Bookworm Trust & Library

What Bookworm Trust & Library does

Bookworm Trust & Library is a registered charitable trust headquartered in Panaji (Mala, Fontainhas), Goa, India, operating children's library and literacy programs since 2005. The organization runs six interconnected programs: a Library & Resource Centre across four physical locations (Panjim, Saligao, Aldona/Carona, Seraulim) housing over 42,000 curated books; the Libraries in Schools program active in 100+ Goa schools; the Mobile Outreach Program delivering books via two traveling vans to 20 community sites and reaching 720+ children weekly; a Professional Development Program anchored by the TISS-certified Library Educator's Certificate (LEC) course and the LMS mentoring program serving 20 library organizations; a Visual Arts Program; and the Home Based Libraries program serving children with special needs.

Revenue comes from five streams rather than a single product: tax-exempt donations under Section 80G (primary), Long Distance Membership subscriptions (Rs 1,800-Rs 4,000) for postal lending across India, Burrow bookstore sales of curated children's books from 40+ Indian publishers, professional development fees (LEC at Rs 1,35,000 per cohort plus workshops and mentoring), and the Jumblelaya thrift store opened in Neura in April 2025. Go-to-market is community- and event-led: physical library footfall, mobile outreach into underserved Goan communities, school partnerships, alumni referrals through 1,300+ trained educators, and workshops/sessions. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is operational and people-led rather than software-led, with limited digital infrastructure restricted to a WordPress website, online professional development modules, and standard analytics tooling.

Name

Bookworm Trust & Library

Legal name

Bookworm Trust

Website

https://bookwormgoa.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bookworm Trust & Library is a Goa-based charitable trust running four physical libraries, two mobile library vans, and TISS-certified professional development programs that serve children, schools, and library professionals across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Library and Literacy Education Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Children library services
• Literacy education programs
• School library partnerships
• Mobile library outreach
• Library professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Panaji (Mala, Fontainhas)

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-exempt donations under section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Accepts NEFT and UPI/QR code payments. Primary funding source for operations.
2. Library Memberships: Long distance membership plans ranging from 4 months to 12 months, providing postal lending library services to readers across India.
3. Burrow Bookstore Sales: Sale of curated diverse children's books from over 40 Indian publishing houses through an order-based system.
4. Professional Development Courses: Certificate courses (LEC), workshops, mentoring programs, and online sessions for library professionals and educators.
5. Jumblelaya Thrift Store: Second-hand retail store selling clothes, accessories, household items, books, and collectibles to raise funds for Bookworm's operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Bookworm Trust & Library operates a network of four physical children's libraries in Goa housing over 42,000 books, complemented by traveling mobile library vans that reach 20 underserved community sites weekly, school-based library programs in 100+ schools, and a TISS-certified professional development program for library educators. The organization also runs a Home Based Libraries program delivering curated playsets to children with special needs, a Burrow Bookstore, and a Jumblelaya Thrift Store to fund operations.

Product overview

Bookworm Trust & Library is a charitable organization operating six interconnected library programs across Goa, India. The core offerings include the Library & Resource Centre (4 physical locations with 42,000+ books), Libraries in Schools (reaching 100 schools), Mobile Outreach Program (traveling libraries at 20 community sites), Professional Development Program (TISS-certified courses and workshops), Visual Arts Program (integrated art activities and flagship projects), and Home Based Libraries (specialized playsets for children with special needs). Supporting services include Long Distance Membership, Burrow Bookstore, Jumblelaya Thrift Store, and Quarterly Book Review publication. The organization has been operational since 2005 and registered as a charitable trust since 2014, with 20 years of library education and engagement experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library & Resource Centre (Lib) Four physical library locations in Goa (Panaji/Mala, Saligao, Carona/Aldona, and Seraulim) with over 42,000 books, offering comprehensive lending library services for children of all ages and abilities, along with activity spaces for creative programming including workshops, book talks, author events, and theatre-based sessions.
• Libraries in Schools (LiS) Literacy promotion program running across 100 schools in Goa, providing grade-appropriate reading resources to first-generation school goers through storytelling methods to develop thinking and literacy skills.
• Mobile Outreach Program (MOP) Mobile library service taking books to children in underserved communities through traveling library vans, reaching over 720 children weekly across 20 sites in Goa, with a focus on first-generation learners.
• Professional Development Program (ProD) Capacity building and training programs for library professionals including the Library Educators Certificate course (certified by TISS), Library Mentoring Support program, workshops, online masterclasses, and library audits for schools and community libraries.
• Visual Arts Program (VAP)
• Home Based Libraries (HBL) Specialized program providing curated playsets with books, activities, and tactile materials to children with learning disabilities and special needs who cannot access library services, delivered to homes with parent guidance.
• Long Distance Membership
• Burrow Bookstore Bookstore offering specially curated diverse books from over 40 Indian publishing houses, with themes including starting to read, feelings, inclusion, animals and environment, and stories from Indian states.
• Jumblelaya Thrift Store Second-hand thrift store in Neura, Goa, selling donated clothes, accessories, household items, and books (including the Burrow Seconds Bookstore section) to raise funds for Bookworm's library programs.
• Short Term Programs (Workshops and Webinars)
• Quarterly Book Review
• Skill Training Workshop for Library Assistants
• Book Box Curation
• Reading Helpers

