essay on importance of libraries

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Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming

A lecture explaining why using our imaginations, and providing for others to use theirs, is an obligation for all citizens

• Authors condemn £4m library fund as a ‘sop’ and a ‘whitewash’

I t’s important for people to tell you what side they are on and why, and whether they might be biased. A declaration of members’ interests, of a sort. So, I am going to be talking to you about reading. I’m going to tell you that libraries are important. I’m going to suggest that reading fiction, that reading for pleasure, is one of the most important things one can do. I’m going to make an impassioned plea for people to understand what libraries and librarians are, and to preserve both of these things.

And I am biased, obviously and enormously: I’m an author, often an author of fiction. I write for children and for adults. For about 30 years I have been earning my living through my words, mostly by making things up and writing them down. It is obviously in my interest for people to read, for them to read fiction, for libraries and librarians to exist and help foster a love of reading and places in which reading can occur.

So I’m biased as a writer. But I am much, much more biased as a reader. And I am even more biased as a British citizen.

And I’m here giving this talk tonight, under the auspices of the Reading Agency: a charity whose mission is to give everyone an equal chance in life by helping people become confident and enthusiastic readers. Which supports literacy programs, and libraries and individuals and nakedly and wantonly encourages the act of reading. Because, they tell us, everything changes when we read.

And it’s that change, and that act of reading that I’m here to talk about tonight. I want to talk about what reading does. What it’s good for.

I was once in New York, and I listened to a talk about the building of private prisons – a huge growth industry in America. The prison industry needs to plan its future growth – how many cells are they going to need? How many prisoners are there going to be, 15 years from now? And they found they could predict it very easily, using a pretty simple algorithm, based on asking what percentage of 10 and 11-year-olds couldn’t read. And certainly couldn’t read for pleasure.

It’s not one to one: you can’t say that a literate society has no criminality. But there are very real correlations.

And I think some of those correlations, the simplest, come from something very simple. Literate people read fiction.

Fiction has two uses. Firstly, it’s a gateway drug to reading. The drive to know what happens next, to want to turn the page, the need to keep going, even if it’s hard, because someone’s in trouble and you have to know how it’s all going to end … that’s a very real drive. And it forces you to learn new words, to think new thoughts, to keep going. To discover that reading per se is pleasurable. Once you learn that, you’re on the road to reading everything. And reading is key. There were noises made briefly, a few years ago, about the idea that we were living in a post-literate world, in which the ability to make sense out of written words was somehow redundant, but those days are gone: words are more important than they ever were: we navigate the world with words, and as the world slips onto the web, we need to follow, to communicate and to comprehend what we are reading. People who cannot understand each other cannot exchange ideas, cannot communicate, and translation programs only go so far.

The simplest way to make sure that we raise literate children is to teach them to read, and to show them that reading is a pleasurable activity. And that means, at its simplest, finding books that they enjoy, giving them access to those books, and letting them read them.

I don’t think there is such a thing as a bad book for children. Every now and again it becomes fashionable among some adults to point at a subset of children’s books, a genre, perhaps, or an author, and to declare them bad books, books that children should be stopped from reading. I’ve seen it happen over and over; Enid Blyton was declared a bad author, so was RL Stine, so were dozens of others. Comics have been decried as fostering illiteracy.

It’s tosh. It’s snobbery and it’s foolishness. There are no bad authors for children, that children like and want to read and seek out, because every child is different. They can find the stories they need to, and they bring themselves to stories. A hackneyed, worn-out idea isn’t hackneyed and worn out to them. This is the first time the child has encountered it. Do not discourage children from reading because you feel they are reading the wrong thing. Fiction you do not like is a route to other books you may prefer. And not everyone has the same taste as you.

Well-meaning adults can easily destroy a child’s love of reading: stop them reading what they enjoy, or give them worthy-but-dull books that you like, the 21st-century equivalents of Victorian “improving” literature. You’ll wind up with a generation convinced that reading is uncool and worse, unpleasant.

We need our children to get onto the reading ladder: anything that they enjoy reading will move them up, rung by rung, into literacy. (Also, do not do what this author did when his 11-year-old daughter was into RL Stine, which is to go and get a copy of Stephen King’s Carrie, saying if you liked those you’ll love this! Holly read nothing but safe stories of settlers on prairies for the rest of her teenage years, and still glares at me when Stephen King’s name is mentioned.)

And the second thing fiction does is to build empathy. When you watch TV or see a film, you are looking at things happening to other people. Prose fiction is something you build up from 26 letters and a handful of punctuation marks, and you, and you alone, using your imagination, create a world and people it and look out through other eyes. You get to feel things, visit places and worlds you would never otherwise know. You learn that everyone else out there is a me, as well. You’re being someone else, and when you return to your own world, you’re going to be slightly changed.

Empathy is a tool for building people into groups, for allowing us to function as more than self-obsessed individuals.

You’re also finding out something as you read vitally important for making your way in the world. And it’s this:

The world doesn’t have to be like this. Things can be different.

I was in China in 2007, at the first party-approved science fiction and fantasy convention in Chinese history. And at one point I took a top official aside and asked him Why? SF had been disapproved of for a long time. What had changed?

It’s simple, he told me. The Chinese were brilliant at making things if other people brought them the plans. But they did not innovate and they did not invent. They did not imagine. So they sent a delegation to the US, to Apple, to Microsoft, to Google, and they asked the people there who were inventing the future about themselves. And they found that all of them had read science fiction when they were boys or girls.

Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you’ve never been. Once you’ve visited other worlds, like those who ate fairy fruit, you can never be entirely content with the world that you grew up in. Discontent is a good thing: discontented people can modify and improve their worlds, leave them better, leave them different.

And while we’re on the subject, I’d like to say a few words about escapism. I hear the term bandied about as if it’s a bad thing. As if “escapist” fiction is a cheap opiate used by the muddled and the foolish and the deluded, and the only fiction that is worthy, for adults or for children, is mimetic fiction, mirroring the worst of the world the reader finds herself in.

If you were trapped in an impossible situation, in an unpleasant place, with people who meant you ill, and someone offered you a temporary escape, why wouldn’t you take it? And escapist fiction is just that: fiction that opens a door, shows the sunlight outside, gives you a place to go where you are in control, are with people you want to be with(and books are real places, make no mistake about that); and more importantly, during your escape, books can also give you knowledge about the world and your predicament, give you weapons, give you armour: real things you can take back into your prison. Skills and knowledge and tools you can use to escape for real.

As JRR Tolkien reminded us, the only people who inveigh against escape are jailers.

Another way to destroy a child’s love of reading, of course, is to make sure there are no books of any kind around. And to give them nowhere to read those books. I was lucky. I had an excellent local library growing up. I had the kind of parents who could be persuaded to drop me off in the library on their way to work in summer holidays, and the kind of librarians who did not mind a small, unaccompanied boy heading back into the children’s library every morning and working his way through the card catalogue, looking for books with ghosts or magic or rockets in them, looking for vampires or detectives or witches or wonders. And when I had finished reading the children’s’ library I began on the adult books.

They were good librarians. They liked books and they liked the books being read. They taught me how to order books from other libraries on inter-library loans. They had no snobbery about anything I read. They just seemed to like that there was this wide-eyed little boy who loved to read, and would talk to me about the books I was reading, they would find me other books in a series, they would help. They treated me as another reader – nothing less or more – which meant they treated me with respect. I was not used to being treated with respect as an eight-year-old.

But libraries are about freedom. Freedom to read, freedom of ideas, freedom of communication. They are about education (which is not a process that finishes the day we leave school or university), about entertainment, about making safe spaces, and about access to information.

I worry that here in the 21st century people misunderstand what libraries are and the purpose of them. If you perceive a library as a shelf of books, it may seem antiquated or outdated in a world in which most, but not all, books in print exist digitally. But that is to miss the point fundamentally.

I think it has to do with nature of information. Information has value, and the right information has enormous value. For all of human history, we have lived in a time of information scarcity, and having the needed information was always important, and always worth something: when to plant crops, where to find things, maps and histories and stories – they were always good for a meal and company. Information was a valuable thing, and those who had it or could obtain it could charge for that service.

In the last few years, we’ve moved from an information-scarce economy to one driven by an information glut. According to Eric Schmidt of Google, every two days now the human race creates as much information as we did from the dawn of civilisation until 2003. That’s about five exobytes of data a day, for those of you keeping score. The challenge becomes, not finding that scarce plant growing in the desert, but finding a specific plant growing in a jungle. We are going to need help navigating that information to find the thing we actually need.

Libraries are places that people go to for information. Books are only the tip of the information iceberg: they are there, and libraries can provide you freely and legally with books. More children are borrowing books from libraries than ever before – books of all kinds: paper and digital and audio. But libraries are also, for example, places that people, who may not have computers, who may not have internet connections, can go online without paying anything: hugely important when the way you find out about jobs, apply for jobs or apply for benefits is increasingly migrating exclusively online. Librarians can help these people navigate that world.

I do not believe that all books will or should migrate onto screens: as Douglas Adams once pointed out to me, more than 20 years before the Kindle turned up, a physical book is like a shark. Sharks are old: there were sharks in the ocean before the dinosaurs. And the reason there are still sharks around is that sharks are better at being sharks than anything else is. Physical books are tough, hard to destroy, bath-resistant, solar-operated, feel good in your hand: they are good at being books, and there will always be a place for them. They belong in libraries, just as libraries have already become places you can go to get access to ebooks, and audiobooks and DVDs and web content.

A library is a place that is a repository of information and gives every citizen equal access to it. That includes health information. And mental health information. It’s a community space. It’s a place of safety, a haven from the world. It’s a place with librarians in it. What the libraries of the future will be like is something we should be imagining now.

Literacy is more important than ever it was, in this world of text and email, a world of written information. We need to read and write, we need global citizens who can read comfortably, comprehend what they are reading, understand nuance, and make themselves understood.

Libraries really are the gates to the future. So it is unfortunate that, round the world, we observe local authorities seizing the opportunity to close libraries as an easy way to save money, without realising that they are stealing from the future to pay for today. They are closing the gates that should be open.

According to a recent study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, England is the “only country where the oldest age group has higher proficiency in both literacy and numeracy than the youngest group, after other factors, such as gender, socio-economic backgrounds and type of occupations are taken into account”.

Or to put it another way, our children and our grandchildren are less literate and less numerate than we are. They are less able to navigate the world, to understand it to solve problems. They can be more easily lied to and misled, will be less able to change the world in which they find themselves, be less employable. All of these things. And as a country, England will fall behind other developed nations because it will lack a skilled workforce.

Books are the way that we communicate with the dead. The way that we learn lessons from those who are no longer with us, that humanity has built on itself, progressed, made knowledge incremental rather than something that has to be relearned, over and over. There are tales that are older than most countries, tales that have long outlasted the cultures and the buildings in which they were first told.

I think we have responsibilities to the future. Responsibilities and obligations to children, to the adults those children will become, to the world they will find themselves inhabiting. All of us – as readers, as writers, as citizens – have obligations. I thought I’d try and spell out some of these obligations here.

I believe we have an obligation to read for pleasure, in private and in public places. If we read for pleasure, if others see us reading, then we learn, we exercise our imaginations. We show others that reading is a good thing.

We have an obligation to support libraries. To use libraries, to encourage others to use libraries, to protest the closure of libraries. If you do not value libraries then you do not value information or culture or wisdom. You are silencing the voices of the past and you are damaging the future.

We have an obligation to read aloud to our children. To read them things they enjoy. To read to them stories we are already tired of. To do the voices, to make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read to themselves. Use reading-aloud time as bonding time, as time when no phones are being checked, when the distractions of the world are put aside.

We have an obligation to use the language. To push ourselves: to find out what words mean and how to deploy them, to communicate clearly, to say what we mean. We must not to attempt to freeze language, or to pretend it is a dead thing that must be revered, but we should use it as a living thing, that flows, that borrows words, that allows meanings and pronunciations to change with time.

We writers – and especially writers for children, but all writers – have an obligation to our readers: it’s the obligation to write true things, especially important when we are creating tales of people who do not exist in places that never were – to understand that truth is not in what happens but what it tells us about who we are. Fiction is the lie that tells the truth, after all. We have an obligation not to bore our readers, but to make them need to turn the pages. One of the best cures for a reluctant reader, after all, is a tale they cannot stop themselves from reading. And while we must tell our readers true things and give them weapons and give them armour and pass on whatever wisdom we have gleaned from our short stay on this green world, we have an obligation not to preach, not to lecture, not to force predigested morals and messages down our readers’ throats like adult birds feeding their babies pre-masticated maggots; and we have an obligation never, ever, under any circumstances, to write anything for children that we would not want to read ourselves.

We have an obligation to understand and to acknowledge that as writers for children we are doing important work, because if we mess it up and write dull books that turn children away from reading and from books, we ‘ve lessened our own future and diminished theirs.

We all – adults and children, writers and readers – have an obligation to daydream. We have an obligation to imagine. It is easy to pretend that nobody can change anything, that we are in a world in which society is huge and the individual is less than nothing: an atom in a wall, a grain of rice in a rice field. But the truth is, individuals change their world over and over, individuals make the future, and they do it by imagining that things can be different.

Look around you: I mean it. Pause, for a moment and look around the room that you are in. I’m going to point out something so obvious that it tends to be forgotten. It’s this: that everything you can see, including the walls, was, at some point, imagined. Someone decided it was easier to sit on a chair than on the ground and imagined the chair. Someone had to imagine a way that I could talk to you in London right now without us all getting rained on.This room and the things in it, and all the other things in this building, this city, exist because, over and over and over, people imagined things.

We have an obligation to make things beautiful. Not to leave the world uglier than we found it, not to empty the oceans, not to leave our problems for the next generation. We have an obligation to clean up after ourselves, and not leave our children with a world we’ve shortsightedly messed up, shortchanged, and crippled.

We have an obligation to tell our politicians what we want, to vote against politicians of whatever party who do not understand the value of reading in creating worthwhile citizens, who do not want to act to preserve and protect knowledge and encourage literacy. This is not a matter of party politics. This is a matter of common humanity.

Albert Einstein was asked once how we could make our children intelligent. His reply was both simple and wise. “If you want your children to be intelligent,” he said, “read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” He understood the value of reading, and of imagining. I hope we can give our children a world in which they will read, and be read to, and imagine, and understand.

• Neil Gaiman
• Fantasy books

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Essay on Library and Its Uses for Students and Children

500 words essay on library and its uses.

A library is a place where books and sources of information are stored. They make it easier for people to get access to them for various purposes. Libraries are very helpful and economical too. They include books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, manuscripts and more. In other words, they are an all-encompassing source of information.

A public library is open to everyone for fulfilling the need for information. They are run by the government, schools , colleges, and universities. The members of the society or community can visit these libraries to enhance their knowledge and complete their research.

Importance of Libraries

Libraries play a vital role in providing people with reliable content. They encourage and promote the process of learning and grasping knowledge. The book worms can get loads of books to read from and enhance their knowledge. Moreover, the variety is so wide-ranging that one mostly gets what they are looking for.

Furthermore, they help the people to get their hands on great educational material which they might not find otherwise in the market. When we read more, our social skills and academic performance improves.

Most importantly, libraries are a great platform for making progress. When we get homework in class, the libraries help us with the reference material. This, in turn, progresses our learning capabilities and knowledge. It is also helpful in our overall development.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Uses of Library

A library is a very useful platform that brings together people willing to learn. It helps us in learning and expanding our knowledge. We develop our reading habits from a library and satisfy our thirst and curiosity for knowledge. This helps in the personal growth of a person and development.

Similarly, libraries provide authentic and reliable sources of information for researchers. They are able to complete their papers and carry out their studies using the material present in a library. Furthermore, libraries are a great place for studying alone or even in groups, without any disturbance.

Moreover, libraries also help in increasing our concentration levels. As it is a place that requires pin drop silence, a person can study or read in silence. It makes us focus on our studies more efficiently. Libraries also broaden our thinking and make us more open to modern thinking.

Most importantly, libraries are very economical. The people who cannot afford to buy new books and can simply borrow books from a library. This helps them in saving a lot of money and getting information for free.

In short, libraries are a great place to gain knowledge. They serve each person differently. They are a great source of learning and promoting the progress of knowledge. One can enjoy their free time in libraries by reading and researching. As the world has become digitized, it is now easier to browse through a library and get what you are looking for. Libraries also provide employment opportunities to people with fair pay and incredible working conditions.

Thus, libraries help all, the ones visiting it and the ones employed there. We must not give up on libraries due to the digital age. Nothing can ever replace the authenticity and reliability one gets from a library.

FAQs on Library and Its Uses

Q.1 Why are libraries important?

A.1 Libraries help in the overall development of a person. They provide us with educational material and help enhance our knowledge.

Q.2 State some uses of the library.

A.2 A library is a great platform which helps us in various things. We get the reference material for our homework. Research scholars get reliable content for their papers. They increase our concentration levels as we read there in peace.

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Short Essay on Importance of Library [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

Libraries play an important role in the lives of readers and learners alike. In this lesson, you will learn to write essays in three different sets on the importance of libraries. It will help you in articulating your thoughts in the upcoming exams.

Short Essay on Importance of Library in 100 Words

A collection of books is called a library. It is a place that plays many primary and functional roles in the lives of both readers and learners. Many people like to visit libraries weekly, and book aficionados pay their visit religiously every day. A bookworm’s favourite location is the library.

Extroverts explore the unexplored territory in the numerous novels the library offers, while introverts take sanctuary in its quiet nooks. A person with resources goes to the library to improve their talents, while a person with limited resources goes to the library because books are the most cost-effective way to learn new skills. It is the only place that provides something to all who seek comfort under its roof.

Short Essay on Importance of Library in 200 Words

A library is a place that maintains a collection of all forms of literature and important journals. The importance of a library in the lives of both readers and learners cannot be overstated. Many people go there once a week, while book enthusiasts go there every day. For a bookworm, the library is the best place to be.

Extroverts explore the unexplored territory in the numerous novels it has to offer, while introverts take solace in its snug corners. A person of means goes to the library to improve their talents, but a person of limited means goes to the library because books are the most cost-effective way to learn new skills. A student visits the library searching for reference books to boost his confidence for impending tests. A teacher, on the other hand, goes to the library to find latent information that isn’t readily apparent in the set curriculum. 

Libraries are gaining more importance in the lives of one and all with digitalisation. As more and more things become digitised, several libraries have created their digital versions. It is user-friendly and simply accessible. It is even less expensive than a traditional library’s annual subscription. The value of libraries cannot be adequately expressed in words. It also has something to do with aesthetic enjoyment. Readers enjoy reading, learners enjoy learning, and educators enjoy exploring, yet neither can get enough of the library as a whole.

Short Essay on Importance of Library in 400 Words

A library is a place that maintains a collection of all forms of literature, reference books, periodicals and important journals. It plays a vital role in the lives of readers and learners alike. It is the most favourite place for a bookworm. While introverts seek refuge in its cosy corners, extroverts explore the uncharted territories in the many books it has to offer.

A student looks for reference books in the library to earn more confidence for the upcoming exams. In contrast, a teacher picks up reference books from the library to discover the latent knowledge that is not easily found in the prescribed curriculum. A keen learner wants to leave no book untouched, whereas a writer wants to read and write all the books at once. A person with obsessive-compulsive disorder visits the library to adore its different sections and, in the process, picks up new ways to or organised reorganise their bookshelves

Library memberships make reading economical and help one in taking up reading as a hobby. It makes one more informative, wise and knowledgeable. It also makes us more disciplined and gives our minds a place to think. The silence maintained in the library helps one focus and concentrate on the right things.

It channelises and re-channelises our thoughts by bringing us new ideas. It is an escape from reality. Under its roof, the old and the young come together to read the celebrated classics. It maintains a record and helps us understand the importance of keeping a journal. A library, most importantly, makes one fall in love with the pages of books time and again.

Libraries charge membership fees and take late charges if the book is not returned on time. This makes the borrower time-bound, and they try to complete the entire book within the given time interval. It makes one time-efficient and improves time management skills. It also nurtures self-discipline and teaches us to value all the resources such as time, money and knowledge alike.

Many libraries, such as the British Council, conduct important seminars and sessions that expose keen academicians. It acts as a venue for exchanging creative ideas and helps one with their respective career goals. Some libraries also conduct English speaking sessions to improve speaking skills and vocabulary. These days, as everything is getting digital, many libraries have come up with their digital version too.

It is user friendly and accessible easily. It is even cheaper than the annual membership of the physical library. One cannot estimate all the importance of libraries in words. It has got to do with aesthetic pleasure as well. Readers like to read, learners like to learn, educationists like to explore, and neither can have enough of the library as a whole.

Hopefully, after going through this lesson, you have a holistic idea about the importance of libraries in our lives. I have tried to cover every aspect of a library’s need and significance within and outside the lives of learners within limited words. If you still have any doubts regarding this session, kindly let me know through the comment section below. To read more such essays on many important topics, keep browsing our website. 

