At a park in Main Market, Gulberg, there is a brightly painted building and a double decker bus. This building houses an Alif Laila reference library boasting over 11,000 books and an estimated 1,500 members.

The brightly decorated book bus is 36 years old and meant for the 4-8 year-olds.

An American woman Nita Baker got the bus donated by the Punjab Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and formed the society. "A few of us got together and saw how to take it forward," says Basarat Kazim.

The reference library is being digitalised at present. The librarian there tells TNS that apart from government and private school children, many community members visit this library which is half reference and half lending library. Fiction is read most. Writers such as Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl are popular. Urdu medium students seek books in Urdu mostly while students from English medium schools pick books in English.

The library is a happening place. On Fridays, it holds storytelling sessions and with puppets on alternate Fridays while music classes are held on Thursdays. Membership is given uptil 14 years of age to boys while there is no age limit for girls. Membership fee for government school children is Rs50 while Rs500 is charged from private schools annually. Children can borrow 2 books for 14 days.

Apart from libraries, the ALBBS has hobby clubs where children learn photography, electronics, art and crafts and computer. Crafts are increasing their creativity. From one thing they generate many ideas and many things.

Six schools visit during the week. A bus picks and drops the children from their schools. All this is for free and is run by Alif Laila alone. The ALBBS has published many books and posters for children and some of them have won awards. Basarat Kazim wishes to see Alif Laila libraries in every children’s park before she dies.

In Multan, Bahawalpur and Muzaffargarh ALBBS are helping youth aged 18-24 write resumes, give interviews and entrepreneurial skills to both boys and girls. Many people admit it has given them confidence.