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 children impacted across 20 years of operation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Takshila Educational Society (TES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration with TES to mentor librarians and READ coordinators across 4 DPS schools in Pune, Ludhiana, Coimbatore, and Patna. Also jointly offers 'Libraries: Purpose and Practice' workshop at Parivartan, Narendrapur village, Siwan, Bihar.
• GSCERT GoamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Government education authority partnering with Bookworm's Libraries in Schools program supporting primary schools across Goa.
• Cipla FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Philanthropic arm of Cipla supporting Bookworm's Libraries in Schools program for nurturing reading love among children with limited book access.
• Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017TISS certifies Bookworm's Library Educator's Certificate (LEC) course, an 8-month professional development program for library professionals. This certification provides academic credibility and validates the training program for participants.
• Wipro FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWipro Foundation partners with Bookworm to conduct 'Introduction to Libraries' workshops as part of capacity building efforts for educators and development sector entrepreneurs.
• Foundation for Rivers and EcologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in second phase of Nhoi project (documenting the river through drawing and stories) along with Earth Matters Foundation, documenting riparian ecosystems.
• Earth Matters FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in second phase of Nhoi project for documenting riparian ecosystems and people's connections to rivers.
• 20 Library Organizations across IndiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLMS program provides mentoring and resource support to 20 library organizations across different geographies of India, strengthening their library programs through capacity building.
• Serendipity Arts FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBookworm participates in Serendipity Arts Festival creating interactive spaces like 'Enchanted Grove' for children to engage with arts and nature.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Room to Read: Global non-profit operating literacy and gender-equity in education programs, including school libraries and local-language children's publishing across India. Comparable as a children's library and reading-promotion non-profit with a strong India presence.
• Eklavya Foundation: Indian non-profit working on children's education, science, and reading through books, journals, and school programs. Comparable in focus on underserved learners, educator training, and curated educational content.
• Pratham Education Foundation: One of India's largest non-profit education organizations focused on literacy and numeracy for underserved children, with extensive school-based and community programs. Directly comparable in mission (literacy for first-generation learners) and delivery model (school partnerships, community outreach, training educators).
• Children's Book Trust: Long-standing Indian non-profit publishing children's books, running a library, and organizing literary events for young readers. Comparable as an India-based children's library and literature non-profit with publishing and event programming.
• Hippocampus Reading Foundation: India-based non-profit that set up school libraries in low-income government schools, also operating a teacher-training program. Directly comparable to Bookworm's Libraries in Schools and Professional Development programs.
• Katha: Delhi-based non-profit focused on children's literature, reading promotion, and publishing in multiple Indian languages. Comparable as an India-focused children's literacy and library non-profit with publishing and school programs.

Broad incumbents

• National Book Trust, India: Government of India body promoting book readership and Indian publishing through book fairs, exhibitions, and outreach. A broader incumbent in the same children's reading promotion space but operating at national government scale rather than community level.
• Sesame Workshop India Trust: India arm of the global Sesame Street non-profit delivering early childhood education through media and community programs. Comparable as a large children's education non-profit but broader in scope (media + curriculum) than Bookworm's library-centric model.
• British Council India (Libraries): Operates physical libraries and reading programs across major Indian cities with curated English-language collections. A broader library-services incumbent with a wider footprint and English-language focus that overlaps with Bookworm's library and bookstore offerings.

Emerging players

• Doorbeen Initiative (H T Parekh Foundation): Initiative of the H T Parekh Foundation — Bookworm's own LMS and HBL funder — that supports community libraries and reading programs across India. A funder-led ecosystem peer that overlaps with the LMS segment of Bookworm's professional development program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bookworm-goa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bookworm Trust & Library