Join us on Telegram to get the latest updates on our upcoming sessions. Thank you, see you again soon.

British Council

Why do we still need public libraries in the digital age, by tomas doherty, 19 september 2014 - 16:44.

Janko Ferlic, used under licence and adapted from the original .

After years of declining visitor numbers, libraries are experiencing a resurgence of interest and investment. The British Council's Tomas Doherty explains how libraries have adapted to new trends in how we read, work and socialise, as the  British Council library in Dhaka  reopens on 20 September.

Technology has changed the way we consume media

Libraries have always been at the heart of the communities they serve. They are accessible and safe spaces, providing access to huge resources of information and knowledge. There are an estimated 315,000 public libraries in the world, 73 per cent of them in developing and transitioning countries. The public library transcends national and cultural boundaries -- no matter where you are in the world, they are an essential part of creating and maintaining an educated and literate population.

But today, public libraries are at a turning point. The way we access and consume information has changed dramatically in the 21st century, and this presents major challenges and opportunities for public library systems across the world.

The advent of new technologies has changed some of our reading habits. But our need for shared, community-centred spaces to find information and connect with others is unlikely to change any time soon. To survive in the digital age and stay relevant, public libraries need to be brave and innovative. They must embrace both the physical and virtual.

Libraries must offer more than just books

Regular visitors to libraries expect them to continue to provide the services they have provided for many years. And rightly so -- the ‘traditional’ library of books, journals and quiet reading spaces shouldn’t just disappear. But libraries also need to respond quickly to real changes in how people live their lives.

In the UK, with heightened pressure on public expenditure and lowering visitor numbers, the traditional library system has come under more scrutiny. Why maintain expensive-to-run ‘physical’ libraries when growing numbers of people can already access the information they need from any location? As a result, in recent years public libraries have been threatened with closure across all parts of the country.

But there has also been a major rethink in the UK as to how exactly the library should be serving the public, and what the library of the future could and should look like. Last year, the Arts Council England published a wide-ranging and detailed piece of research,  Envisioning the library of the future , aiming to answer these very questions. As well as emphasising the need for the physical and the digital to sit side by side, it finds that the 21st century public library service will be one in which “local people are more active and involved in its design and delivery.” A sense of community, always a defining feature of libraries, has renewed importance.

People in developing countries like Bangladesh need access to reliable information

In lower-income countries, like Bangladesh, the context for libraries is different but some of the same challenges remain. Bangladesh itself is a small country with a huge population, estimated at around 162 million people. There are high rates of poverty and illiteracy, especially in rural areas. According to the  World Bank , 43 per cent of the total adult population is illiterate, with a disproportionate number female. Internet penetration in Bangladesh is only 22 per cent, 10 per cent less than the global average.

Bangladesh urgently needs greater access to reliable information for all its citizens. Not only do they need vital information about health, safety, nutrition and public services, but they also want opportunities to develop their literacy, learn skills for employability, and take part in collective educational and cultural activities. In Bangladesh, information is essential to survive and prosper - and lacking the right information can lead to worsening economic poverty.

With the right investment, libraries could be well-placed to provide some of that knowledge and those opportunities to communities all over Bangladesh. However, there’s also a need for library services to go beyond the ‘traditional’. An increasing digital divide (that has been shown to entrench both gender and class divisions), and ethnic and religious tensions continue unabated in some regions. Just like in the UK, Bangladesh has to rethink how libraries can better meet the needs of its people.

Bangladesh has plenty of libraries, but the quality of their services is inconsistent

Bangladesh's current library and information services provide access to information to varying degrees, but they are fragmented and unaligned in what they offer. For instance, there are 68 government public libraries, all in urban areas, which have long been in need of investment.

There many more non-governmental public libraries, around 1,000 spread across urban and rural areas.  BRAC , the world’s largest NGO, maintains a network of 2650 Gonokendros (multi-purpose community learning centres), mostly located in rural villages. About 10 per cent of these have internet connectivity.

The Bangladesh Government’s Access to Information (a2i) programme has also set up a network of Union Information Service Centres (UISCs). These provide limited public internet access and operate in all 4,547  Union Parishads , the lowest tier of local government. Bangladesh's population is young, growing and ever-changing, so these services will have to find a way to adapt for the future.

Bangladesh's economy is improving fast

Bangladesh has gone through a period of unprecedented economic change over the last two decades, with growth averaging at around five to six per cent year-on-year. The country has been named by Goldman Sachs as one of its 'next 11' emerging economies . This speedy development is likely to continue, but for everyone to take part in it and gain equally, the country will need broad-based access to information. Libraries should be at the centre of this.

The British Council has a long history of running libraries in South Asia 

Historically, the British Council’s international network of libraries played a vital role in educating a generation of leaders. In South Asia in particular, the libraries were, and continue to be, integral parts of the communities they serve. They provided access to a wide range of books and learning materials in the English language that were in limited supply elsewhere. In countries that were once isolated or had closed societies, like Burma, the British Council library was a venerated source of up-to-date information from the wider world.

In Bangladesh, people from all walks of life continue to speak with great respect and nostalgia about the role of the British Council library in their lives; the education it provided, the opportunities it created - many met their spouses there. The organisation first began to offer library services in Dhaka 60 years ago in 1954, in what was then known as East Pakistan. It later expanded to run branch libraries in the regional cities of Chittagong and Rajshahi. Today, there are British Council libraries in Dhaka and Chittagong, with more library services planned to open in Sylhet in early 2015.

Libraries have to modernise while staying true to the heart of what they offer

Like other library providers, the British Council has had to respond to lifestyle changes in the countries we work in. Our network of libraries has decreased in recent years, reflecting a global trend for fewer library visitors, with people more likely to read books and newspapers digitally, instead of on paper.

Our refurbished library in Dhaka will aim to bridge these two concepts, as it will be both a physical and a virtual space. As well as an updated physical collection of books, CDs and DVDs, the new library will provide users with remote access to over 80,000 e-books and 14,000 e-journals. The same quiet reading and study areas will be there for those who need it, but the library will be also be used as a cultural and social space where people can come together to watch theatre and film screenings, or take part in workshops, seminars, meetings, author talks and fashion events.

The concept of the library continues to hold a special place of importance in people’s hearts - and recent developments, like the reinvention of the  Library of Birmingham  in the UK (which has two million visitors a year, and lends its digital collections to ten million people a year), have shown how a library can still be a huge source of pride.

The British Council has carried out a  Library Landscape Assessment of Bangladesh,  a year-long research project that aims for a complete understanding of what people in Bangladesh want from libraries and information services. The assessment supports the case for more investment and involves Bangladeshi government ministries,  BRAC , and the  Bengal Foundation .

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How public libraries help build healthy communities

Subscribe to the economic studies bulletin, marcela cabello and marcela cabello former research analyst - economic studies stuart m. butler stuart m. butler senior fellow - economic studies @stuartmbutler.

March 30, 2017

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. Increasingly in the United States, you also can’t judge a library’s value to its community by simply its books. Let us explain.

In a previous blog post, we’ve noted the importance of “third places” in strengthening communities – meaning those places that are neither one’s home (first place) nor workspace (second place). A range of such third places, from churches to beauty salons, play an important role in community building. They are the informal spaces that are often mainstays in a neighborhood, places where both random and intentional in-person relationships are made.

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Several things are necessary for a particular place to play this role. Location and accessibility are important, of course. But so are trust and a sense of neutrality; they are usually the keys to success, whether the place is a house of worship, a family-owned diner, or a barbershop.

As the earlier piece explained, public spaces and buildings can become important and successful third places. And one particularly interesting, emerging and important example is the public library.

Public libraries exist in urban, suburban, and rural neighborhoods, and typically they have a long history in their community. According to a 2015 Pew survey, almost two-thirds of adult Americans say that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community . As Pew found, over 90 percent of adults think of public libraries as “welcoming and friendly places,” and about half have visited or otherwise used a public library in the last 12 months.

Reimagining the Librarian

A reason public libraries are seen as such important third-place institutions is that they and their librarians have gradually taken on other functions well beyond lending out books. In many communities, librarians are also ad hoc social workers and navigators. They help local people figure out the complexities of life, from navigating the health system to helping those with housing needs. This “go-to” role has influenced library programming and events, with libraries providing advice and connections to health, housing, literacy, and other areas.

Other sectors, such as health care, increasingly see public libraries as a critical link to a community. For instance, the National Library of Medicine is helping local librarians to be more effective local navigators by regularly hosting webinars and training sessions for local librarians on how to navigate social services, aging, mental health, welfare and public assistance, housing resources, health care, and education and employment resources.

A reason public libraries are seen as such important third-place institutions is that they and their librarians have gradually taken on other functions well beyond lending out books.

Of course, most librarians were not trained to handle many of the issues and requests they now encounter, such as providing guidance on resources for substance abuse and mental health issues. In response, some libraries have hired in-house social workers to help address the needs of visitors. San Francisco Public Library, where an estimated 15 percent of the library’s visitors are homeless, was one of the first . A case worker is able to do a full assessment, and help arrange case management and housing assistance, in a respectful and neutral safe space.

Addressing Population Health

Other cities have followed suit. A recent study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania explains how Philadelphia’s libraries, as a trusted local institution, have partnered with the University to address population health and social determinants of health. With librarians now trained as “community health specialists,” the libraries offer programs and assistance for people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. In 2015, almost 10 percent of the libraries’ 5.8 million in-person visitors accessed specialized programs and assistance in such areas as nutrition, trauma and mental health resources, youth leadership and healthy behaviors. As the researchers conclude, “Libraries and librarians contribute two particular strengths to advance a culture of health: accessibility and trustworthiness.”

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Many libraries have become front-line institutions in addressing the needs of the homeless. For instance, the Dallas Public Library in 2013 launched a Homeless Engagement Initiative . The emphasis is on making all library visitors feel welcome. The library runs a Homeless Engagement and Leadership Program (HELP) Desk where customers can obtain one-on-one assistance with job applications and resumes, food and housing referrals, legal aid, and library music and arts programs.

Libraries focus on a wide range of populations with particular needs, including seniors, veterans, and immigrants. The Hartford Public Library in Connecticut, for instance, has created The American Place (TAP), a free program that supports and assists new immigrants acclimate to their new city. TAP partners with community leaders and organizations to provide employment services, English as a new language classes, legal orientation programs, Know-Your-Rights forums, and referrals to other services, in five different languages. Meanwhile the Queens Borough Public Library in New York, has partnered with the Queens Health Network, the largest healthcare provider in the area, to design health-related and community-centered programming targeting the needs of its immigrant populations.

Libraries as Key Hubs

In health care and other areas, libraries are combining the access and trust characteristics of a third place with a hub role in the community – using partnerships with other institutions to connect people with services and help. There are plenty of challenges with this role. Community needs and the requests of visitors are increasingly straining or overwhelming library funds; and although many libraries are retraining staff, achieving the appropriate mix of skills is difficult. But as the University of Pennsylvania study found, “public libraries are dynamic, socially responsive institutions, a nexus of diversity, and a lifeline for the most vulnerable among us.” More policymakers and government officials need to recognize this, and incorporate libraries into budgets and plans to build a culture of health and upwardly mobile communities.

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Essay on Importance of Library

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Library in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Library

Introduction.

A library is a treasure house of knowledge. It plays a crucial role in fostering a love for reading among students.

Knowledge Hub

Libraries offer a variety of books on different subjects, helping students expand their knowledge and perspectives.

Boosts Creativity

By reading different genres, students’ imagination and creativity are stimulated, enhancing their problem-solving skills.

Develops Reading Habit

Regular visits to the library encourage the habit of reading, which is beneficial for academic and personal growth.

In conclusion, libraries are important for students as they provide a conducive environment for learning and personal development.

Also check:

• Paragraph on Importance of Library
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250 Words Essay on Importance of Library

The epicenter of knowledge: libraries.

Libraries, often underestimated, serve as the epicenter of knowledge, providing an invaluable resource for individuals and communities.

Intellectual Empowerment

Libraries play a crucial role in intellectual empowerment. They offer a vast collection of books, journals, and digital resources, providing individuals with the tools to learn, explore, and engage with various subjects. Through libraries, students can delve into different disciplines, fostering critical thinking and broadening their intellectual horizons.

Preservation of Cultural Heritage

Libraries also act as custodians of cultural heritage. They preserve historical documents, literature, and artifacts, allowing future generations to learn about their past. This cultural preservation fosters a sense of identity and continuity within societies.

Equal Access to Information

In the digital age, libraries bridge the digital divide by providing free access to computers and the internet. This ensures that everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, can access information and digital services, promoting social inclusion and equal opportunities.

Community Engagement and Personal Development

Libraries serve as community hubs, hosting workshops, readings, and other events that encourage community engagement and lifelong learning. They provide a safe space for personal growth and creativity, nurturing the development of well-rounded individuals.

In conclusion, the importance of libraries extends beyond a mere collection of books. They are vital institutions that empower individuals intellectually, preserve cultural heritage, provide equal access to information, and foster community engagement and personal development. As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, the role of libraries becomes even more significant.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Library

A library is a sanctuary of knowledge, housing a diverse collection of information resources. It is a hub for learning, intellectual growth, and social development. Its importance is multifaceted, serving as a cornerstone for educational institutions, communities, and societies at large.

Knowledge and Learning

Libraries offer an extensive range of books, journals, and digital resources, catering to the diverse interests of users. They provide access to a vast pool of knowledge, fostering an environment of self-directed learning. The availability of resources in various formats – print, audio, and digital – ensures inclusivity, catering to different learning styles and preferences.

Critical Thinking and Research Skills

Libraries play a crucial role in cultivating critical thinking and research skills among users. They offer resources that enable individuals to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information effectively. These skills are vital in the academic sphere and beyond, in professional and personal life. Libraries also provide guidance in navigating the sea of information, ensuring users can discern reliable sources from unreliable ones, an ability increasingly important in the digital age.

Technological Advancement

In the era of digital transformation, libraries have evolved beyond being mere repositories of books. They have embraced technology, offering e-books, online databases, and digital archives. This digital shift has made libraries more accessible, enabling users to access resources from anywhere, at any time. Furthermore, libraries often offer training in digital literacy, equipping users with skills necessary in the 21st century.

Community Engagement and Social Development

Libraries serve as community centers, promoting social interaction and cultural exchange. They host various events, workshops, and seminars, fostering a sense of community. Libraries are also instrumental in promoting social development, providing resources on various social issues and promoting literacy and education among marginalized communities.

Economic Value

Libraries contribute significantly to the economy by providing free access to information and resources. They offer services such as free internet access, job search assistance, and business resources, which can be particularly beneficial for those who cannot afford these resources. By providing access to knowledge and tools, libraries help level the playing field, contributing to economic equality.

In conclusion, the importance of libraries cannot be overstated. They are much more than houses of books; they are centers of knowledge, learning, community engagement, and social development. They play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of learning and intellectual growth, equipping individuals with the skills necessary to navigate the information-rich world of today. Despite the digital shift, the relevance of libraries remains, as they continue to adapt and evolve to serve the changing needs of their users.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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• School Education /

Essay on Library: 100, 200 and 250 Words

• Updated on  
• Apr 24, 2024

A Library is a place where students and people interested in reading books visit very often. It constitutes several collections of books of variable genres to please the reader. The library is the in-person source of information. It is an easily accessible place for students and raiders. Every school and college has a library with multiple books. Besides that, it is economical for the students. This article will provide an essay on library for students and children studying in schools. Enjoy Reading.

Table of Contents

• 1 Sample Essay on Library
• 2 100 Words Essay on Library
• 3 200-250 Words Essay on Library
• 4 Short Essay on Library

Also Read: English Essay Topics

Sample Essay on Library

The library is an important place for the community. It includes books, newspapers, magazines, manuscripts, DVDs, and more such informational sources. It plays a significant role in the kid’s learning phase. Despite the advancement in technology , the library still plays a critical role in everyone’s life. One can borrow books from the library. There are two types of libraries one is a private library that is controlled by the school and college authorities, whereas the other is a public library that is open to all. 

100 Words Essay on Library

A library is a place where books belonging to different subjects and genres are stored. My school also has a very big library next to the computer lab. Our timetable is designed in such as format that we could visit the library twice a week and explore books apart from our syllabus. This practice of visiting and exploring books in the library induces a habit of reading in all the students.

My school library has autobiographies, picture books, comics, novels, fictional books, books on culture, art, and craft, and many other materials. Students can borrow the desirable book to read for one week and then, on a specific date we need to return that book to the school library.  Thus, the library teaches us the value and importance of books and inculcates the habit of reading and imparting knowledge.

Also Read: Bachelor of Library Science

200-250 Words Essay on Library

The library is the place where people come together to learn and gain knowledge. Books are arranged on large bookshelves. Books belonging to similar genres are arranged on the same shelf by the librarian. The librarian is in charge of the library.

Some libraries have digital software to keep track of books issued and received to and from the library. Owing to technological advances, books are nowadays available on online platforms. Readers can read the book on apps like Kindle. But still, the library has its role, it is easily accessible plus it will provide a trustworthy source of information. 

Good raiders prefer books to read in their physical form as they cherish the quality of pages, type of writing , and the authenticity of book covers. Thus, the library plays an important role in the student’s as well as adults’ life.

Every school allots specific hours for students to visit and read books from the library so that they can induce reading habits from childhood itself. Students also refer to books from the library to complete their assignments or summer vacation homework. 

There are set rules and regulations of the library. Generally, we are not allowed to talk so that readers won’t get distracted and lose their pace of reading. Besides that, if any book issued from the library gets misplaced, damaged, or lost from the borrower then, he/she has to pay a fine to the librarian. 

Thus, the library is an excellent resource for books that spread knowledge and information along with entertainment . 

Also Read: One Nation One Election Essay in 500 Words

Short Essay on Library

Also Read: Speech on President of India for School Students in English

A. The library plays a critical part in every individual starting from the school itself. It helps in developing the overall personality because reading books and gaining knowledge help people to make a good career.

A. Include points like what is a library, why books are important, and the importance of a library in the life of students and children. Divide your essay into three parts introduction, body, and conclusion. End the concluding paragraph on a positive note. 

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Kajal Thareja

Hi, I am Kajal, a pharmacy graduate, currently pursuing management and is an experienced content writer. I have 2-years of writing experience in Ed-tech (digital marketing) company. I am passionate towards writing blogs and am on the path of discovering true potential professionally in the field of content marketing. I am engaged in writing creative content for students which is simple yet creative and engaging and leaves an impact on the reader's mind.

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Friday essay: why libraries can and must change

Associate Professor in Media, University of Notre Dame Australia

Disclosure statement

Camilla Nelson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

The University of Notre Dame Australia provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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There is a chapter towards the end of Stuart Kells’s The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders , in which the author envisions the library of the future as one in which “dreary hordes of students” stare mindlessly at “computers and reading machines”, ignorant of the more refined pleasures of paper and ink, vellum and leather.

This – the death of the book – is a familiar lament recounted by bibliophiles everywhere; a tragic epic in which the Goliath of technology slays the David of art and culture.

It may be superficially appealing to some. And yet, it misses the reality that writing itself is also a technology. Along with the wheel and the lever, it is one of the greatest technologies ever invented. The history of writing predates the invention of the book. It parallels and is a part of the history of other technological forms.

The history of the library is replete with mechanical marvels.

Take, for example, the book wheel , the scholar’s technology of the 16th century, an ingenious mechanical device operated by foot or hand controls, allowing a reader to move backwards and forwards across editions and volumes, referencing many different books as quickly possible.

Closer to our own century, there’s the Book Railways of the Boston Public Library installed in 1895, with tracks laid around every level of the stack to transport books. Or the ultra-modern teletype machine and conveyor belt used to convey book requests by the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1927. Or the current book retrieval system used at the University of Chicago, which boasts a system of robotic cranes .

Unlike Kells, I think there is a fabulous quality to the dream of an infinite library that can assemble itself in bits and bytes wherever a reader calls it into being. It sits well with the democratic dream of mass literacy.

It may well take an archaeologist – working a thousand years from now – a lifetime to unlock the data in our already defunct floppy discs and CD Roms. Then again, it took several hundred years of patient work before Jean-François Champollion deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs in 1822, and even longer for Henry Rawlinson to unlock the secrets of the cuneiform scripts of ancient Mesopotamia.

Of course, Kells’s new book is not a history of reading or writing. It is a history of books as artefacts. It tells of books of doubtful or impeccable provenance, discovered in lost libraries or inaccessible private collections, purloined by book thieves, or crazed and nefarious book collectors, or at the behest of rich or royal patrons. It is a narrative – albeit with an unfortunate, cobbled together quality – brimming with strange anecdotes about a small handful of books owned by a small handful of people; lost books yielding strange surprises, from discarded condoms to misplaced dental appointment slips.

Kells’s favoured haunts are the chained libraries of medieval monks, and the bawdy or scandalous collections of wealthy 18th century patrons. The library of St Gall , for example, which houses one of the largest medieval collections in the world. Or the Bodleian at Oxford, which was never intended to be an inclusive collection, but rather, as its founder Thomas Bodley put it, sought to exclude “almanackes, plaies, and an infinit number” of other “unworthy matters” which he designated “baggage bookes” and “riff-raffe”.

