John J.S. Martis, Chairperson, Central Library Committee, Dr. Janet Dotty Lobo, Chief Librarian, FMCI and Event Coordinator.

Dr. John J.S. Martis, Professor of General Surgery, Chairperson of the Central Library Committee welcomed the dignitaries and Invitees. The program was formally inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the dignitaries present on the dais.

Dr. S L Kadadevarmath, President of the Karnataka State Library Association (KALA), Bangalore, was the Chief Guest. Sir, addressed that National Library week, an annual celebration observed from November 14 th to 20 th on all over India. We are celebrating the 6 th day of National Library Week at Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore. Sir, has enlightened us with thought- provoking address and interacted with the students.

A token of appreciation and memento was presented to the Chief Guest Dr S L Kadadevarmath in gratitude for his valuable presence and inspiring address. Also presented to the General  Secretary(KALA) and the resource person. The Karnataka State Library Association Distributed the Mementos to the Director of FMCI, Resource Person and the Event Coordinator as a token of  gratitude.

The ceremony was presided over by Rev. Fr. Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director of FMCI, who spoke  to the audience and suggested that instead of Library Week, it should be Reading Book Week in order to encourage individuals to establish a reading habit. Emphasised the importance of reading books and encouraged the students to commit to reading one book each month, or twelve books annually, in order to increase their knowledge.

Vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Janet Dotty Lobo, Chief Librarian, FMCI and Event Coordinator. The program was meticulously compered by Dr Archana Bhat, Associate Professor of Pathology and Member of the Central Library Committee.

The Inaugural program was concluded by Institutional Anthem.

The resource person, Dr. Mamatha Pramod Kumar, HOD, Incharge, and Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore,

gave a guest lecture after the Inaugural ceremony. The special talk was a contemplative and inspirational investigation of the ways in which the library may uplift the spirit, stimulate the body,  and nourish the mind. The library was perceived as a luminous hub of wellbeing rather than a quiet space. At the end, certificate distributed to the resource person.