1947 - The period of the country's struggle for independence, when the British were being fought.
A group of young people in Paravoor gathered at the Bhagavatikal Temple grounds.
Their aim was to lead the people of this village into the new world of reading and they decided to start a library.
The friends gathered there included V. Krishna Pillai, V. M. Shankaranarayana Pillai, P. P. Sukumaran Nair, P. R. Sreedharan Nair,
and P. Purushothaman Nair. T. N. Gopinathan Nair’s play "Nilavum Nizhalum" was performed at the Paravoor Primary School with
tickets sold for the event, and the 82 rupees and 14 chakrams raised from this were used to start the Paravoor Library and Reading Room.
On 11.10.1122, the first office-bearers were elected: V. Krishna Pillai (President), R. C. Plappally (Secretary),
V. M. Shankaranarayana Pillai (Treasurer), V. C. Pillai, N. Narayanan Ilyath, P. R. Sreedharan Nair, and K. G. Vasudevan Nair (
Management Committee Members).
On 25.10.1122 (08-06-1947), at 8 AM, N. N. Ilyath from Ambalappuzha inaugurated the "Paravoor Library and Reading Room"
in a rented room from Kochukittan Muthalali. In the same year, it was registered as member number 260 in the All Kerala Library Coucil.
On 08-05-1125, the name was changed to "Paravoor Public Library & Reading Room."
In 1124, the library received its first grant of 120 rupees from the Library Council. The pride of the library was also
marked by the participation of the great poets Vallathol and G. Shankarakuruppu during its fifth anniversary celebrations in 1952.
Paravoor Public Library was the first to receive the Samadhana Parameswaran Award for the best rural library in Kerala.
Additionally, the library has received several prestigious awards, including the first EMS Award and the I.V. Das Award,
and continues to be a symbol of pride for Punnapra. The visitor’s diary, which records the opinions of many prominent
figures who have worked in the political, social, and cultural spheres of Kerala, is one of the invaluable collections of the library.
The signatures of great personalities such as Mahakavi G. Shankarakuruppu, Vallathol, and many other luminaries are preserved
in this visitor's diary.