I am a great lover of books. I have been lucky enough to while away the hours in libraries from Beijing to St Petersburg, Belgrade and Buenos Aires. But in an age of economic disparity and privatised public services – of pay walls, firewalls and proprietary media platforms, not to mention Google and Amazon – it is difficult to feel convinced by this bibliophile’s nostalgic reveries.

Embodying an idea of society

More than 20 years ago, when I was living in New York, eking out a living as a copyeditor and more often as a waitress, I became a regular at the 42nd Street Library (also known as the New York Public Library), on Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets, a few blocks from the apartment that I shared in Midtown.

It was not just the size of the collection that drew me in – the 120 kilometres of bookshelves housing one of the largest collections in the world – or the ornate ceilings of the main reading room, which ran the length of a city block, with 42 oak tables for 636 readers, the bookish dimness interrupted by the quiet glow of reading lamps. I was fascinated by the library’s pneumatic system .

This labyrinthine contraption, which had been state-of-the-art around the dawn of the 20th century, sent call slips flying up and around through brass tubes descending deep underground – down seven stories of steel-reinforced book stacks where the book was found, then sent up on an oval shaped conveyor belt to arrive in the reading room.

The pneumatic system – with its air of retro, steampunk or defunct book technology – seemed to intimate the dream of a future that had been discarded, or, at least, never actually arrived. Libraries are not just collections of books, but social, cultural and technological institutions. They house not only books but also the idea of a society.

The predecessors of the New York Public Library, the Carnegie libraries of the 1880s, were not just book stacks but also community centres with public baths, bowling alleys, billiard rooms, and in at least one strange instance – at the Allegheny library in Pittsburgh – a rifle range in the basement.

Earlier in the 18th century, with the rise of industrial printing technologies and the spread of mass literacy, not only libraries but as many as a thousand book clubs sprang up through Europe. They were highly social, if occasionally rowdy places, offering a space not only for men but also women to gather. Monthly dinners were a common feature. Book club rules included penalties for drunkenness and swearing.

So too, the fabled Library of Alexandria – where Eratosthenes invented the discipline of geography and Archimedes calculated the accurate value of Pi – was not a collection of scrolls but a centre of innovation and learning. It was part of a larger museum with botanical gardens, laboratories, living quarters and lecture halls. Libraries are social places.

Lost libraries

Kells’s Catalogue of Wonders is at its best when it recounts the stories of these ancient libraries, charting the accidental trails of books, and therefore ideas, through processes of translating, pirating and appropriation. And the trades and technologies of papermaking that enabled them.

The library of the Pharaoh Ramses II in the second millennium BCE contained books of papyrus, palm leaves, bone, bark, ivory linen and stone. But “in other lands and other times,” Kells writes,

books would also be made from silk, gems, plastic, silicon, bamboo, hemp, rags, glass, grass, wood, wax, rubber, enamel, iron, copper, silver, gold, turtle shell, antlers, hair, rawhide and the intestines of elephants.

One sheep, he says, yields a single folio sheet. A bible requires 250. The Devil’s Bible , a large 13th-century manuscript from Bohemia, was made from the skin of 160 donkeys.

Ptolemy founded the Library of Alexandria around 300 BCE, on a spit of land between a lake and the man-made port of Pharos. He sent his agents far and wide with messages to kings and emperors, asking to borrow and copy books.

There are many stories about the dissolution of this library: that it was burnt by invading Roman soldiers or extremist Christians or a pagan revolt – or that a caliph ordered the books be burnt to heat the waters of the urban bathhouses. Or just as likely, as Kells points out, the scrolls, which were made of fragile papyrus, simply disintegrated.

But the knowledge contained in the scrolls never entirely disappeared. Even as the collection dissipated, a brisk trade in pirated scrolls copied out in a nearby merchant’s district ensured that the works eventually found their way to Greece and Constantinople, where other libraries would maintain them for another thousand years.

Destroyed collections

One thing that Kells fails to address in his book is the problems that arise when books are excluded, destroyed, censored and forgotten. And, indeed, when libraries are decimated.

Any list of destroyed libraries makes startling reading: The libraries of Constantinople sacked by the Crusaders, the Maya codices destroyed by Franciscan monks, the libraries of Beijing and Shanghai destroyed by occupying Japanese forces, the National Library of Serbia destroyed by the Nazi Luftwaffe, the Sikh Library of the Punjab destroyed at the behest of Indira Gandhi, the Library of Cambodia destroyed by the Khmer Rouge.

More recently, thousands of priceless manuscripts were burnt in the Timbuktu library in Mali and rare books spanning centuries of human learning were burnt at the University of Mosul. Yet more book burnings have been conducted by ISIS, in a reign of cultural devastation that includes museums, archaeological sites, shrines and mosques.

There is also destruction for which the so called “Coalition of the Willing” must accept responsibility. Dr Saad Eskander, the Director of the Iraq National Library and Archive, reported the devastation of the library in a diary posted on the British Library website: archival materials 60% lost, rare books 95% lost, manuscripts 25% lost.

There may be something not quite right in mourning the death of books in a time of war, as people are dying. But the problem remains that without books and documents, the history of the world can be rewritten.

Indeed, as Iraqi librarians sought to preserve the bookish remains of their country in the still working freezer of a bombed out Iraqi officer’s club, the US military quietly airlifted the archives of the Baathist Secret Police out of the country.

These are the dark places where, as George Orwell once said, the clocks strike thirteen, and Kells does not go.

Of course, the great irony of censorship and book burning is that books are destroyed because it is believed that they are important, and they possess a certain power.

Libraries of the future

In the age of the globalisation of everything – and the privatisation of everything else – libraries can and must change. It is seldom discussed that one of the great destroyers of books are actually libraries themselves, bearing cost cuts, and space limitations. But this process can be ameliorated by companies such as Better World Books that divert library books from landfill, finding new owners and funding literacy initiatives – you can even choose a carbon neutral footprint at the checkout.

Libraries, by which I mean public libraries that are free, open and accessible, will not become extinct, even though they face new competition from the rise of private libraries and the Internet. Libraries will not turn into mausoleums and reliquaries, because they serve a civic function that extends well beyond the books they hold.

Libraries can and must change. Quiet study areas are being reduced, replaced not only by computer rooms but also by social areas that facilitate group discussions and convivial reading. There will be more books transferred to offsite storage, but there will also be more ingenious methods of getting these books back to readers.

There will be an emphasis on opening rare books collections to greater numbers of readers. There is and must be greater investment in digital collections. Your mobile phone will no longer be switched off in the library, but may well be the very thing that brings the library to you in your armchair.

The much heralded “death of the book” has nothing to do with the death of reading or writing. It is about a radical transformation in reading practices. New technologies are taking books and libraries to places that are, as yet, unimaginable. Where there will undoubtedly be new wonders to catalogue.

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Guaranteeing Access to Knowledge: The Role of Libraries

By Ben White, Head of Intellectual Property, British Library 1

As gateways to knowledge and culture, libraries play a fundamental role in society. The resources and services they offer create opportunities for learning, support literacy and education, and help shape the new ideas and perspectives that are central to a creative and innovative society. They also help ensure an authentic record of knowledge created and accumulated by past generations. In a world without libraries, it would be difficult to advance research and human knowledge or preserve the world’s cumulative knowledge and heritage for future generations.

Libraries are keenly aware of the need to maintain the balance between protecting the rights of authors and safeguarding the wider public interest. Copyright exceptions , which are currently under discussion in WIPO’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) , form an integral part of national copyright systems. They play an essential role in enabling the delivery of library services to the public and in achieving the copyright system’s goals of encouraging creativity and learning. This article explores the enduring importance of libraries and some of the intellectual property-related challenges they face.

Libraries represent different things to different people – from a place where mothers can take toddlers to read their first stories and students can study, to a service allowing anyone to borrow a book, access the Internet or do research. Quite simply, libraries offer a means by which we can gain access to knowledge.

Supporting education

Libraries are synonymous with education and offer countless learning opportunities that can fuel economic, social and cultural development. The inspiring story of William Kamkwamba from Malawi underlines the difference a library can make. Having borrowed a book about windmills from his local library, Mr. Kamkwamba learned how to build an energy-producing turbine for his village. On the strength of this experience he went on to study at a leading US university. That one book not only changed his life; it also transformed the lives of those in his village community. Such stories explain why many countries are eager to ensure that libraries continue to provide access to knowledge, learning and ideas.

In addition to lending books, libraries are also involved in copying materials for research or private study purposes. Students cannot afford to buy every book, or pay for every television broadcast or journal they need to access for their studies. They therefore rely on the services of a library.

The exceptions and limitations that are an integral part of many national copyright systems play a critically important role in enabling libraries to deliver such services. For example, they allow libraries to make copies on behalf of students and others for research or study purposes, of works that might not otherwise be directly accessible to them. Libraries also make interlibrary loans possible, providing local access to materials that normally reside in a library hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away.

Just five years ago, applying the concept of interlibrary loans to digital works was problematic. However, with the widespread availability of electronic platforms that effortlessly control access to content, such as iTunes and Kindle, and the expansion of electronic interlibrary loans by some research libraries – although there is still some way to go in discussion with publishers – this is no longer the insurmountable problem it may have appeared to be a few years ago.

Preserving Cultural Heritage

Recognizing the cultural importance of sharing, Mahatma Gandhi said that, “no culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive”. The stimulus to share and reuse information and knowledge comes in many guises. Perhaps the most deep-rooted of our human instincts is the desire to preserve our culture for future generations. This is one of the most important functions of libraries.

Libraries are rich repositories of historically and culturally significant collections, many of which are not available anywhere else in the world. Without an appropriate copyright exception, a library could not preserve or replace a damaged work while it is still covered by copyright. For example, it could not lawfully copy or digitize an old newspaper or a unique sound recording to preserve it. Without appropriate library exceptions, this cultural heritage would be lost to future generations.

Today, many works are only “born digital”, such as websites or electronic journals, and are unavailable in print format. Without the legal means to preserve and replace works in a variety of media and formats – including format shifting and migrating electronic content from obsolete storage formats – many of these works will inevitably be lost to future generations of historians.

The Root Challenges

The challenges facing libraries are linked in large part to the fact that, while international copyright agreements guarantee exclusive rights for authors and other right holders, the interpretation of the exceptions and limitations that entities such as libraries depend on in order to provide their services is left to national parliaments. In sum, exceptions and limitations are national and optional, whereas the rights accruing to right holders are international and guaranteed.

In 2008, WIPO commissioned a study on Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives . The study found that statutes relating to library exceptions differ greatly from one country to another. It also found that, of the 149 countries surveyed, 21 had no library exceptions in their copyright laws, and 128 had a least one statutory library exception, with many, most often in developed countries, having multiple library-related provisions. Even where library exceptions to copyright laws do exist, however, they generally date from the pre-Internet age and now need to be updated and adapted to the digital environment.

The study’s findings highlight the important role that library exceptions play in enabling library services, and how they facilitate knowledge acquisition by students, citizens, businesses as well as academic researchers. They also point to the need for a common approach to ensuring equitable access to knowledge, and to providing libraries with the legal means to preserve the unique cultural, artistic and scientific heritage of each country.

The opportunities of mass digitization

The Internet has created tremendous opportunities in terms of accessing knowledge. Making the collections of the world’s great libraries available to the public through large-scale digitization, however, has yet to be realized. While it is difficult to foresee the full implications of such an undertaking, the benefits promise to be widespread and powerful.

One particularly moving example of the benefits of mass digitization comes from my own library, the British Library. A number of years ago we digitized a series of 20th century recordings from Uganda and put them online. We were subsequently contacted by a student at Sheffield University who explained that some of the recordings were of Ugandan royal court music, an art form that had all but disappeared. Given the historical importance of the recordings, we made copies for Makerere University in Kampala, and Ugandan musicians are now trying to piece together how to play this unique music once again.

Today’s citizens want access to information online. While libraries have some funds to digitize collections and put them on the web, the many challenges of clearing intellectual property (IP) rights in in-copyright materials (combined with the fact that copyright can reach back as far as the 1870s) means that libraries often prefer to digitize out of copyright material. This has led to what is referred to in the European Union as the “black hole of the 20th century.”

While large libraries, and indeed Google, have digitized parts of their out-of-copyright collections, legally digitizing copyright-protected materials on a large scale remains a pressing issue. Since 2005, the European Commission has sought ways to address these legal complexities. While the 2012 Orphan Works Directive appears to be useful for the digitization of niche collections, it is still unclear when Commission activities will translate into effective legislation that will support the mass digitization of 20th century in-copyright works – collections, of course, that are largely preserved in national libraries and museums at the expense of the tax payer.

Contract law vs copyright law

Despite its many benefits, the digital age has, unfortunately, caused an erosion of copyright law in that the act of using purchased digital content is no longer regulated by copyright law but by contract law. Whereas national copyright laws strive to promote creativity by balancing the needs of creators with those of users, this is not expressly the case with contract law.

Copyright laws are designed to foster innovation. They protect the investment of creators in the production of their work, while guaranteeing that others may use that work in support of innovation, competition and learning. Evidence suggests however that private systems of law, such as contract law, do not create this innovative synergy between creators and users but reflect instead a more static, one-sided relationship between content distributors and customers.

A 2007 review of 100 contracts by the British Library shows contracts are systematically undermining copyright law in that existing statutory limitations and exceptions often become null and void under contract law. For example, only 2 of the 100 contracts in the study allowed explicit access by visually impaired persons, and only 23 allowed a library to archive the materials they had purchased.

Despite this fundamental shift, policymakers globally have been slow to recognize that copyright law is increasingly peripheral to regulating access to copyrighted works. From the perspective of libraries, the issues are stark. Billions of euros are spent annually on purchasing electronic materials, but the uses that can be made of this purchased content are diminishing. Moreover, libraries are facing a situation equivalent to one in which, in the analogue world, every book on a shelf comes with a different contract allowing different things. How can access to knowledge be lawfully or practically managed in such a case? Must every citizen, student or researcher become an expert in contract law to understand what they can lawfully do with a digital work? Certainly libraries feel very strongly that policy makers need to engage in this issue as a matter of urgency to ensure that the positive role that copyright exceptions play in the innovation cycle is not indelibly undermined by private contracts.

The IP challenges confronting libraries today raise a number of fundamental questions about the role of copyright law in fostering innovation and creativity. We in the library community believe that copyright law should continue to be central to innovation policy. Libraries play a key role in fostering literacy and learning, in creating the building blocks of development, and in safeguarding the world’s cultural and scientific heritage. We need to act swiftly to ensure libraries can continue to deliver their services effectively, for the public good in all countries.

• Mr. White chairs the Conference of European National Librarian’s Copyright Working Group. He also sits on the UK Intellectual Property Office’s Copyright Research Advisory Group. The views expressed in this article are Mr. White’s and may not reflect those of the British Library. ↑

The WIPO Magazine is intended to help broaden public understanding of intellectual property and of WIPO’s work, and is not an official document of WIPO. The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WIPO concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This publication is not intended to reflect the views of the Member States or the WIPO Secretariat. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WIPO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.

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Ten Reasons Libraries Are Still Better Than the Internet

By Marcus Banks | December 19, 2017

“Thanks to the internet, we no longer need libraries or librarians.” You most likely hear some variation on that theme pretty regularly.

Sixteen years ago, American Libraries published Mark Y. Herring’s essay “Ten Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library” (April 2001). Technology has improved exponentially since then—social media didn’t even exist yet. But even the smartest phone’s intelligence is limited by paywalls, Twitter trolls, fake news, and other hazards of online life. Here are 10 reasons why libraries are still better than the internet.

• Libraries are safer spaces. The internet brings people together, often in enjoyable and productive ways, such as over shared interests (pop culture blogs, fanfic sites) or common challenges (online support groups). But cyberbullying and trolling can leave people reluctant to engage with folks they disagree with or to share their ideas in the first place. Libraries are places where people can gather constructively and all are welcome.
• Libraries respect history. Web pages are ephemeral, and link rot is a real problem. The content of library collections is much more stable. Printed materials are generally published on acid-free paper, which will not disintegrate. And librarians are leading the way to bring similar stability to the web through services like the Internet Archive and perma.cc .
• Librarians digitize influential primary sources. While looking at historical artifacts is valuable, repeated physical handling can damage them. Making digital versions of important works available online—as in the National Library of Medicine’s Turning the Pages project —is one solution. Library digitization projects also provide information to people who do not have the resources to travel to a particular library. Librarians are using the emerging technology of the internet to further the timeless mission of providing better access to information. The internet is the platform that enables this progress, but librarians are doing the work.
• Librarians are leaders in increasing online access to scholarly information. The open access movement makes scholarly articles available to all readers online, and librarians have been strong advocates of the movement for more than a decade. This access is especially critical when reporting the results of medical research, which is often funded by taxpayer dollars.
• Librarians are publishers. Scholarly publishers still provide the journals and books that researchers develop. But librarians have joined these efforts by becoming publishers themselves. New librarian-led publishing initiatives take full advantage of the web and generally make new work available on an open access basis. One example of library publishing, which is common in academic libraries, is the institutional repository . These repositories collect and preserve the broad range of a college or university’s intellectual output, such as datasets gathered in research studies, computer code used in software development, and conference proceedings.
• Libraries host makerspaces. Given that makerspaces provide venues for creativity, learning, and community, it only makes sense that libraries champion them. The maker movement has grown rapidly— in 2016 there were 14 times as many makerspaces as in 2006 . Both public and academic libraries host makerspaces . You can learn about makerspaces online, of course. But to visit one you have to venture into the physical world.
• Librarians can help you sort the real news from the fake. While a plethora of useful, accurate, and engaging content is available online, the web is filled with inaccurate and misleading information. “Click bait” headlines get you to click on the content even if the underlying information is superficial or inaccurate. Misinformation is the spread of deliberate falsehoods or inflammatory content online, such as the Russian-backed ads placed on social media during the 2016 US presidential election . Librarianship has always been about providing objective, accurate, and engaging information that meets the needs of a particular person. This has not changed, and it is why librarians are experts in information literacy .
• Librarians guide you to exactly what you need. Google is an impressive search engine, but its results can be overwhelming, and many people do not know to filter them by content type (such as .pdf) or website source (such as .gov). Google offers many search tips , which are useful but generic. A conversation with a librarian can clarify exactly what you are looking for and figure out the best way to use Google—or many other resources—to find it.
• Librarians do not track your reading or search history to sell you things. Amazon’s book purchase recommendation feature is useful for learning about new books. But this usefulness comes at the expense of your privacy because your reading data is valuable business intelligence for Amazon. The same is true for your web searching history, which is why you often see ads for a product for weeks after searching for it just once. Librarians value and protect your privacy .
• Librarians do not censor. One core value of librarianship, as exemplified by the work of ALA’s Freedom to Read Foundation , is thwarting censorship and allowing the free and full exchange of ideas. The internet is a powerful tool for information sharing, but it takes human advocates to stand for information freedom.

Libraries continue to provide benefits that are both tangible—such as community spaces and human interaction—and harder to quantify—access, privacy, intellectual freedom. The internet is an indispensable and irreplaceable tool for modern living. But it is not a library and will not replace the work of librarians.

MARCUS BANKS is a journalist with prior experience as an academic library administrator.

Tagged Under

• information literacy
• intellectual freedom
• makerspaces
• open access
• privacy rights

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• Library and It's Uses Essay

Essay on Library and It's Uses

The essay on the Library and its uses has been prepared by our teachers at Vedantu to help you guide with your essay on uses of the library. These are drafted in a very easy and effective way to make you understand and reciprocate the same in the essay writing an exam or in any of the competitions based on essay writing. We also have provided you with a PDF for downloading this essay. 

The library is the heart and soul of the education system. The library spreads knowledge and has many uses. The place where there are different types of books and that can be studied independently in the Library. There are many categories of the library depending on its usage. Some libraries are private, some are public while some are government one. Poor people, especially poor students who can’t afford to buy a book, can make great use of the library. They can borrow books from the library for acquiring knowledge. School and libraries are the two temples for the worship of the Goddess Saraswati.

Libraries play an important role in providing mysterious knowledge. It leads us from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. As humans need moderate and balanced diets for their physical strength, learning became essential for mental strength similarly. Being in touch with the libraries will help the human from lust and temptation. Moreover, Libraries are the leading means of sharing knowledge than any other media.  Great thinkers like Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had set up his own libraries.

Libraries are too awesome! Good reading and study habits can be established in the students through libraries as use of libraries helps to enhance the classroom experience. The library is frequently used for some research or in public issues. Libraries are essential in learning and acquiring progressive knowledge purposes. Libraries even help to learn a sense of responsibilities. The mistakes made in the past could be avoided in future, once learned from the history books.

The concentration power is tremendously raised with the assistance of the library. It has all forms of possible solutions to academic difficulties. The scoring in academics is improved when the student starts being in touch with the references books. The libraries also consist of the newspapers and articles to provide the events happening in the surrounding. Furthermore, We may find a person with the same kind of interest in the libraries which helps us in building the social network. In addition to the above, the new generation might be sad to hear but not everything is available on the internet. The Internet may sometimes have many mistakes that couldn't be realized. The Internet complies the libraries but fails to replace it. It's been also quoted that the greatest gift a child can receive from their parents is a book.      

In this 21st century, in the age of televisions, computers and the internet, people have started forgetting the essence of the library. The contribution of the government in the modernization of the libraries is being seen. They provide digital libraries and the necessary facilities at many places across. Modern libraries offer much more than the imagination for their visitors like CDs, DVDs and even the E-books are also made available. Most of the libraries are now setting their free WIFI services for allowing the candidates to enjoy the free internet surfing purpose. Many modern libraries are now offered online guest lectures and seminars on interesting topics by great philosophers.

FAQs on Library and It's Uses Essay

1. What are the uses of the library to students?

Students use libraries to enhance their classroom experiences. Libraries assist the students to improve good reading and learning habits. Public administrators use libraries for research and civic issues. The libraries provide information and assistance that are necessary for learning and progress. Libraries are very effective and economical too. They include books, journals, newspapers, DVDs, documents, scripts and more.

2. What is the importance of the library in our life?

Libraries play a very healthy role throughout our life. Libraries provide the students with a very healthy environment for learning as well as making notes or completing an assignment. Library provides a very peaceful, calm and disciplined atmosphere which aids learners to maintain a good concentration on their subjects. Libraries attract people to read and promote a practice of reading and learning. It improves their thirst for learning and expands knowledge. The library is also essential for any kind of research on different subjects.

3. What are the 4 types of the library?

According to the mode of services rendered to the readers; libraries are broadly divided into four types:

Academic Library - Academic libraries include the school library, college library and university library. 

Special Library - These are special types of libraries which serves only a particular group of people like employees of a form of the government department or research organization or the staff. 

Public Library - These are also called as circulating libraries. These libraries are public-funded such as tax money and it will be operated by the civil servants. 

National Library - These libraries are established by the specific government of the country. 

4. What are the advantages of the library?

The main advantage of the libraries is easy and (should be) free access to thousands of books. Access to educational sources that can be used for school purposes. A safe, warm and comforting environment that you can go to quietly read, do homework, etc.

Why Are Libraries Important? (18 Reasons)

Libraries provide access to books, periodicals, and other materials to help people learn, grow, and develop new interests. Libraries also offer a wide range of services, such as research assistance and technology training, that can help people of all ages and backgrounds.

In addition, libraries often serve as community hubs, providing a space where people can come together and share everyday experiences. In short, libraries are important institutions that play a critical role in promoting education, knowledge, and community.

Libraries Provide Access to Information and Knowledge

Libraries are essential to our communities, providing access to a wealth of information and knowledge. They’re a place where anyone can learn, discover and develop, regardless of age, education, or income.

In a library, you can find books on almost any subject you can imagine, from the latest bestsellers to classic literature, from non-fiction to children’s books. But that’s not all – libraries also offer access to online databases, e-books, audiobooks, and other digital resources so that you can access information anytime, anywhere.

In addition to books, libraries also provide access to other valuable resources such as research materials, reference guides, and educational resources. They also offer programs and events such as book clubs, workshops, and lectures so people can learn new things and interact with others.

Furthermore, libraries are a valuable resource for those who cannot access information or knowledge elsewhere. For those who don’t have internet access at home or can’t afford to buy books, libraries provide a free and inclusive space to access the information and knowledge they need.

Libraries Can Provide a Sense of Community

Libraries provide a space where people can socialize and interact with others with similar interests. Many libraries offer events such as book clubs and story hours where people come together to discuss books and ideas and provide an opportunity for individuals to learn from each other.

Also, libraries are great places to volunteer their time and talents. Whether helping with book sales or organizing events, volunteering at the library can be a rewarding way to connect with others and contribute to the community.

Libraries also provide a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Libraries are often quiet and peaceful, providing a perfect space for reading and learning. And because librarians are available to answer questions and offer advice, libraries are a great place to ask for help and get advice. Whether you’re looking for information on a specific topic, need assistance with research, or just want to chat with someone about books and ideas, librarians are happy to help.

Libraries Can Help Save Money

Libraries can be an excellent resource for people who want to save money on books. If you’re someone who loves to read, the library is a fantastic place to borrow books for free. You don’t have to worry about purchasing expensive books, and you can enjoy a wide selection of reading material without spending any money.

In addition to traditional books, many libraries now offer digital materials that you can download to e-readers or other devices. This is a great way to save money on e-books, which can often be quite expensive. You can enjoy the same great reading experience when you download books from the library without spending much money.

Libraries also offer a range of other resources that can help you save money. For example, you can use the library’s computers and Internet access to learn about products and services before you make a purchase. You can also borrow DVDs and CDs, which can be a good alternative to buying these products outright.

Libraries Can Preserve History

Libraries have long been recognized as essential centers for the preservation of history. By collecting and storing materials such as books, documents, and photographs, libraries provide researchers and historians with a wealth of information. These materials can help us understand the past and how it has shaped the present.

One of the most important ways libraries preserve history is by carefully cataloging and preserving the materials to ensure their longevity. This includes using special techniques and materials to protect items from damage and deterioration. In addition, libraries often digitize their collections so that people worldwide can access the materials.

Another way libraries preserve history is by making these materials available to the public. This allows researchers and historians to access the information they need to study the past. It also allows the general public to learn more about their history and the history of their communities.

Libraries Can Help People Learn New Things

Libraries are a valuable resource for people who want to learn something new. With a wealth of knowledge and information at their fingertips, libraries can help people expand their horizons and acquire new skills.

One of the most obvious ways libraries can help people learn by providing access to a wide range of books on various topics. From science and technology to history and literature, libraries offer something for everyone. And with the advent of e-books and online databases, it’s easier than ever to access these resources from anywhere.

Libraries Provide a Quiet Place for People to Study and Work

Libraries are one of the few places left in the modern world where people can find peace and quiet while working or studying. They provide a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and allow people to focus on their studies or work without distraction. 

Libraries also create a conducive environment for concentration and creativity. Many libraries are equipped with comfortable chairs or couches, as well as tables and desks of various sizes. These public spaces also have strict rules that ensure noise levels remain low so patrons can concentrate on their work uninterrupted.

Modern libraries also have free Wi-Fi access and other technological amenities that enable patrons to conduct research more efficiently. Ultimately, libraries are invaluable resources that promote the pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence.

Libraries Are Free and Open to Everyone

One of the best things about libraries is that they are free and open to everyone. This means you do not have to pay any fees or join a membership to use the library and its resources. All you need is a library card, which you can quickly obtain by showing a valid ID at the library’s front desk.

Once you have a library card, you can borrow books, CDs, DVDs, and other materials for free. You can also use the library’s computers and the internet to research, learn and share with others. Many libraries also offer educational programs, workshops, and events that are open to the public.

Libraries not only provide access to information and resources, but also serve as community centers where people can gather, learn, and socialize. They provide a safe and welcoming space for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and learn from each other.

Libraries Promote Literacy and a Love of Reading

For children, libraries can be a fun and exciting place to discover the joy of reading. Many libraries offer read-aloud sessions, book clubs, and other programs geared specifically toward young readers. These programs can help foster a love of reading at a young age and lay the foundation for lifelong literacy.

For adults, libraries can provide access to books and other materials not readily available elsewhere. This is especially important for people who do not have the financial means to purchase books on their own. Libraries can promote literacy and lifelong learning by providing free access to a wide range of reading materials.

In addition to providing access to books and other reading materials, libraries often offer events and workshops that promote literacy and a love of reading. These can include author readings and signings, writing workshops, and other educational programs. By offering these events, libraries can help create a sense of community and encourage people to discover their love of reading.

Libraries Provide a Safe and Welcoming Space

Libraries are significant to our society because they provide a safe and welcoming space for people from all walks of life. They offer an escape from the pressures of everyday life, a respite to read and study in peace, and a chance to connect with others in a positive environment.

In addition, access to libraries is entirely free, so everyone has access to knowledge and culture, regardless of their financial means. Moreover, librarians are always ready to help patrons find what they are looking for, recommend books on any topic imaginable, or simply point the way to helpful resources 

The atmosphere is usually calm and welcoming. Visitors can easily converse with those around them or relish the quiet if they wish. All members of the community can benefit from having a library nearby—an invaluable asset that promotes creative development, lifelong learning opportunities, and increased literacy rates.

Libraries Inspire Creativity and Imagination

Libraries have long been an impetus for community members’ creativity and imagination. With a wide range of stories, books, and other materials available to patrons, imagination can be unleashed.

Libraries are safe havens for young minds to explore new concepts and push their boundaries through engaging content. These materials not only foster creativity but also provide access to all areas of knowledge, from science and technology to history and culture.

Furthermore, libraries are open spaces where readers can unite and share stories and ideas in a communal setting. This creates an even greater sense of imagination within library walls. From literature circles to robotics clubs, there’s something for everyone in the library—regardless of age or background—inspiring all ends of the creative spectrum.

Libraries Provide a Place for People to Find Themselves

Libraries are places where people can discover and explore their interests, learn new things, and connect with others who share similar passions. At their core, libraries are about providing access to information and resources, but they also serve as community centers where people can come together and participate in activities and events.

Beyond the resources and materials libraries offer, they also provide a sense of community and belonging. Libraries often host events such as book clubs, game nights, and workshops that allow people to connect with others who share their interests and build relationships.

Libraries Provide a Place for People to Connect With Others

Libraries are important because they provide a way for people to connect with others. In today’s world, it can be easy to feel isolated and disconnected from our communities. Libraries provide a welcoming and inclusive space where people can come together to learn, explore, and socialize.

At the library, you will find a variety of programs and events tailored to different interests and age groups. These programs allow people to meet with others who share similar interests and learn and grow together.

In short, libraries are important because they provide a place for people to connect with others, learn and grow together, and access resources that help them stay informed and engaged in their community. Whether you are looking for a quiet place to read, an entertaining program, or a way to stay connected, the library is the perfect place.

Libraries Are Often Free to Access and Use

One of the best things about libraries is that they are often free to access and use. This means anyone can visit a library and borrow books or use library resources without paying a fee.

There are several reasons why libraries are usually free to access and use. For one, libraries are often funded by local governments or nonprofit organizations, which means that taxpayers or donors cover the cost of operating the library. Also, many libraries are considered public facilities, which means they are intended to serve the needs of the community and are, therefore, open to everyone.

Another reason libraries are often free is that they play an important role in promoting education and lifelong learning. By providing access to a variety of information and resources, libraries help encourage people to learn new things and expand their knowledge. This can have a positive impact on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Libraries Are a Cornerstone of Democracy

Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy because they provide access to information and knowledge for all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status or personal beliefs. In a democratic society, everyone must have the opportunity to learn and develop, and libraries provide a safe and inclusive space for this development.

Additionally, libraries often serve as a platform for free expression and the exchange of ideas. They provide a space for people to express themselves and engage in dialog with others. This is essential for a healthy democracy, as it allows different perspectives and opinions to be heard and considered.

In short, libraries are a cornerstone of democracy because they provide access to information and resources, foster community engagement, and support the free expression and exchange of ideas. They are an indispensable part of any society that values equality and inclusivity.

Libraries Are an Important Part of the Education System

Libraries are essential to the education system because they provide access to a wide range of information, resources, and services that support learning and inquiry. They provide a safe and welcoming space for students to study, read, learn, and explore new ideas.

Libraries are often the first place students seek information for a project, research paper, or assignment. They provide access to an extensive collection of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and other print and digital materials covering a wide range of topics and subjects. Libraries also provide access to databases, online resources, and other specialized tools to help students find and evaluate information quickly and accurately.

In addition to providing access to information, libraries also offer a variety of services and programs that support student learning and development. Many libraries have dedicated staff who can help students with research, skills learning, and other academic needs. They also offer workshops, classes, and other learning opportunities that can help students develop new skills and interests.

Libraries Help to Preserve Our Cultural Heritage

Libraries play a critical role in preserving our cultural heritage by collecting and maintaining a diverse range of materials. These materials include books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and other artifacts that reflect our society’s history, culture, and values.

By collecting and preserving these materials, libraries provide access to a wealth of information and knowledge that would otherwise be lost or forgotten. For example, a library may hold a rare collection of books documenting a particular community’s history or manuscripts that shed light on the customs and traditions of a specific culture. These materials provide insight into the experiences and perspectives of individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and help us understand the complex social, political, and cultural forces that have shaped our world.

In addition to collecting and preserving materials, libraries also work to make them available to the public. For example, a library may digitize its collections and make them available online or offer resources and programs that help people engage with materials in meaningful ways. This helps ensure that the knowledge and wisdom contained in these materials are not only preserved but also shared and valued by future generations.

Libraries Provide Access to Technology and Support Digital Literacy

One way libraries support digital literacy is by providing access to computers and other technology. This can be especially important for people who do not have access to these resources at home.

Many libraries also offer classes and workshops on technology-related topics, such as how to use a computer, create a website, and use social media. These classes and workshops can help individuals learn new skills and gain confidence in their ability to use technology.

Libraries Offer Programs and Events

Libraries are a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn something new. Many libraries offer a wide selection of books on a variety of subjects but also programs and courses that can help people acquire new skills and knowledge. These programs range from computer classes to workshops on crafts and hobbies to language courses and much more.

The best part about library programs and classes is that they are often free or low-cost, making them accessible to people of all income levels. This means that anyone can take advantage of the learning opportunities offered by their local library, regardless of their financial situation.

Another great feature of libraries is that they provide a supportive and welcoming environment for learning. Many libraries have dedicated spaces for classes and workshops, and the librarians and other staff are often knowledgeable and willing to help people learn new things.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main types of libraries.

There are many different types of libraries, but some of the most common are public libraries, academic libraries, and special libraries.

Public libraries are open to the general public and usually have a wide selection of books, magazines, and other materials available for checkout.

Academic libraries are associated with schools and universities and support students and faculty teaching and research needs.

Special libraries focus on a particular subject or industry and are located in places like hospitals, law firms, or museums.

Are libraries still helpful today?

Yes, libraries are still incredibly useful today! While it’s true that information is readily available online, libraries serve a crucial role in preserving books and providing a space for reading and learning.

Libraries not only house physical books but also offer a variety of digital resources, such as e-books and databases, that can be used for free with a library card. In addition, libraries often offer resources and programs such as tutoring and workshops that support lifelong learning and personal development.

Furthermore, libraries serve as community centers that bring people together and give them a sense of belonging. In an increasingly digital world, libraries provide a tangible, physical space where people can connect with each other and with information.

In short, while the way we access, information may have changed, the importance of libraries has not. Investing in libraries is still a worthwhile investment in our communities education, enrichment, and well-being.

Why is the library better than the internet?

There are several reasons why the library is better than the internet when it comes to finding information. First, the information you see in the library has been carefully compiled and checked for accuracy by trained librarians. This means that you can trust that the information you find in the library is reliable and up-to-date.

Second, the library offers a wider range of resources than the internet. In addition to books, you can find journals, newspapers, and other materials that are not easily accessible online. This means you can explore a variety of perspectives and sources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a topic.

Third, the library provides a quiet, focused learning and research space. You can work without distractions or interruptions to concentrate and learn more effectively.

Finally, the library offers a wealth of assistance and support in finding the necessary information. The librarians are experts at finding and organizing information and are always available to assist you in your research.

What would happen if there were no libraries?

Without libraries, we would lose access to a wealth of knowledge and information vital to our personal and societal growth. Libraries provide a vast collection of books, periodicals, and other essential resources for learning and research.

Without libraries, many people would have difficulty finding accurate and reliable information on a variety of subjects, including science, history, and literature. This would severely limit our ability to learn and develop as individuals and in society.

Additionally, libraries provide valuable services such as access to computers, the internet, and other technologies, as well as community programs and events. Without these services, many people would be disadvantaged and unable to access the resources they need to succeed.

In a world where everything is digitized and available at the click of a mouse, it would be easy to forget the value of libraries. Libraries offer much more than just books—they’re hubs for community gathering, learning, and growth. They provide equal access to information and knowledge for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status. So the next time you’re looking for somewhere to study or meet with friends, don’t disregard your local library—it’s an integral part of our society that deserves our support!

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The Editors

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

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• How Americans Value Public Libraries in Their Communities
• Section 2: Public Libraries’ Importance and Impact

Table of Contents

• About this Report
• Section 1: An Overview of Americans’ Public Library Use
• Section 3: Perceptions of Public Libraries
• Acknowledgements

Importance of public library services

Overall, 91% of Americans either have ever used a public library or said another household member uses a public library. 4 We asked these respondents who have personal or family experiences with libraries a series of questions about how important they consider various library services, including various library resources and activities.

There are notable patterns in many of the answers about the importance of library services among those who have personal or family experiences with public libraries. In general, women, African-Americans and Hispanics, adults who live in lower-income households, and adults with lower levels of educational attainment are more likely than other groups to say these services are “very important.”  Those ages 30-64 are more likely than younger or older respondents to say many of the services are “very important,” as are parents with minor children. Urban residents with library experiences are more likely than rural residents to say some services are “very important” to them.

Adults 65 and older are the age group most likely to say that none of these library services are very important to them, and generally rate most services as less important overall. For instance, among those ages 65 and older with some public library experience,65% say that having a quiet and safe place to spend time at the library is important to them and their families overall, compared with 75% of all respondents who say this is important.

Even in cases where a majority or plurality of seniors say the services are important to them, their level of enthusiasm is considerably lower than younger Americans. For example, senior citizens with library experience by a 72%-26% margin say that access to free books and media is important to them – a 46-point spread. On the other hand, those ages 30-49 say such access is important by an 85%-14% margin – a 71-point gap.

Individual library services

In addition to our basic demographic analyses, we also explored responses based on a variety of life situations and technology use factors, many of which are strongly correlated with lower households incomes and lower levels of education. These include searching for a job, living with a disability, or lacking home internet access, and are discussed in further detail below.

Using the internet, computers, or printers at a public library

• 42% of those who are currently looking for a job say this is “very important” to them and their families, and 68% of job-seekers say it is either important or very important overall.
• 43% of those living with a disability say this is “very important” (67% say it is important overall), as well as 48% of those with a health problem that makes reading difficult (69% say this is important to them and their families overall). 5
• 56% of internet users without home access say this is “very important” to them and their family, and 77% say it is important overall.

Having a quiet and safe place to spend time, read, or study at the library

• 61% of job seekers say this having a quiet and safe place to spend time, read, or study at a library is “very important” to them and their families, compared with 49% of respondents who are not currently looking for a job.

Library assistance in applying for government programs, permits, or licenses

• Among those with recent library experience who are unemployed but not retired, 37% say library assistance in applying for government programs, permits or licenses is “very important” to them and their families.
• 40% of those living with a disability say library assistance is “very important,” compared with 27% of those without a disability.

Help finding or applying for a job

• 47% of job seekers say receiving help at the library in finding or applying for a job is “very important” to them and their families.
• 42% of those with a health problem that makes reading difficult say receiving help at the library in finding or applying for a job is “very important” to them and their families.

Getting help from a librarian finding information

• 49% of those not in the workforce say receiving assistance from a librarian in finding information is “very important” (including 47% of retired respondents).
• Those living with a disability (56%) or with a health problem that makes reading difficult (59%) are also more likely than others to say that librarian assistance is “very important” to them and their families.

Finally, internet users who lack home internet access are more likely than other respondents to say all of these services are “very important” to them and their families. Non-internet users are also more likely than internet users with home access to say that many of these services are “very important.”

Impact of a local public library closing

About two-thirds (67%) of Americans ages 16 and older said that if their local public library closed, it would affect them and their families . Some 29% of Americans said that such a closer would have a “major” personal impact, and 38% said it would have a “minor” impact. Another 32% said their library’s closing would have “no impact” on them and their families.

Women, adults ages 30-64, and parents are among the groups most likely to say that their local public library’s closing would have a “major” impact on them and their families. Many other groups are also more likely to say their library’s closing would have a major personal impact:

• Adults who have not graduate high school are particularly likely to say that their library’s closure would have a major impact on them and their family (35%).
• Adults living in households earning less than $30,000 per year are the most likely of any income group to say that their library’s closure would have a major impact on them and their family (34%).
• 37% of those living with a disability say it would have a major personal impact, compared with 28% of other respondents.
• Unemployed respondents are more likely than employed respondents to say that their local public library’s closing would have a “major” impact on them and their families (31% vs 28%)

The vast majority (90%) of Americans said that the closing of their local public library would impact their community as a whole , with 63% saying it would have a major impact and 27% said it would have a minor impact. Just 7% said it would have “no impact” on their community.

Women are more likely to say their local public library’s closing would have a major impact on the community than men (70% 55%), and adults ages 30 and older are more likely than younger respondents to say there would be a major impact.

Meanwhile, parents are more likely than non-parents to say their library’s closure would have a major impact, and adults with at least some college experience are more likely to say there would be at least a minor impact overall, compared with those with lower levels of education.

• This includes the 86% of Americans ages 16 and older who have ever visited a library or used a library website, and the 54% of Americans who say other members of their household are library users. ↩
• Overall, 16% of Americans ages 16 and older say that they have a physical or health condition that makes reading difficult or challenging for them. ↩

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The Complicated Role of the Modern Public Library

Something for everyone.

A homeless patron, Allen Barkovich, sits in the Woodmere Branch of the Traverse Area District Library in Michigan, 2013.

—AP Photo / Traverse City Record-Eagle , Keith King

There aren’t many truly public places left in America. Most of our shared spaces require money or a certain social status to access. Malls exist to sell people things. Museums discourage loiterers. Coffee shops expect patrons to purchase a drink or snack if they want to enjoy the premises.

Pratt Library President and CEO Heidi Daniel reads at story time.

—Enoch Pratt Free Library

Pima County Health Department Library Nurse Daniel Lopez takes the blood pressure of homeless man Jim Truitt at the Main Joel D. Valdez Pima County Public Library in Tucson, Arizona.

—© Pima County Public Library

One place, though, remains open to everybody. The public library requires nothing of its visitors: no purchases, no membership fees, no dress code. You can stay all day, and you don’t have to buy anything. You don’t need money or a library card to access a multitude of on-site resources that includes books, e-books and magazines, job-hunting assistance, computer stations, free Wi-Fi, and much more. And the library will never share or sell your personal data.

In a country riven by racial, ethnic, political, and socioeconomic divides, libraries still welcome everyone. “We are open spaces,” says Susan Benton, the president and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council, whose members include public-library systems serving cities large and small across the United States. “We certainly are without judgment about anybody’s characteristics.”

That commitment to inclusivity, along with a persistent ability to adapt to changing times, has kept public libraries vital in an era of divisive politics and disruptive technological change. But it has also put pressure on them to be all things to all people, and to meet a vast range of social needs without correspondingly vast budgets. These days, a branch librarian might run story hour in the morning, assist with a research project at lunchtime, and in the afternoon administer life-saving medical aid to a patron who’s overdosed on the premises.

If the idea of libraries as frontline responders in the opioid crisis sounds far-fetched, look no further than the Denver Public Library. In February 2017, a twenty-five-year-old man suffered a fatal overdose in one of its bathrooms. That prompted the library to lay in a supply of Narcan, a drug used to counteract opioid overdoses. Other libraries, including the San Francisco Public Library, have followed suit and begun to stock the life-saving drug.

Such interventions indicate the expanded role our public libraries now play in a fraying social network. Eric Klinenberg, a sociologist based at New York University, spent a year doing ethnographic research in New York City library branches for his latest book,  Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life . Klinenberg borrowed the title from Andrew Carnegie, the Gilded Age industrialist-turned-philanthropist who funded some three thousand public libraries—“palaces for the people”—in the United States and abroad.

In an update of Carnegie’s idea, Klinenberg describes public libraries as “social infrastructure.” That means “the physical spaces and organizations that shape the way people interact,” he wrote in a 2018 op-ed in the  New York Times . “Libraries don’t just provide free access to books and other cultural materials, they also offer things like companionship for older adults, de facto childcare for busy parents, language instruction for immigrants and welcoming public spaces for the poor, the homeless and young people.”

Klinenberg’s book is just one of a series of recent high-profile tributes to America’s public libraries. The  New Yorker  writer Susan Orlean’s most recent book, called simply  The Library Book , begins with a personal love song to the subject before diving into the rich, troubled history of the Los Angeles Public Library and its iconic building in downtown L.A. In 2014, the photographer Robert Dawson published a book-length photographic essay that lovingly documents the astonishing variety of the seventeen thousand or so public libraries across the United States, from one-room shacks in the tiniest of towns to branches in strip malls to breathtaking, Carnegie-era book palaces in center cities. And a forthcoming NEH-funded documentary,  Free for All: Inside the Public Library , brings to life some of the history and personalities that have shaped this major force for public good.

All of these projects confirm how libraries have proved over and over again, through decades of rapid change and predictions of obsolescence, that they remain essential to Americans’ lives. In an era of extreme weather events and other disasters, they’re becoming even more necessary.

The journalist Deborah Fallows and her husband, James Fallows, road-tripped across the country to report their 2018 book  Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America , in which public libraries play a starring role. “In Ferguson, Missouri, the public library stayed open when the schools were closed after the riots, to offer the kids a safe place and even classes taught by volunteers,” Deborah Fallows wrote in a May 2019 dispatch for the  Atlantic . “After the hurricanes in Houston, some library websites were immediately up and running, announcing that they were open for business. After Hurricane Sandy, some libraries in New Jersey became places of refuge. And in the Queens Library’s Far Rockaway branch, which didn’t have heat or light, the librarians set up shop in the parking lot to continue children’s story hours.”

Beyond Books

There are limits to the civic responsibilities public libraries can shoulder. “We’re not the police, we’re not social workers,” says Monique le Conge Ziesenhenne, the director of the Palo Alto City Library system in Silicon Valley and the 2018–19 president of the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association. “We do provide an important thread to a community’s well-being and health.”

In calmer times, public library systems offer a staggering array of programming that goes well beyond the books-and-story-time model many of us remember from our childhoods.

Ziesenhenne rattles off a list of some of Palo Alto’s offerings: a seed-lending library, home-brewing tutorials, a “Knack 4 Knitting” club, bilingual story hours, programs designed to help immigrants learn how to live in the United States. Keeping up with a national trend, the library recently created a makerspace with 3-D printers. In July, one branch hosted a workshop on how to use “graywater” from inside a house to sustain native-plant landscaping in the yard.

The list goes on and on. There’s something for almost everyone at the local library, whether you’re a parent who needs literacy support for your preschooler, an immigrant working on language skills or bureaucratic forms, a mystery fan in search of the latest whodunit by a favorite author, or someone experiencing homelessness who needs assistance with social services or access to a computer and the Internet.

Or you could just check out a book, as generations of library patrons have done before you. As extra-literary programs and digital offerings have expanded, the codex has not faded away. “We are still crazy busy with the basic printed materials,” Ziesenhenne says. “In Silicon Valley you would not necessarily expect that, but it’s absolutely true.”

Being located at the wealthy epicenter of the tech revolution doesn’t mean that the library has bottomless funds, though. Like most libraries, “we never have enough money for what we want to do,” Ziesenhenne says.

Even as print thrives, public librarians everywhere spend a lot of time wrangling with the great digital shift and how to adapt to it. In Palo Alto and elsewhere, they’re seeing an increase in the use of digital content as patrons become more familiar with how to use streaming media.

To keep up with changing technology and user expectations, public libraries have invested in more computer terminals and Wi-Fi capability. They have upgraded and expanded facilities to provide more outlets, meeting rooms, study spaces, and seating that patrons can use for extended periods of time as they take advantage of free Wi-Fi.

New, bigger, brighter coworking spaces see high usage among millennials, according to Ziesenhenne. “We are the original sharing economy, I like to say.”

The explosion of information online hasn’t sidelined librarians. It’s only made them more essential at a time when too few of us know how to distinguish real news from the fake variety. “We’ve worked very hard to think about media and how information is presented and ways we can equip people going forward to look for clues on a website,” including asking how old the content is and who’s providing it, Ziesenhenne says.

Librarians have an advantage in making themselves heard through the noise and confusion: Along with nurses and firefighters, they’re among the few groups and institutions Americans still trust, according to Lee Rainie, director of Internet and technology research at the Pew Research Center.

From 2011 until 2016, Pew did a number of deep-dive studies of public libraries, work funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In those surveys, researchers found that trust in librarians remained high because of their proven ability to curate and share reliable knowledge. “That’s become one of the more precious skills in a world where gaming the information ecosystem is an everyday reality,” Rainie says.

Pew’s library research generated other findings that grabbed media attention: Millennials grew up loving libraries and continue to support and make use of them, Rainie says. Now that they have families of their own, they’ve remained loyal. Having a child under the age of six is the biggest predictor of library use, Rainie adds; parents of young children like the family-friendly programs libraries run.

Pew’s research also found that families often see libraries as sanctuaries. “They were zones of peace, sometimes, in neighborhoods and communities where that was a precious commodity,” notes Rainie.

Formerly homeless high school student, Tinesheia Howard studies at the library of Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois.

—AP Photo / Seth Perlman, 2008

For many teens and adults, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds or without computer access at home, the local branch also functions as an on-ramp to the Internet. “Libraries have rebranded themselves as tech hubs without a lot of fanfare,” he says. They allow customers to learn and experiment with new digital resources such as 3-D printers without having to invest in them at home. “People treat libraries as petting zoos for new technology,” as Rainie puts it.

All of those activities require staff time and/or money. As they decide where to spend finite resources, libraries rely on survey data and on detailed conversations with their communities to keep content and programming up to date and adjust what they offer as times and needs change. Library staffers often act as community liaisons even when they’re not on duty, bringing back grassroots knowledge that helps the library add or adapt services in response.

“The library of my youth made all the rules,” says Patrick Losinski, CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Ohio. The mantra of today’s library, he says, is: How do you meet people where they want to be?

To get answers, the Columbus library recently hired a survey firm to gather information on patrons’ use of and views on the library. The results revealed a virtual town square of activity, with visitors dropping by to check out and return books (41 percent), bring their kids to play area (13 percent), do research (14 percent), read and relax (13 percent), study (9 percent), and use Wi-Fi, computers, printers, or copiers (about 27 percent combined). “Our customers also checked out more than fifteen million items last year, so we’re still a library,” Losinski says.

The survey confirmed that the community views its library as a force for social good. Ninety-one percent of respondents said helping kids by working more closely with schools should be one of the library’s top priorities; 50 percent said that should be its highest priority. Losinski reports that over 50 percent of the area’s youngsters do not have the literacy skill set they need for kindergarten, including basics such as how to hold a book and how to pronounce words they encounter.

Being able to read well gives kids a leg up in schooling and in life, but many children do not have the resources—books at home, parents with time and literacy skills and good child care—to help them master that skill. Public libraries around the country are stepping up to the challenge.

Children participate in 37,000 sessions a year in the Columbus library’s reading-buddies program, which helps kids prepare for a reading-proficiency test in third grade. In Los Angeles County, libraries have recast traditional story time as “school readiness time” and rebranded bookmobiles as “Reading Machines” to visit day care centers and bring parenting-support strategies out into the community.

“Libraries are not about books, they’re about people,” says Skye Patrick, who since 2016 has been the director of the Los Angeles County Library system. When Library Journal named Patrick its Librarian of the Year for 2019, it saluted her “efforts to eliminate barriers and increase access to services for her residents.”

Compton Library holds a Microsoft Digi Camp for students in 2018.

—Los Angeles County Library System

“Equity means different things for different people,” Patrick says. “We wanted to challenge our staff to have a better awareness both of the experience of their colleagues and the experience of their customers.”

Patrick’s strategy to improve library access included putting in place a program called iCount, which provides tools and training for supervisors and staff on how to recognize inherent biases in programs and services. Thinking hard about equity and a wide range of patron experiences and needs is a must for L.A. County’s librarians, who work in one of the four largest and most diverse public library systems in North America. (The other three are the Toronto Public Library, the New York Public Library, and the Los Angeles Public Library system that serves the city of L.A.) The county has 86 library facilities (plus three bookmobiles) that collectively serve about 3.4 million residents; the system covers some 3,000 square miles and 49 cities.

Statistics for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2018, give a sense of the scale at which it operates: annual circulation—10,857,015; e-book circulation—1,184,289; reference and information questions handled—5,908,474; number of Wi-Fi sessions—4,388,244.

Patrick is no stranger to large library systems; she ran the Broward County Library in Florida before she took her current job. In her experience, there is no workable one-system-fits-all model for public libraries. When she arrived in L.A. County, she set up a listening tour to meet with some of the county’s 3.4 million residents to hear what they wanted from their library.

“I called it a community visioning system, because I wanted the community to actively participate in the creation of the library they needed,” she says. One of the biggest takeaways: “a resounding desire for more hours.” Along with money constraints, “that’s always the issue for every library,” she says.

In response, the system added fifteen thousand more public service hours with some creative strategies that included the use of self-checkout technology, staggered staff schedules, and an additional 1 to 4 service hours per branch per week. “It was low-hanging fruit for us, and it garnered some true goodwill from the community,” Patrick says.

Other requests, such as a kindergarten class’s request to install slides and serve ice cream every day, weren’t feasible—“although we did think about it!” Patrick says. But “based on that response, they associated us with fun, and that’s a big win.” The kids didn’t see the library as stuffy and rule-bound.

Beyond being fun, libraries create sanctuaries for patrons who have few safe spaces in their lives. “There’s a tremendous amount of comfort and safety for people experiencing mental health issues,” Patrick says. “When they’re here, they’re not on the street.”

That inclusivity brings challenges. Some are minor, as when patrons wash up in library bathrooms because they’ve been living on the streets without access to personal-hygiene essentials. But if mental illness is at work, a library user may need a lot more than a place to clean up.

The vast majority of library users do not represent a danger to other patrons or staff, but libraries’ openness carries risks. Librarians have been threatened or killed in the course of doing their jobs. In January 2019, while getting ready for a book sale, the director of the Fort Myers Beach library in Florida was targeted and stabbed to death by a homeless man. A month earlier, in December 2018, the supervisor of the North Natomas branch of the Sacramento Public Library was shot to death in her car in the library’s parking lot by a man she had banned from the library for bad behavior. Her widower wrote an op-ed in  American Libraries  magazine to call attention to the dangers that library workers face. But security measures like metal detectors or monitoring systems don’t align well with libraries’ commitment to maintaining patron privacy and creating truly open spaces.

Pew’s Lee Rainie describes libraries as “early warning systems for broad cultural phenomena.” Those phenomena can be positive, such as the thirst to experiment with new technology and the desire to broaden access to good information and social services. But they can also be negative. Tensions between different social groups can arise when people who otherwise rarely interact rub elbows at the library.

Skye Patrick identifies a fracture point between what she calls “our two customer bases.” Some patrons ask for more security at library branches or express dismay about disruptions created by homelessness. Her job involves trying to educate one group about the rights of the other. The bottom line for all patrons: “As long as they are adhering to our code of customer expectations, they have the right to use the library,” she says.

The L.A. County bureaucracy, of which the library is a part, can help smooth the way for the disenfranchised. For instance, the Department of Social Services will provide an address for homeless patrons to use in order to get a library card. The library also offers fine-free cards for young people under 21, eliminating one common barrier to full access. (The system hasn’t dispensed with fines altogether yet, although like many libraries it is moving away from fines and has held amnesty periods in which patrons can return overdue materials without penalty.)

Librarians have long helped users navigate life challenges like finding a job, studying for an exam, or applying to school. More and more they play a crucial role in connecting patrons in need of social or mental health services with relevant agencies. “Our branch staff has been trained to at least point to the kinds of services that are available,” Patrick says.

Along with a growing number of libraries, it joined forces with the mental health department to bring social workers on-site to work with patrons in need. Beyond such partnerships with other county agencies, the Los Angeles County Library focuses on fostering what Skye Patrick calls “protective factors”: meaningful social connections, positive parent-child interactions, positive cultural identity, literacy support, and school readiness.

“Time will tell, but I feel really confident that it’s working,” Patrick says, adding that library staff also feel safer with that extra support in place. “That does not mean it solves everything.” Even an institution as resourceful, flexible, and resilient as the public library has its limits.

Jennifer Howard is a writer based in Washington, D.C. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post , the Chronicle of Higher Education , the Times Literary Supplement , Bookforum , VQR , and elsewhere.

Funding information

The National Endowment for the Humanities has had long and productive partnerships with libraries of all kinds across the country: public libraries, research libraries, specialized libraries and collections, university libraries, and school libraries. NEH library projects—from infrastructure to outreach—help these vital institutions stay current and inclusive.

In 2018, NEH launched a new program for Infrastructure and Capacity-Building Challenge Grants to support brick-and-mortar library projects as well as other efforts to strengthen the institutional base for the humanities in America. For example, the Hartford Public Library in Michigan received a 2019 NEH grant of $400,000 to construct a new library and community center, making available cultural and educational resources for the southwest area of the state.

Free for All: Inside the Public Library  is an upcoming documentary on the history of the public library in America. Video Veracity received $540,000 from NEH to plan and produce the film, which looks at past and current uses of libraries and examines the library’s role in American democracy.

With an NEH grant of $315,000 , the University of California, San Francisco, Library, collaborating with San Francisco Public Library and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society, will digitize 150,000 pages from 49 archival collections related to the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the Bay Area and make them accessible online.

NEH has awarded $1,250,000 to the Digital Public Library of America , an online resource for materials in America’s libraries, archives, and museums. From its launch in 2013, the all-digital library has grown from 2.4 million items in its collection to more than 35 million images, texts, videos, and sounds.

The Newberry Library in Chicago has received 183 grants from NEH since 1970 , totaling $53,698,333 to support collection building, exhibitions, research, workshops and institutes for teachers, and public programming. This year, with a $200,000 NEH grant , the library offers a series of citywide public programs and digital resources exploring the history of the July 1919 Chicago race riots.

Since 1970, the American Library Association has received 66 NEH grants , totaling $32,006,701 for projects ranging from bookshelf programs such as Muslim Journeys to traveling exhibits on topics such as the Dust Bowl and the African-American baseball experience, to reading and discussion series such as the Federal Writers Project and the Columbian Quincentenary. In 2018, ALA received an NEH grant of $397,255 to conduct the Great Stories Club, a nationwide program for at-risk teens on themes of empathy, heroism, and marginalization.

Republication statement

The text of this article is available for unedited republication, free of charge, using the following credit: “Originally published as “Something for Everyone” in the fall 2019 issue of  Humanities  magazine, a publication of the National Endowment for the Humanities.” Please notify us at  @email  if you are republishing it or have any questions.

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Essay On Library

Library means a house of books. But its true meaning is the centre of precious knowledge. It's a treasure trove of new and old ideas and insights. People who come here not only spend their time, but also expand their wealth of knowledge.People spend their whole day in library to gain knowledge in different subjects to enhance their skills. Here are a few sample essays on the topic “Library”.

100 Words Essay On Library

Our college has a really big library. There are over 10,000 books. I regularly read in the library. This place is the quietest and calmest place in the college. I feel really good when I'm there. There are two librarians who manage all the data. You can issue any book home. The library is constantly catalogued by trained staff. They are catalogued to meet community needs. Since the catalogue is also entered and saved on the computer, searching becomes easy.

You must become a member for a small annual fee to issues books and use the computer for educational purposes.There are many different kinds of books in the library.I read mostly science and history books. I am a big book lover and love reading these books at the library.I love to check out new books which come in our library every month.

200 Words Essay on Library

A library is a storehouse of books. It offers a variety of sources to read on the premises or borrow to take home.Library's collection includes books, manuscripts, journals, magazines and videos, audio, DVD, and various other formats of information. A wide variety of books are stored in the library and arranged in order on the bookshelves. You can't have that many books at home as you can have in a library. You can access various genres of books and other resources in a library. Libraries also eliminates the need to purchase expensive books and resources. Without libraries, many students who love to read would have been deprived of reading.

Importance Of Libraries | A library is a building filled with piles of books and resources. Modern libraries are also made up of electronic resources. Libraries provide a wealth of knowledge, resources, space and environment to discover and learn about the world of books, or just read for fun. Libraries have countless benefits as they play a key role in helping people by providing access to information, knowledge and entertainment resources. Libraries are an important part of educational institutions such as schools, colleges and universities. Such libraries are open to students of the institute to which they belong. As such, it contains a wide range of resources that are important to students. Libraries attract students to read new books and novels. They increase your thirst for reading and broaden your knowledge. Libraries are also essential for all types of research on various subjects. Libraries are therefore important for research, information, knowledge and the enjoyment of reading.

500 Words Essay on Library

Libraries are treasure troves of knowledge. A well-stocked library is an asset to any school, college, university, or neighbourhood. A library is a place where not only books but also magazines and newspapers are available.

Purpose Of Library

A school library is a place within a school where students, teachers, and other staff can access books and other resources. The purpose of the school library is therefore to provide all members of the school with equal access to books, resources and information technology. Throughout history, libraries have played an important role in imparting knowledge.They facilitate the social, educational and cultural growth of students. A school library differs from other public and private libraries in that its primary purpose is to support and enhance the school curriculum. School libraries support student learning and helps with the student academic performance.Teachers and students need library resources and services to enhance their knowledge. School libraries support both teachers and students and are essential to the teaching and learning process.

My First Library Experience

If you want a quiet place to work, the library is a great place. I like going to the library because it enhances my existing knowledge and the books there interest me a lot. A walk to the library clears my head and allows me to see things more clearly. In addition to this, there are many books there that are accessible to the public and can be issued home. Libraries make for a great quiet workplace.

I like reading about physics so I always start browsing from the physics section first. A library is the place where I can read peacefully and research on a particular topic. Most of the time I prefer to study in the library because it’s peaceful and less crowded. I like reading fictional novels and engineering books and the library near my place is stocked with all the books that I need.

Importance Of School Libraries

School libraries provide quality fiction and non-fiction books that encourage more reading for enjoyment. They also contribute to our intellectual, artistic, cultural and social development.The atmosphere of the school library invites you to study undisturbed and make the most of your time.This makes it easier for us to learn faster and understand better.

It provides teachers with access to professional development, relevant information, and reference materials for planning and implementing effective study programmes. School libraries provide education and entertainment to students, professionals, and other members of the school. No matter what your financial situation is, you can come here and have free access to books that will inform you and change you for the better.

The use of the school/university and research library is limited to that particular school. Although restricted to college students only, state and local libraries are open to all, and anyone can use these libraries during working hours. It is no exaggeration to say that a library is a place where books of all kinds and subjects are kept under one roof.

Need For Libraries

It is important to get into the habit of going to the library regularly. School libraries are the place where we can study a lot of things.Library is the place where students learn new things. Libraries provide each student with easy access to essential resources and learning materials for a smooth learning process. It plays an important role in student’s life. Education and libraries cannot exist in isolation, they are two sides of the same coin. Libraries are an integral part of the education system.

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Why Are Libraries Important? We’ll Give You 5 Reasons

What is “The Breakfast Club’s” timeless story without a school library? Who is Hermoine Granger without the magical stacks of books in the Hogwarts library? Where would “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” Paul Varjak tell Holly Golighty that he loves her — if not in the New York Public Library? 

Where does a community gather safely, find free and necessary resources, preserve the heart of a culture — without a library? 

You guessed it: I’m on my Dewey Decimal System soapbox. 

Libraries are at the crux of both social and physical American infrastructure; a crossroads where intellect and information meet space and access, a place where social services are actualized, and people are put above profit. 

However, our libraries are in dire need of funding, support, and maintenance.

How do libraries make money?

Most of us are aware that the literary world has changed dramatically in recent years, as the Amazon monopoly rears its many heads: bookselling, publishing, reading device development, and audiobook sales among them. Both independent booksellers and libraries have been impacted, even so far that books published under Amazon are not sold to libraries for folks to read for free. 

So, how do libraries even make money to operate? 

Public libraries are supported with state tax revenues, just like your local public school or road projects. Treated as a public good, libraries get a portion of this revenue to maintain their operations. However, this portion is often a very small percentage of the total tax revenue a state sees every year. 

For example, the Ohio Public Library reported that they received less than 1 percent of Ohio’s state tax revenue in 2020 (.53 percent, to be exact). In fact, the amount they received from the state was less than half of their total funding revenue.

This funding is crucial for more than just buying new books, but the upkeep of buildings, paying staff livable wages, providing ongoing community support and programming, and funding archival research and projects. The San Diego Library Master Plan framework outlines a $50 million library maintenance backlog . 

This deficit leaves many public library boards to do what they do best: get creative.

Many libraries will keep all operations free to patrons, but will charge late fees or book fines. This practice, however, is becoming less common, as libraries work to best serve low-income communities . 

Libraries also offer other “paid-for” services, as well as read-a-thon events, summer camps, book signings, book sales, or rentable spaces like conference rooms. 

Strategic partnerships and corporate sponsorships also allow libraries to raise funds, but as staff and board members struggle to maintain the integrity of their library systems,  the clear solution altogether is to prioritize government funding for libraries. 

How many libraries are in the United States?

There are over 16,000 public libraries in the United States , according to the American Library Association. 

While this may seem like a lot (there are more public libraries in America than McDonald’s or Starbucks restaurants!) the U.S. is 62nd on the list of countries with the most libraries per capita. 

These statistics indicate that, while libraries are plentiful (although perhaps not always spread out equitably), they are not prioritized or funded in the same way as other countries. 

This begs the question: do Americans truly not value their libraries, or do we just not know why they are so important? 

5 Reasons Libraries Are Important 

1. libraries support educational opportunities.

Libraries are commonly considered educational institutions, providing students and researchers the tools and resources they need to learn and study. 

In fact, libraries have long been dubbed “the people’s university,” for their equitable nature, bringing information and education to all people, regardless of socioeconomic status. 

Many of us envision our libraries full of books , encyclopedias, computers, and workspaces, but what we often neglect to include in that description is offerings like film and music, access to other learning avenues like local zoos or botanical gardens, 3D printers, WiFi hotspot lending programs, art lending programs , recording studios, or even blood pressure monitors . 

Libraries are not just spaces to borrow creative tools, but to make one’s own. Many institutions will hold writing workshops or other community events to teach patrons new skills or develop work in collaboration with other community members. Libraries have become spaces for people to set up a new podcast, write a zine , practice music, and more. 

Like the beloved cartoon aardvark Arthur Read says: “having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card.”

Educational opportunities also manifest through the encouragement of civil discourse and dialogue. The Human Library project, developed in Denmark, is an initiative that “publishes people as open books” and allows members of the public to meet and communicate with people outside of their communities. 

This initiative has gone global , and many American libraries participate in this social program to keep people from judging each other “by their covers.”

Libraries are also increasingly expanding access to digital resources . As of 2018, over 90 percent of libraries offered digital loans , and resources like Libby , OverDrive , and Hoopla make these loans even more accessible.

Although many of us cherish the “old book smell” of a historical library setting, it’s valuable to keep in mind that libraries are continuously evolving to meet the needs of learners of all backgrounds. 

2. Libraries preserve cultural heritage and history

Speaking of people from all walks of life, libraries play a key role in preserving the cultural heritage and history of their communities. 

While not all libraries have archival services, those with professional archivists give patrons access to valuable historical stories and records that add tremendous value and context to their people. 

Organized archives allow people to research genealogy and immigration history, do environmental research, find maps, digitize records, and more. 

The National Archives funds a number of archival research projects across the country. 

3. Libraries provide access to necessary resources for marginalized communities

Access to archival resources is only a small portion of what libraries do for marginalized communities. Libraries have long been institutions for social good, gathering members of a community together to fill a need or find solutions. 

One basic service of a library is providing helpful materials to diverse populations, assisting non-English speakers, immigrants, LGBTQ+ youth , and disabled community members.

From American Sign Language and English As A Second Language courses, to citizenship information, or an anti-prom that welcomes LBGTQ+ high schoolers, libraries serve as gateways to new and welcoming communities and give marginalized folks the tools they need to become empowered.

Resources often extend beyond educational materials and into direct action, as libraries across the country host free library lunches for kids in need, farmer’s markets , seed lending programs , and even tool lending libraries , to give patrons access to items they otherwise may not be able to afford. 

Youth are also able to utilize libraries in creative ways, benefiting from tutoring services, afterschool programming, homework help, outdoor learning initiatives , and summer reading programs. 

Libraries are community-centered in a way few other institutions are; helping folks rebuild after disaster, feed their families, start a business, or simply feel seen and included for who they are.

4. Libraries are integral to the political and social life of a community

Public life and political discourse has long been a value of America’s libraries, as these institutions proudly advocate against banned books , and develop special collections to support niche groups. Libraries are hubs for democratic debate, social justice, and community action.

For example, an initiative in Baltimore aims to raise collective consciousness to decrease crime in the area. Librarians are training to learn de-escalation practices as a non-police avenue to reduce violence, aiming to train all Baltimore city employees with the same tools. This, along with avenues like the Baltimore Community Mediation Center for community members to work through disputes, serve as a case study for the social and political landscape libraries offer. 

Libraries are also used as polling places or ballot drop-off locations during elections, and often offer voting guides or public debates and forums, encouraging civic engagement . 

Students may participate in workshops or mock elections, and many public libraries hold voter registration events for community members. The American Library Association says: “informed citizens are engaged voters.”

5. Libraries are a safe and reliable space for all

While we’ve examined how libraries offer specific resources and offerings, one of the most valuable things libraries contribute to their communities is space. 

While libraries are not substitutes for shelters, counseling centers, or long-term systemic solutions to homelessness, they are vital to public health and safety, offering people experiencing homelessness a safe and dignified space throughout the day. 

Libraries are also integral for unhoused folks to find empowerment, using computers to apply for jobs and seek further assistance. While some folks may be unable to get a library card due to a lack of a permanent address, more resources are becoming widely available as public libraries work on the frontlines of the housing crisis. 

In addition to serving patrons experiencing poverty and homelessness, libraries are simply safe and meaningful spaces for all members of the community. 

Whether a library boasts grand architecture or modest design, the physical space of a library has a way of communicating our underlying values, The Public Library Association suggests: that libraries, information, and shared community space matter.

Libraries are at the heart of American infrastructure. They deserve better.

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Essay on Library for Kids

A library is a fantastic place for kids to read and learn effectively and play an important role in the kids learning phase. It is a place where they can find academic books, novels and journals to keep them engaged in learning. It is also a place where they can learn new things. A library is where people borrow books, check out magazines, and search for information. Libraries are essential because they provide access to knowledge that people might not find elsewhere. In addition, libraries serve as community centres, providing social interaction and learning opportunities. BYJU’S importance of library essay helps children learn the significance of libraries in this digital age.

Table of Contents

The role of libraries in a digital world, library services, benefits of libraries.

The library is a valuable resource in today’s world of technology . Libraries offer books, music, movies, and even computer software. They are also where people can get help with homework and research. Libraries are essential for access to information about the world around us and their role in helping people access research activities. A short essay on library helps kids understand the role of libraries in a digital world.

Libraries have always been important in the digital world. However, with the advent of the internet influence on kids and digital technology, libraries have become even more critical.

For example, many people now rely on libraries to access information online. According to a study, 76 per cent of adults ages 18 and older say that they use the internet at least occasionally for research. This means that many people turn to their local library to find information online through the digital library system.

A library is not just a room with books, it is a place that provides access to information and community service . A library offers its members resources to help them better understand the world around them in their educational pursuits. Libraries also provide programmes and services to help people meet their personal needs, such as book clubs and computer classes. After understanding the role of libraries in this digital era, let us now know about library services by reading BYJU’S essay on library in English.

Libraries are essential to a community because they allow people to come together and learn. They provide a space where people can find information on anything they want, from history to science to literature. Libraries are also important because they offer programmes and services to help community members. Libraries often offer book clubs that allow members to discuss various books together. Moreover, libraries provide computer classes, which would enable people to learn how to use the internet safely.

When it comes to finding information, a library is one of the best places to look. There is no doubt that the library has played a significant role in the history of civilisation. From providing information on everything from ancient world history to current events, libraries have been instrumental in helping people learn and grow. BYJU’S essay on library allows kids to understand the advantages of a library:

• Libraries provide access to information and resources not available anywhere else.
• Libraries are often a place where people can come to know new things.
• Libraries offer free programmes and services to help people stay ahead of the curve.
• Many libraries have Wi-Fi, so patrons can access the internet while in the library.
• Libraries often offer literacy tutoring, business support, and computer lab access to use their resources in the most efficient way possible.
• Libraries are spacious and well-lit.
• Libraries typically have comfortable chairs and tables for reading.
• Library staff are always happy to help you find what you are looking for.
• Many libraries offer free or discounted admission to members.
• Libraries usually have different floors with different sections.

Libraries are essential parts of our society and should be maintained and supported in any way possible. They are an excellent resource for everyone and should not be taken lightly. For more kids learning activities like worksheets , poems and stories , visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the first library in the world.

The Library of Ashurbanipal is the first library in the world.

Why should kids go to the library?

A library is an excellent place for children to explore their learning and discovery needs. They can learn new skills and interests with the help of many different library resources. They can also go to libraries to borrow books they cannot afford.

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Essay on Library and Its Uses in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Essay on Library and Its Uses: Library is the physical building or a room with the collection of books and resources accessible to a community. It consists of books and resources on diverse genres and subjects. Libraries are important for healthy development of society. It provide valuable services to meet the learning needs of the people. Libraries also benefit the economy of our nation as people use them for research purposes and to improve their job skills. They play an essential part in overall educational development of people and community.

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Target Exam ---

Almost every educational institute around the world has a library, with facilities of reading and issuance of books at very low charges. Many communities or societies also have their own libraries, open for membership to all. Libraries play a significant role in spreading knowledge and keeping the reading habit alive in people.

Long and Short Essay on Library and Its Uses in English

Here are long and short essay on library and its uses of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exams/school assignments.

After going through the essays you will understand the advantages of a library and role that it plays in the overall mental and educational development of an individual as well as a community.

You can select any Library and Its Uses Essay according to your need:

Short Essay on Library and Its Uses – Essay 1 (200 words)

Library is a storehouse of books. It also provides various other sources of information for reading in its premises as well as borrowing for home. The collection of library can include books, manuscripts, magazines, periodicals, videos, audios, DVDs and various other formats. Wide range of books are stored in a library and well organized in book shelves.

It is not possible for an individual to have such a wide collection of books at home. One can get access to diverse genres of books and other resources in library. It shuns the need to buy expensive books and resources. If there were no libraries many students who love to read would have been deprived of reading mostly due to financial difficulties.

Library is an important part of every educational institute such as schools, colleges and universities. Such a library is open for students of the particular institute it forms a part of. Therefore it contains a wide range of resources vital for the students.

Libraries attract people to read and develop habit of reading and learning. It increases their thirst for reading and expands knowledge. Library is also essential for any kind of research on different subjects.

Thus, libraries are important for research, information, knowledge and pleasure of reading. Libraries provide perfect environment to enjoy read peacefully.

Essay on Library Uses and Importance – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction.

Library is a place where there is huge collection of books and various other resources that are made accessible for reading and reference purpose. People of every age group can find resources such as books, magazines, periodicals, audios, videos and materials in other formats as per their reading interests and tastes.

Uses of Libraries

Library provides access to various books, materials, resources and digital media for research, information and knowledge. Libraries also provide services such as assistance in finding books of one’s interest which can be done with the help of librarians.

Besides, they provide space and environment to facilitate individual or group studies and collaboration. Libraries are extending their services by providing access to digital means and services by librarians in navigating and assisting with various resources of information. Libraries are becoming a center where people can engage in learning, enjoy reading and explore their interest in different subjects.

Importance of Libraries

Libraries play a vital role in encouraging and promoting the process of learning and gaining knowledge. People who love reading can have access to a wide range of books and resources. Libraries provide educational resources to everyone. Reading improves social skills, knowledge, mental health, academic performance and offers numerous other benefits. Library is a common platform for people with diverse reading interests and capacities. People get an opportunity to learn and progress as per their interests and capabilities. Library is the best place to spend leisure time wisely that leads to the overall development and well-being of an individual.

Thus, libraries are important and have different uses for different individuals. Libraries cultivate reading habits and promote progress of knowledge. However library is a perfect place to indulge in the pleasure of reading and for researching. Nowadays, librarians provide complete assistance and guidance with researching and navigating information.

Essay on Pros and Cons of Library – Essay 3 (400 words)

Libraries are buildings filled with stacks of books and resources. Modern day libraries also consist of electronic resources. Libraries offer wealth of knowledge, resources, space and environment to discover the world of books and enjoy studying or just reading for pleasure. The benefits of libraries are countless as they play a vital role in helping people by providing access to information, knowledge and entertainment resources. However, they do have a downside too. Here we have discussed few pros and cons of libraries:

Pros of Libraries

• Virtual libraries provide immediate access to wide range of books and resources. Libraries provide materials in all formats such as books, periodicals, magazines, videos, audios and digital media. The resources are customized and tailored to meet the needs of learners’ community. The wide range of resources meets the need of diverse users with diverse needs.
• Whether in educational or public library people benefit from the assistance of librarians and staff members. There is head librarian in every library and a team of professional staff who helps people with queries and also recommend books as per their interest.
• Libraries are always catalogued by trained staff. They are catalogued to meet the needs of the community. The catalogue is also entered and stored in computers so that it becomes easy for the users to search.
• Libraries have positive impact on the development of our society. They open a world of books and resources of information and knowledge to people for free.

Cons of Libraries

• Libraries require lot of staff and real estate to house various books and resources. It becomes really expensive to maintain libraries and the library staff. Since they are not seen as crucial, they are likely to bear budget cuts.
• Since a wide range of books and resources are to be maintained and updated in old libraries the useful resources may be limited due the time it takes to update. So, the libraries may not sometimes have access to the current information.
• Some limited edition books and journals from centuries ago may not be available in every library. People looking for such resources must visit traditional libraries for the same.

Some argue that there is technology to read online and do research so what is the need to visit library. Yet libraries have served the communities since centuries by providing original and quality resources. People who have the habit of visiting and using libraries understand the value and importance of libraries. In addition to it, there are people who love reading but cannot afford to buy many books and resources. They can get easy access to valuable resources in libraries.

Essay on School Library and Its Benefits for Students – Essay 4 (500 words)

School library is the library within the school where students, teachers and other staff members have access to books and other resources. Therefore the purpose of school library is to ensure equitable access to books, resources and information technology to all the members of the school. Over the history libraries have played essential role in imparting knowledge. They develop social, educational and cultural growth of the students.

School libraries are different from other public and private libraries as they mainly support and extend school curriculum. School libraries support students’ learning and have positive impact on students’ academic achievements. Teachers and students need library resources and services for knowledge and success. School library supports both teachers and students and is vital for teaching and learning process.

Benefits of School Library for Students

• School library supports students by providing various study materials and encouraging them to read. School library is an important source of knowledge for the students. Reading frequently in libraries improves vocabulary and develops reading and writing skills of the students.
• Students get access to wide range of books and resources essential for reference, knowledge, learning and entertainment. Therefore they can choose from diverse books as per their own interest and learning purpose.
• School libraries encourage students for independent learning and help them explore their interests.
• Libraries are essential for the educational and personal development of the students. It impacts positively on the academic performance and achievements of the students.
• Besides assisting teachers in research and supporting the students in their studies, libraries help in developing reading habits and provide information and knowledge to enrich learning experience. Libraries encourage fiction reading that helps students develop habit of reading for pleasure and enhances students’ intellectual, cultural, artistic and emotional growth.
• Library is an appropriate place for the students to study and research without any disturbance. It also provides the perfect environment for students to read for pleasure. Reading is important for the overall growth and mental development of the students.
• Books can be borrowed for further reading to get in depth knowledge on subjects of interest or simply to enjoy reading. There are general knowledge books that students can read to develop their mind. Reading is a good habit that boosts confidence in students.
• Students can take reference from the books and resources to complete their school projects and assignments. They can refer books to make notes for learning and to prepare for exams.

The purpose of school libraries is to support students in learning process. Not only students but libraries also facilitate teachers with access to relevant sources and information for reference and research. Library staff collaborates with teachers to plan, implement and evaluate study programs that will ensure students acquire necessary skills to compete and progress in this fast paced world. Libraries are important part of every educational institute as they provide the right support to students and teachers. However education and library go hand in hand and are inseparable. Library is the essential leap in the development of literacy provided to students in classrooms.

Long Essay on Library and Its Uses – Essay 5 (600 words)

Library is the collection of books and sources of information made accessible to people for borrowing or reference purpose. The collection of libraries can include books, magazines, newspapers, films, audios, DVDs, maps, manuscripts, e-books and various other formats. Library is organized and maintained by individual, institution or public body. Public and institutional libraries provide their collection of resources and services to people who need material they cannot otherwise have access to. Those who require help for their research can seek the same from the librarian.

A personal library is the one owned by an individual with adequate means. Such libraries are created as per the knowledge and interest of person. Thus public library is open for all to cater to the interest and taste of all people and contains books on diverse subjects. An institutional library refers to a library that belongs to an institution such as school, college, university or a club, etc. Such library is open to the members of community and caters to their needs and interest.

• Libraries play a vital role in imparting knowledge. Libraries help in learning and expansion of knowledge. Therefore it develops the habit of reading and boosts the thirst for more and more knowledge. It adds to what an individual has already learnt and leads to his personal growth and development in life.
• Libraries are especially essential for people who cannot afford costly books and resources for reading and acquiring information. They are the ones who truly understand the value and importance of library.
• Libraries do not only provide resources but also offer service by professional librarians who are experts at searching, organizing and interpreting information needs.
• Libraries provide virtual space for individual and group studies. They also facilitate access to digital resources and internet.
• Modern libraries are extending services by providing material accessible by digital media. Librarians provide assistance in navigating and also analysing large amount of information through digital resources.
• Library is the place with absolute silence where one can concentrate on reading. Even though it is open for all people the basic rule for all those who enter the library is to read peacefully and also the maintain silence.
• People who love reading create their own private libraries. Such ambiance at home has a positive impact on the members of the family. However it helps in developing reading habit in children and contributes to their growth and development. It broadens the outlook of the people.

Uses of School Libraries

• Education and libraries go hand in hand. Libraries create and provide flexible learning space and environment. School library is essential to support teaching and learning process.
• Facilitates the work of teachers by providing access to various curriculum resources and information. Therefore it equips students with skills vital to succeed in this competitive world. It encourages students to read quality fiction to develop the habit of reading for pleasure and enhances social, cultural, artistic and emotional growth.
• School libraries and the study programs incorporated by librarians, teachers and administrators cater to the educational growth and also development of the students.
• School libraries have a positive impact on the students’ academic performance. The students with access to well supported libraries with professional services perform and score better regardless of their socio-economic status.

Any kind of library is an asset to our community. However it is the leap in advancement of knowledge and well-being of a person. Reading is always the good habit. Visiting the library and reading can be the best way to spend leisure time and to learn something new. Libraries play important role in progress and development of the society. Thus, library is a valuable resource for the society.

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Role of Library in Society

Introduction:  Libraries are often regarded as the quiet, unassuming pillars of society, yet their role is nothing short of transformative. In the tapestry of modern civilization, they are the custodians of knowledge, the keepers of stories, and the gateways to a world of information . As we delve into the essential role of libraries in society, we embark on a journey that transcends the dusty shelves and the hushed whispers within these hallowed halls. Libraries are not merely repositories of books; they are vibrant hubs of learning, innovation, and cultural enrichment.

1.1 Needs of Modern Society:

Modern society is a dynamic and rapidly evolving entity, shaped by technological advancements, shifting demographics, and changing values. As the world hurtles forward, the needs of contemporary society are equally transformative. To ensure a prosperous and sustainable future, it is crucial to recognize and address these evolving needs comprehensively.

• Education and Lifelong Learning: Education stands at the forefront of contemporary needs. In an era characterized by information abundance and automation, individuals require foundational knowledge and the ability to adapt and learn continuously. Lifelong learning has become essential to keep pace with the ever-evolving job market and technological advancements. Modern society needs accessible, adaptable, and quality education systems to empower its citizens for a rapidly changing world.
• Technology and Innovation: Innovation is the engine that drives progress in modern society. The need for breakthroughs in various fields, from renewable energy to healthcare, has never been greater. Furthermore, access to digital technology and the internet is now considered a basic necessity. Bridging the digital divide and fostering innovation is imperative to ensure equitable growth and economic development.
• Sustainable Practices: The urgency of addressing environmental concerns has never been more apparent. Modern society requires sustainable practices and solutions to combat climate change, reduce waste, and preserve natural resources. Sustainable agriculture, renewable energy sources, and eco-friendly transportation are just a few examples of how society’s needs align with environmental preservation.
• Healthcare Access: Healthcare is a fundamental need in any society, and modern society is no exception. Access to quality healthcare services, affordable medications, and preventive care are paramount. The ongoing global health challenges have underscored the importance of a robust healthcare system that can respond effectively to crises while providing routine care to all.
• Social Equity: Modern society must strive for greater social equity. This includes addressing issues of racial and gender inequality, economic disparities, and social justice. Ensuring everyone has equal opportunities and resource access is essential for a harmonious and just future.
• Mental Health and Well-being: The pressures and complexities of modern life have elevated the importance of mental health and well-being. The need for accessible mental health services, awareness campaigns, and destigmatization efforts is critical to support individuals facing various emotional and psychological challenges.
• Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: As society increasingly relies on digital systems, robust cybersecurity and data privacy measures are needed. Protecting personal information, critical infrastructure, and digital communication networks is essential to safeguard society against cyber threats and ensure trust in online interactions.

Meeting the needs of modern society is an ongoing and collaborative effort. It requires the combined efforts of governments, businesses, communities, and individuals. By prioritizing education, technology, sustainability, healthcare, social equity, mental well-being, and cybersecurity, we can collectively build a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous modern society that addresses the challenges of our time and anticipates those of the future.

1.2 Library and Education :

Libraries have long been hailed as the heart and soul of educational institutions, serving as a sanctuary for knowledge seekers and a reservoir of wisdom. Their role in education is fundamental and multifaceted, encompassing several vital functions that contribute significantly to the development of individuals and society.

• Knowledge Repository : Libraries are storehouses of knowledge , housing an extensive collection of books, journals, reference materials, and digital resources. These repositories cover many subjects, providing students, educators, and researchers with access to a wealth of information. This access forms the foundation of the educational process, enabling individuals to explore, learn, and expand their horizons.
• Learning Support: In educational institutions, libraries serve as complementary spaces to classrooms. They offer students a quiet, focused environment conducive to study, research, and reflection. Librarians play a pivotal role in guiding students in their search for relevant materials, honing their research skills, and fostering a culture of academic excellence.
• Curriculum Enrichment: Libraries contribute to the enrichment of curricula by providing supplementary resources beyond standard textbooks. These resources offer diverse perspectives, cutting-edge research, and historical context, enhancing the depth and breadth of educational content. They enable educators to create engaging and comprehensive learning experiences for their students.
• Information Literacy : In the digital age, navigating and evaluating information sources is a critical skill. Libraries offer training in information literacy, helping students develop the competence to discern credible sources, critically analyze information, and cite references properly. These skills are invaluable for academic success and lifelong learning.
• Research and Innovation: Libraries are indispensable in fostering research and innovation. They provide access to academic journals, databases, and specialized resources that support scholarly pursuits. Researchers rely on libraries to access primary and secondary sources, which serve as the bedrock of original research and the advancement of knowledge.
• Lifelong Learning: Libraries are not limited to formal education. They also cater to the needs of lifelong learners, offering resources for personal enrichment, skill development, and self-improvement. Public libraries, in particular, serve as community learning hubs, hosting workshops, lectures, and programs that cater to a diverse audience.
• Digital Access: In the digital age, libraries have adapted to provide online access to various electronic resources, e-books, academic databases, and multimedia content. This digital transformation has made education more accessible, allowing learners to access materials remotely, irrespective of geographical constraints.
• Equal Access: Libraries champion the principle of equal access to education. They bridge the gap between individuals with varying socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring everyone has the same opportunity to learn and grow. Public libraries, in particular, serve as beacons of inclusivity, offering resources to underserved communities.

The library’s role in education is not confined to a single function but extends across the entire spectrum of learning. It is a sanctuary for intellectual exploration, a catalyst for academic achievement, and a cornerstone of lifelong learning. In an ever-evolving educational landscape, libraries remain steadfast, guiding learners on their educational journey and empowering them to thrive in a knowledge-driven world. Their enduring importance in education is a testament to their status as invaluable institutions in pursuing knowledge and enlightenment.

1.3 Role of Library in Research:

Research is the lifeblood of progress and development in any society. It is the pursuit of answers, the exploration of the unknown, and the quest for solutions to complex problems. At the heart of this endeavor lies a powerful and essential ally: the library. Regardless of their size or location, libraries play a multifaceted and indispensable role in the research process. Let’s discuss the critical functions and contributions of libraries in research.

• Information Repository: Libraries serve as treasure troves of knowledge, housing an extensive collection of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and digital resources. This vast reservoir of information spans many subjects and disciplines, making it an invaluable resource for researchers. These materials provide the foundational building blocks upon which research projects are constructed.
• Access to Academic Journals: One of the most critical roles libraries play in research is providing access to academic journals and databases. These subscriptions allow researchers to access the latest research findings, scholarly articles, and peer-reviewed publications. Researchers rely on these resources to stay current with developments in their field, conduct literature reviews, and build upon existing research.
• Reference and Research Assistance: Libraries are staffed with knowledgeable and trained librarians who offer expert research guidance. They assist in locating relevant materials, navigating databases, and crafting effective search strategies. Librarians also help researchers identify credible sources and refine their research questions, enhancing the quality and depth of the research.
• Archival and Special Collections: Many libraries house rare manuscripts, historical documents, and special collections of immense value to researchers exploring historical topics or conducting primary source research. These unique resources often hold the key to unlocking hidden insights and shedding light on the past.
• Interlibrary Loan Services : Libraries frequently participate in interlibrary loan programs, enabling researchers to request materials unavailable within their home institution. This service expands the reach of researchers, providing access to resources from libraries and institutions worldwide.
• Quiet and Focused Environments: Libraries offer tranquil and focused environments conducive to scholarly research. These spaces provide the solitude necessary for deep concentration, free from distractions, making them ideal for intensive study and writing.
• Data and Statistical Resources: Libraries often offer access to data repositories, statistical databases, and software tools essential for quantitative research. Researchers can find support for data analysis and statistical modeling within library resources.
• Workshops and Training: Many libraries host workshops and training sessions on research-related topics, including literature searching, citation styles, and data management. These resources help researchers develop essential skills and stay updated on the latest research tools and techniques.
• Open Access Initiatives: Libraries are increasingly promoting open access initiatives, which provide free access to research publications. These initiatives facilitate the widespread dissemination of research findings, making them accessible to a global audience.
• Ethical and Legal Guidance: Librarians offer guidance on ethical research practices, copyright, and intellectual property issues. They help researchers navigate the complex landscape of research ethics, ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Libraries are not mere repositories of books; they are vibrant hubs of knowledge and learning that form the backbone of research endeavors. Their extensive resources, expert assistance, and supportive environments make them indispensable partners in the quest for knowledge and the advancement of society. Libraries empower researchers to explore the frontiers of human understanding, fuel innovation, and drive progress in every field of study.

1.4 Role of Library in Cultural Activities:

Libraries are often celebrated as repositories of knowledge but are also vibrant cultural activity centers. They play a pivotal role in preserving, promoting, and nurturing the cultural heritage of societies. Here are several ways in which libraries actively contribute to cultural activities:

• Preservation of Cultural Artifacts: Libraries house rare manuscripts, historical documents, photographs, and artworks integral to a community’s cultural identity. By preserving these artifacts, libraries safeguard a society’s collective memory, ensuring that future generations can connect with their cultural roots.
• Access to Cultural Literature: Libraries provide access to literature from around the world, offering insights into diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives. This access fosters cultural understanding and appreciation by allowing individuals to explore narratives and experiences beyond their own.
• Cultural Exhibitions and Events: Many libraries host cultural exhibitions, art displays, and events celebrating local traditions, art forms, and historical milestones. These events allow artists, historians, and cultural enthusiasts to share their work and engage with the community.
• Language and Cultural Programs: Libraries often offer language classes and cultural programs that introduce people to different languages and customs. These programs promote cross-cultural understanding and encourage intercultural dialogue.
• Storytelling and Oral Traditions: Libraries serve as venues for storytelling sessions, oral history projects, and gatherings celebrating oral traditions. These activities preserve and share the rich narratives and folklore passed down through generations.
• Music and Performing Arts: Many libraries host musical performances, theater productions, and dance recitals. These events showcase local talent and provide a platform for artists to connect with their audience, enriching the community’s cultural fabric.
• Support for Local Artists: Libraries often display the works of local artists and authors, promoting their creative endeavors. This exposure helps artists gain recognition and fosters a sense of pride within the community.
• Cultural Resources for Education: Libraries provide educational resources on cultural topics, including books, documentaries, and reference materials. These resources support academic research and encourage lifelong learning about different cultures.
• Multilingual Collections: Many libraries maintain collections in multiple languages, serving culturally diverse populations. These collections enable individuals to access literature, films, and materials in their native languages, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion.
• Cultural Heritage Documentation: Libraries may partner with cultural institutions to document and digitize cultural heritage materials, making them accessible to a global audience. This effort contributes to the preservation and dissemination of cultural knowledge.

Libraries are dynamic hubs of cultural activity that transcend their traditional roles. They actively engage with and contribute to the cultural vibrancy of communities, fostering a deeper appreciation for diversity, heritage, and artistic expression. Through their programs, collections, and events, libraries play an essential part in enriching the cultural tapestry of society and ensuring that cultural traditions endure for future generations to cherish and celebrate.

1.5 Role of the Library in Disseminating Information:

The role of libraries in disseminating information is pivotal in the digital age, where access to knowledge is paramount. Libraries are hubs for collecting, organizing, and distributing vast information resources, including books, journals, digital databases, and multimedia materials. They facilitate open and equitable access to information, empowering individuals to stay informed, make informed decisions, and engage with various topics. Libraries also play a critical role in promoting information literacy, guiding users in navigating the vast sea of information, and ensuring they can discern credible sources from unreliable ones. As guardians of knowledge, libraries provide access to information and curate, preserve, and facilitate its dissemination, fostering a well-informed and enlightened society.

1.6 Role of the Library in Religious and Spiritual Institutions:

The library plays a vital role within religious and spiritual institutions as a custodian of sacred knowledge and a source of spiritual guidance. It is responsible for preserving and providing access to religious texts, scriptures, and theological literature, making them available for study, reflection, and research. These libraries serve as sanctuaries of faith, offering a quiet and contemplative environment where individuals can deepen their understanding of their spiritual beliefs and find inspiration in sacred writings. Furthermore, they often promote interfaith dialogue by housing materials that facilitate a broader understanding of diverse religious traditions, fostering tolerance and respect among faith communities. In essence, the library in religious and spiritual institutions is a bridge between the earthly and the divine, nurturing the spiritual journey of individuals and fostering a sense of unity and harmony among believers.

1.7 Role of the library in recreation and leisure:

Libraries play an often-underestimated role in recreation and leisure by offering diverse resources that cater to their patrons’ varied interests and hobbies. Beyond being repositories of books, libraries provide access to an extensive collection of magazines, films, music, video games, and digital content that can be borrowed for recreational purposes. They offer a welcoming environment for reading, studying, or pursuing personal interests, serving as quiet spaces for leisurely reading or research. Libraries also frequently organize recreational programs such as book clubs, author readings, craft workshops, and cultural events, fostering a sense of community and promoting leisurely pursuits. In this way, libraries enhance the quality of life for individuals by offering opportunities for relaxation, intellectual exploration, and social engagement, making them indispensable hubs for recreation and leisure activities.

1.8 Library and Modern Society: The Role of Library in Society-

Libraries are the bedrock of modern society, serving as dynamic institutions that transcend traditional roles. Their importance extends far beyond being repositories of books, evolving into multifaceted centers that play a vital role in shaping and enriching the fabric of society. Here, we explore the crucial role of libraries in contemporary society:

• Access to Information and Knowledge: At the heart of the library’s mission lies its commitment to providing open and equitable access to information and knowledge. In a world where the internet is awash with information of varying degrees of reliability, libraries curate, organize, and disseminate credible sources. They empower individuals with the tools to navigate the labyrinth of data, fostering information literacy and critical thinking skills.
• Lifelong Learning: The quest for knowledge doesn’t end with formal education; libraries recognize this fundamental truth. They serve as hubs for lifelong learning, offering resources and programs that support personal and professional development. Whether it’s learning a new language, acquiring technical skills, or delving into a new hobby, libraries provide the space and resources to fuel the pursuit of continuous learning.
• Cultural Enrichment: Libraries are cultural repositories that safeguard local heritage, literature, and art. They celebrate cultural diversity by offering materials in multiple languages and hosting events that promote cross-cultural understanding. Art exhibitions, author talks, and storytelling sessions breathe life into community culture, fostering a sense of belonging and appreciation for the arts.
• Community Engagement: Libraries are not just buildings with books but community hubs that unite people. They provide spaces for gatherings, discussions, and civic engagement. Book clubs, workshops, and public forums serve as platforms for dialogue and social interaction, strengthening neighborhood social bonds.
• Digital Access: In an era of digital connectivity, libraries bridge the digital divide by providing free access to computers, Wi-Fi, and digital resources. They ensure that all members of society, regardless of economic status, can participate in the digital realm, access educational resources, and apply for jobs online.
• Support for Education: Libraries are integral to the educational ecosystem. They complement formal education by offering research materials, homework help, and tutoring services for students of all ages. For parents, libraries provide a nurturing environment for early childhood education, helping young minds develop a love for reading and learning.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Libraries foster innovation and entrepreneurship by offering access to startup resources, business development materials, and technology. They serve as launchpads for small businesses and innovation hubs for creative thinkers, propelling local economies forward.
• Social Inclusion: Libraries are champions of social inclusion, welcoming diverse populations and providing resources in multiple languages. They support refugees, immigrants, and individuals with disabilities, ensuring everyone feels valued and included.
• Digital Literacy: In an increasingly digital world, libraries promote digital literacy by offering technology training and assistance. They empower individuals to use digital tools effectively, enhancing their employability and participation in the digital economy.
• Intellectual Freedom : Libraries uphold the principles of intellectual freedom, providing a safe space for exploring diverse ideas and perspectives. They defend the right to access information without censorship or discrimination, fostering an environment where intellectual curiosity can flourish.

Libraries are indispensable institutions that serve as gateways to knowledge, culture, and community. They adapt to evolving needs and technologies, serving as catalysts for positive societal change. As we navigate an ever-complex world, libraries continue to be pillars of enlightenment and progress, enriching the lives of individuals and strengthening the social fabric of our global community. Their role in modern society is vital; it’s transformative, ensuring that knowledge remains accessible, culture thrives, and communities flourish in the 21st century and beyond.

Reference Article:

Role of Libraries and Information Centres in Modern Society. (2017). Retrieved from http://egyankosh.ac.in/handle/123456789/33044

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Thanks alot it has really aided me

Thanks a lot… I really appreciate

in tanzanian people not yet understanding the importance of library .i was graduate at national library college but the opportunity of employment also is big challenges to the gorvement ina tanzania

Sequel to the emergence of Library and Information Science as a profession, Nigeria government is yet to embrace the technological approach of dealing with electronic information materials in the library be it e-books, e-journals or in the compact disk form. As the job of Librarianship is gradually facing out as a result of library automation, it will be advisable to introduce Basic Library Education in the Primary and Secondary School so as to Cultivate the habit of reading in students as well as to impact in them the basic knowledge of sourcing out information from the Library since Library is a means of access to knowledge and refinement of the intellect, emotion and manners. This is my 8th years of graduating from the Department of Library and Information Science, ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY UTURU Nigeria, with keen interest in Electronic Libraries, still searching for a profitable Library job where i can end my career as a Librarian who is very much conversant with KOHA and Library of Congress Classification Scheme.

Help me with this. Discuss the anciant modern history of library.

Basug student

I will help you

Thank you very much

Please help me explain encyclopedia

See this link for more about Encyclopedia: https://www.lisedunetwork.com/difference-between-general-and-subjec/

Rabrary is need in our discussion

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Essay on the importance of library.

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The library occupies a very important place in school. With its books suited to the interests and aptitude of students of different age group, with its magazines, periodicals, news papers and with its calm and tranquil atmosphere it has a special call to the students who go there and quench their thirst for reading the material which cannot be provided to them in the class room. Here they find an environment which is conductive to the building up of habit of self learning. The library is the center of the intellectual and social activities of school. The library has got very wholesome effect over the work of school.

Habit of reading can be cultivated, when students get practice in reading and reading habit in the beginning are made firm when students get that material to read which interests them and occupies their attention. In the class room the books that are prescribed may not serve the purpose, some students may not be in a position to purchase all books that they want to read, while others may not find books that are of interest to them.

Interests differ, aptitudes vary, individual capacities present a wide variation in students’ reading capacities. In the library each has what he wants, each goes at the speed to which his capabilities allow him to go. The library is thus, a common platform upon which all students meet on a common level with equal opportunities. It is the nucleus of the school environment, the center of the intellectual activities of the school.

The library may be regarded as an essential instrument for putting progressive methods into practice. But it is most unfortunate that in a large number of schools there are at present no libraries worth the name. The books are usually old, out-dated, unsuitable, usually selected without reference to the students’ tastes and interests.

They are stocked in a few book shelves, which are housed in an inadequate and unattractive room. The person in charge of the library is often a clerk or an indifferent teacher, who does the work on a part-time basis and has neither love for books nor knowledge of library technique. What makes this situation particularly difficult is the fact that most teachers and headmasters and even the educational administrators and authorities do not realize how unsatisfactory this position is and, therefore, hey have no sense to take necessary steps for improving the condition.

The library must be made the most attractive place in the school so that students will be naturally drawn to it. It should be housed in a spacious well lighted hall. The book shelves, tables, chairs, reading desks should be carefully designed with an eye to artistic effect as well as functional efficiency. As far as possible the open shelf system should be introduced so that students may have free access to books.

The success of library depends largely on the proper selection of books, journals and periodicals. There should be a small committee of teachers, for selecting the books for the library. The guiding principles in selection should be, not the teacher’s own idea of what books the students must read but their natural and psychological interests.

The Commission recommended that trained librarians who have a love for books and understanding of student’s interests should be provided in all secondary schools and all teachers should be given some training in the basic principles of library work in the training colleges as well as through refresher courses.

As the proper use of well equipped school library is absolutely essential for the official working of every educational institution and for encouraging literary and cultural interests in students, every secondary school should have such a library. Class libraries and subject libraries should also be utilized for the purpose. The subject teachers should be in charge of subject library. Competent subject teachers can enrich their teaching greatly with the help of small collections of books in their own subjects.

This should not be confined to text books only. Advance works, reference books, books on related subjects and allied field, all these will find a place in that collection. Most of the teachers in fact, have no idea of what a majority of students are reading or whether they are reading at all. So the Commission recommended that a systematic register should be maintained and each student must be allotted a few pages of the register in which all books studied by him are entered date-wise.

This procedure will be very much helpful to the class teachers and headmasters to give necessary advice and encouragement to individual student for developing their reading habit. On the other hand each student is expected to maintain a diary in which he may enter date-wise, the names of all the books (with the names of the Authors) which he has read together with brief quotation or extracts that may appeal to him.

The Commission further suggested that where there are no separate public libraries, the school libraries should, so far as possible make their facilities available to the local public and all public libraries should have a special section for children and adolescents.

Function of a School Library :

(i) It supplements class work by increasing students’ vocabulary, quickening their intelligence and extending their general knowledge;

(ii) It enables the students to prepare themselves for taking part in the various co-curricular activities of the school. They get information which is very helpful to them in taking part in debates, giving lectures and writing for the school magazine;

(iii) It develops habits of the students to derive pleasure and information from recreational and informative books;

(iv) It broadens their outlook by placing a vast sphere of information before them;

(v) It imparts training to the students for the proper use of books;

(vi) It gives students training in punctuality by impressing ‘ upon them the necessity of returning and borrowing books at a fixed time;

(vii) It provides suitable books to the students to satisfy their hunger of reading books and saves them from the harmful effects of reading unsuitable and injurious literature;

(viii) It inculcates in the students the habit of silent reading ;

(ix) It provides an opportunity to make the best use of leisure time thereby lessening the chance of indiscipline in the school.

Criticism :

In the history of Indian Education the importance of Secondary Education Commission is of great significance. Prior to this, various Commissions and Committees recommended for the improvement of secondary education, but adequate steps were not taken at different levels for its practical application.

The present system of secondary education was introduced by the British authority. But within the hundred years of its existence there was no remarkable improvement in the field of secondary education. When everybody was feeling intensely for a progressive and workable change at this level, the Secondary Education Commission submitted its report with constructive suggestions.

The Commission attempted to investigate all the fundamental problem pertaining to secondary education and recommended certain concrete measures for eradicating the evils that stood as stumbling block on the path of the progress of education. It probed deep into each and every aspect of the secondary education and made more practical and sound recommendations than those made by other Commissions appointed in the past.

The government took initiative to implement some of the recommendation only because those were befitting to the time and made in the light of the recommendations of other Commissions and Committees. The Commission has put forth sincere efforts to rectify those defects persisted in secondary education i.e. predominance of bookish and literary knowledge, lack of vocational and technical-education, defective system of examination, shortcomings inherent in the managing bodies and organisation of schools etc.

Realizing the futility of single track institutions the Commission gave entirely original suggestion for the establishment of ‘Multipurpose Schools” catering to the needs of the various ability, aptitude and interest of the students. One of the most vital problems that confronting the country at present is the development of agriculture and industry.

Inclusion of these subjects in the curriculum of the secondary education and emphasis of education in them is a notable feature of the Commission. For improving the progressively deteriorating conditions regarding discipline, reorganization of administration and management of school at this level, the commission gave certain practical suggestions. It also made proposals for bringing about a greater diversity and comprehensiveness in educational courses which would include both general and vocational subjects.

Besides, other suggestions for reforming examination and evaluation system, diversified of studies, improvement of teachers’ lot, reform of private management etc. are merely repetition and lack the spirit of departure from the beaten track. Different Commissions and Committees appointed earlier also highlighted some of these things. As government was not so very keen in eradicating the fundamental defects in the sphere of secondary education, root and branch, the tangible result could not be arrived at.

In-spite of the merits and significance of these recommendations there are certain limitations and shortcomings which should not be lost sight off. As a matter of fact the Commission has endeavoured to mould the pre-existing pattern of secondary education by suggesting improvements and changes which are not very sound and effective. Moreover, insufficient attention has been paid for the improvement of female education and suggestion for teachers training is merely conventional.

Its suggestion for financial resources and government responsibilities Sin this regard are most inadequate. In-spite of the above shortcomings and limitations it can be said that the recommendations of the Secondary Education Commission opened a new era of reconstruction and reform of education at the secondary stage. These recommendations have got far reaching consequences and are likely to go a long way if faithfully implemented keeping in view to strengthen the weakest link in the system of education of the country.

Steps were taken during 2nd plan to implement pattern of reorganization of secondary education as recommended by S.E.C.” Accordingly financial allocation was made in the budget. Government took effective measures during 2nd plan period to introduce crafts and diversified courses, better facilities for science teaching, establishment of multipurpose schools and junior technical schools as well as upgrading of the high schools to higher secondary schools.

In the 1st plan about 250 multipurpose seconds were established. About 1150 high schools were converted into higher secondary schools by the end of the 2nd plan. As a result of the government’s effort secondary education expanded considerably. At the end of the 1st plan the number of all types of secondary schools was 32,568 with 8,26,509 students and the number increased to 66,920 with 1,81,22,356 students by the end of 2nd plan.

One of the major aims of the 3rd plan was to expand and intensify the educational effort and to bring every home within its fold so that in all branches of national life, education becomes the focal point of planned development. Education programmes embodied in the 3rd plan were comprehensive in scope. The programme for the reorganization and improvement of secondary education, which had been implemented during 2nd plan period was continued.

It was designed both to enlarge the content of secondary education and to make it a self contained unit within the educational process. During 3rd plan measures were taken for the conversion of high schools into higher secondary schools, development of multipurpose schools with provision of a number of elective subjects, expansion and improvement of facilities for the teaching of science, provision of educational and vocational guidance, improvement of the examination and evaluation system, enlargement of facilities for vocational education, increased facilities for the education of girls and the backward classes and encouragement to merit through scholarships. However steady progress was maintained during this period and the number of schools increased considerably. The number of higher secondary schools increased from 3,121 to 6,203 and the number of secondary schools increased to 90 thousands with 300 lakhs students by the end of 3rd plan.

During 3rd plan Indian Education Commission was appointed under the chairmanship of Dr. D.S. Kothari, which is popularly known as Kothari Commission, 1964-66. The Commission aimed at an entire overhauling of the existing setup.

Besides many other things it pleaded eloquently for the improvement of secondary education and recommended that:

(i) Enrolment in secondary education should be regulated during the next twenty years by proper planning of the location of secondary schools, maintaining adequate standards and to that end, by determining the enrolment in terms of facilities available and selecting the best student;

(ii) A developmental plan for secondary education should be prepared for each district and implemented in a period of ten years,

(iii) The best students should be selected for admission into secondary schools, through a process of self selection at the lower secondary stage, and on the basis of external examination results and school records at the higher secondary stage;

(iv) Secondary education should be vocationalised in a large measure and enrolments in vocational courses raised to 20 per cent of total enrolment at the lower secondary stage and 50 per cent of total enrolment at the higher secondary stage by 1986.

(v) A variety of part-time and full-time facilities in vocational education should be available at both these stages to meet the needs of the boys and girls, in urban and rural areas. Special sections should be set up in the education department to help young pupils who drop out after class VIII or VII to obtain training on a full time or part time basis, and to be in overall charge of the organisation of these courses;

(vi) The central government should provide special grants to state governments in centrally sponsored sector for the vocationalisation of secondary education;

(vii) Facilities for part-time education should be provided on a large scale at the lower and higher secondary stages in general and vocational courses. Special emphasis will have to be placed on agricultural courses or those who have taken to farming as a vocation and on courses in home science or household industries for girls;

(viii) Efforts should be made to accelerate the expansion of girls education so that the proportion of girls to boys reaches 1 : 2 at the lower secondary stage and 1:3 at the higher secondary stage in 20 years ;

(ix) Emphasis should be placed on establishing separate schools for girls, provision of hostels and scholarships and part-time vocational courses;

(x) a national policy for the location of new institutions for each category should be adopted so as to avoid waste and duplication;

(xi) Vocational schools should be located near the industry concerned;

(xii) In non-vocational schools, a common curriculum of general education should be provided for the first ten years of school education and diversification of studies and specialization should begin only at the higher secondary stage;

(xiii) At the higher secondary stage courses will be diversified in such a manner as to enable pupils to study a group of any three subjects in depth with considerable freedom and elasticity in the grouping of subjects. In order to ensure the balanced development of the adolescents, total personality the curriculum at this stage should provide half the time to the languages and one-fourth to physical education, arts and crafts, moral and spiritual education.

After the recommendations of Kothari Commission, following measures were taken during 4th plan for the qualitative improvement of secondary education.

(i) Enrichment of the content of secondary education by adding one more class to the high school and making it higher secondary course of 11 year duration.

(ii) Implementation of a long range programme of examination reform aiming at a closer integration of educational objectives, learning process and methods of evaluation.

(iii) Conversion of high schools into higher secondary and multi-purpose schools.

Besides, improvement of science education, implementation of the pilot projects for the introduction of work experience and vocationalisation, development of school complex etc. were some of the measures undertaken during 4th plan period. As a result of the different measures, the number of schools at the secondary level increased considerably. By the year 1973-74, 74.40% boys and 29.60% girls were reading at the secondary stage.

Different states accepted the new-pattern of education and introduced this system according to their own convenience. Though there is a lot of confusion and feeling of anxiety in the minds of the people regarding the practical application of the new pattern, yet in the overall interest of the student population and for national integration there is great need of a uniform pattern of education.

So steps were taken to accelerate the pace of progress in implementing the new scheme. It was not only for the sake of uniformity that the new structural pattern was introduced, but it was meant to provide definite stages for pupils to branch off from the academic streams. If provision would not be made for students to branch off to vocational courses after completion of the particular stage of education, the change of pattern would only partially achieve the objectives and students who would do better in vocational courses would tend to go in for general education.

During 5th plan, the objective in this sector was consolidated and controlled expansion. In order to raise the standard of education reorganisation of the curriculum, improvement of the methods of teaching, reforms in the system of examination, development of instructional materials and text books were undertaken during 5th plan period.

Even then the achievement in this sector was not encouraging. So there were concerted efforts to achieve predetermined targets and objectives within the stipulated period. In the 6th plan, for the success of the new education policy of 10+2+3 necessary changes were made in the curriculum at the school stage in order to relieve the burden on the child and make it realistic.

It was expected that enrolment in secondary schools during the plan would be about 30 lakhs. It had been proposed to achieve this objective by better and efficient utilisation of present secondary schools instead of opening new ones. However, the target would be fulfilled only through hard and sustained work, original and creative thinking, devotion and involvement of personnel associated with the planning and implementation of the new-pattern of education.

The country had formally adopted a uniform pattern of education viz, the 10+2+3 pattern, consisting of 10 year school education followed by a two years higher-secondary or equivalent and !a three year degree course. Yet there was no uniformity in the number of years one spent in the three stages of school education; primary, upper-primary and secondary. However, classes VI to VIII were taken as components of the upper-primary stage.

When the first and second All India Educational Surveys were conducted in the years 1957 and 1965, respectively, a distance of three miles or approximately 5 kilometers was considered to be a convenient walking distance for children in classes VI to VIII. Gradually, the distance limit was brought down to three kilometers. Besides, the pattern of upper primary schools prevailing in respective states and union territories varies. Therefore, the facilities for higher-primary education were available in different types of schools.

Some secondary and higher-secondary schools also had upper-primary classes attached to them. Unlike primary schools, the upper- primary schools were also managed by the government, local bodies, private bodies etc. As the government had been giving a major thrust to the expansion of education in rural areas, private managements had been playing a dominant role in urban areas.

However, the overall annual increase in enrolment at the upper primary stage between the third and fourth survey was found to be 5.75 percent while that of between the fourth and fifth survey was 6.8 percent. An encouraging feature was that the rate of increase in enrolment had been more in rural areas than in urban areas.

The period between the first and the second survey witnessed a sharp increase in the percentage of habitations which had access to secondary stage education either within the habitation or up to a distance of eight kilometers (five miles). But it was reduced to five kilometers by the time of the third survey. The fourth survey (1978) revealed that 72.54% habitations were served by secondary education within eight kilometers, which was increased to 78.92% by the fifth survey.

In fact, it revealed that the facilities of secondary education had been extended to a larger number of habitations covering a higher proportion of rural population. As such, there were 52,560 secondary schools in India by 1986. Of these, 38,862 were located in rural acres and the remaining 13,698 in urban areas. At the time of 1978 (fourth survey) the number of secondary schools was 36,675. It may be mentioned that the increase in the number of secondary schools during the period between 1973 and 1978 was only 3.5%.

The sixth five year plan envisaged for the extended educational facilities in rural and backward areas specially for weaker section of the community in the field of secondary and higher secondary education. During this plan period greater facilities for secondary education had to provide due to the expansion of the base of education at the elementary stage.

Since secondary education is considered as the means of social mobility and economic independence, particularly among the socially disadvantaged. Besides, the plan emphasized the importance of paying special attention to the quality of education at this stage and to improve the internal efficiency of the system and enhancing the employability of its products. Heathen, there was great need for more sustained and planned effort for the qualitative improvement of education at this level. Gradually the demand for secondary education had been growing.

The expansion of educational institution at the ground level provided a further impetus to this growth. For instance the number of upper-primary schools had increased from 1.35 lakhs to 1.46 laks from 1985-86 to 1990-91, respectively. Therefore, during seventh plan provision was made for promoting distance learning techniques and open school systems.

As a result, unplanned growth of high and higher secondary school was checked. Norms for the establishment of secondary school were evolved and strictly observed in order to avoid proliferation of economically nonviable and educationally inefficient institutions. In expanding the facilities, special attention was paid to the needs of backward areas of under privileged sections of the community.

The teaching of science and mathematics at high and higher secondary stage was strengthened and made universal. Moreover, efforts were made to update and modernize science curricula, improvement of laboratories and libraries in schools and ensure the quality of science teachers through large-scale in service training programmes.

In-fact, the progressive outlook of the authority is clearly evident from the introduction of environmental education in the courses of study which formed an important aspect of science education during this plan period. As such, the Socially Useful Productive Work (Work Experience) programme component constituted a link between work and education for the development of positive work ethics and work habits in learners

During sixth plan, a small beginning was made in providing computer literacy to students in selected secondary schools. Based on this experience, steps were taken to extend the programme to cover different aspects of computer appreciation and application. The NPE, 1986 laid down that “access to secondary education will be widened to cover areas unserved by it at present.”

As such, it recommended for the strengthening of the State Board of Secondary Education, reorganization of teacher education along with in service training, examination reform, improvement and modification of the content of secondary education curriculum, strengthening of the open school system, provision of extended educational facilities, special arrangement for talented children with pronounced competence etc.

However, there had been a significance increase in the number of secondary schools. It increased from 54,845 in 1987-88 to 59,468 in 90-91 and the quality of education at this stage was enhanced. Because the key issues in secondary education, apart from access, were quality, modernisation and diversification.

Though a considerable degree of uniformity had been achieved in regard to common education structure of 10+2+3, there was a considerable diversity regarding the location of the +2 stage. In quite a few states it was not a part of the school system. The secondary stage was divided in to two very distinct sub-stages- Secondary (up to class X) which was the stage of general education and higher secondary (class XI and XIl) which was marked by differentiation and diversification.

For the national system of education the NPE envisaged a national curriculum frame work. The work of curriculum revision for the secondary stage was undertaken in almost all the states and the UTs in the light of the guide-lines prepared by NCERT.

Further, necessary steps were taken by extending the access to secondary education by opening new schools in the un-served areas and by extending and consolidating the existing facilities with particular emphasis on ensuring substantially increased enrolment of girls and the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Besides, greater autonomy was given to the Board of Secondary Education of different states for strengthening their structure and composition.

Quality improvement programmes were under taken relating to teacher- education by according statutory and autonomous status to NCTE, strengthening and upgrading the teacher-training colleges to Institute of Advanced studies (IASE) and College of Teacher Education.

Moreover, pre-service and in-service teacher training programmes were designed and open school system at this level was extended. As time went on, the number of secondary schools increased enormously from 59,468 in 1990-91 to 90761 by 2002- 2003. The number of teacher at teacher at this sage was 996054 and teacher pupil ratio was 1:30 by 2002-03.

Related Articles:

• Suggestions by Mudaliar Commission to Improve Secondary Education in India
• Origin of Higher Secondary Education in India

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Admit-a-bull // official admissions blog, how to take full advantage of your college library.

By Rachel Swearingen | Last Updated: May 15, 2024

Confession: it’s always been a dream of mine to hop on a library’s sliding ladder and sweep through a row of books just like Belle in Beauty and the Beast . I’d get on and sing that classic “Ohhh, isn’t this a-maz-ing” line, preferably when no one else was around because no one needs to hear that.

What’s so great about a library? First, you can’t beat the smell of a book, whether it’s brand new or older. Second, you’ve got thousands upon thousands of volumes just waiting to be read. Third — ok, ok, if you’re not a huge fan of reading, I’m going to lose you right now. Your college library offers so much, and you need to know what vast resources lie beyond those doors so you can maximize your college experience.

From employment opportunities to research aids and beyond, your university library is one of the most important resources you will ever use in your academic career. Check out some tips on how you can harness the power of your college library.

Befriend Your Friendly Neighborhood Librarian

With great power comes great responsibility — and your college librarians have a lot of power at their disposal. Think of them as your academic superheroes. Meeting one is one of the first things you should do when you get to campus, said Todd Chavez, dean of the libraries at the University of South Florida.

“There’s nothing librarians like more than a proactive student who takes the initiative to reach out to them, to let them know they’re there and what their programs and interests are,” Chavez said.

Once you develop that relationship, you’ll likely see a lot of benefits — you’ll have an “in” with the person who’s coordinating everything at the library, and they’ll be able to help you find authoritative, quality resources too.

Attend Library Workshops to Stay Informed

Speaking of workshops , those are a vastly important resource that your college library coordinates. At USF, they’re typically 1-2 hours long and cover important subjects from project management to the basics of copyright law.

And the best part? They’re free, at least at USF. You can learn information for free that will help you grow academically and professionally — sounds like a great deal.

Some may be taught by librarians when the content is about library and information science or how to use the library. Other workshops are taught by university faculty when they relate to their subject matter expertise.

“What most of these [workshops] are designed to do is give you enough information about the topic that you would then be able to explore further if you wanted to go more toward the intermediate level,” Chavez said.

For example, one workshop is about an analytical tool simply called R. It’s heavily used in scientific fields and is finding its way into other disciplines as well, Chavez said.

“It’s one of those ever-growing, ever-changing huge communities of developers and users… we can get you started and we can tell you what it is, how powerful it is, and how it works,” Chavez said.

In other words — library workshops are a great entry point, especially for freshmen who are still exploring their interests and haven’t fully decided on a major yet.

Find a Job and Gain Valuable Experience at Your College Library

Libraries also employ college students, so if you’re looking for an on-campus job , it’s a good place to start. USF’s libraries offer paid internships that are usually two semesters long to students who are interested in library and information science.

Those interns are involved in everything from special collections and archival research to new innovative programs like documenting the world in 3D , which is what USF’s Center for Digital Heritage and Geospatial Information (CDHGI) is doing. The CDHGI uses geomatics, reality capture, 3D technology, visualization, and Global Information Systems to digitize and preserve heritage sites, objects, and landscapes. Want to take a tour of Cape Canaveral to see this in action?

The library also employs students who work at the desk, shelve books, or manage special collections.

“We look at that as a positive service for students, and we try to be competitive in what we pay them so they stay on campus. Students do better when they stay,” Chavez said.

Look for Financial Aid from Your Library

Sometimes, university libraries will offer scholarships to students, and those awards can be pretty substantial. For example, the USF library has about $20,000 to award each year, and the scholarships range from $500 to $5,000.

The applications may require a short essay, but getting more financial aid is always a huge bonus, right? Check with your college library to see if they offer scholarship funding and what the requirements would be for each opportunity.

“This is another reason to get involved with your library,” Chavez said. “Right now, we’re trying to give away money… our librarians are always on the lookout for students who might be in a particular program that’s getting a [scholarship] award.”

Other Aid Your Library May Offer

Libraries may offer more than scholarships if you need help. If you don’t have the financial resources to get your own laptop, the library has computers you can use for assignments. Or, explore the possibility of using your library’s laptop loan program.

You can also thank your library for its advocacy. The USF library is behind all of the university’s textbook affordability efforts , and since 2016 has saved USF students over $40 million on book prices, Chavez said.

Get Access to Millions of Resources

A big part of what a university library does is assemble special collections, whether they’re digital or physical. The USF library has about 3.5 million books and monographs, along with 200,000 serial titles in print and electronic.

On top of that, a college library will have special collections of material that you can use for research or for fun, depending on your interest. Examples of items in those collections at USF include rare materials like a cuneiform tablet from the Babylonian period, a herbarium with 300,000 specimens of dried and preserved plants, and more.

“Library collections aren’t limited to books. It’s not limited to journals, or digital books and digital journals. To me, library collections can be anything at all,” Chavez said. “It can be collections of plant specimens or collections of data or images.”

With the advent of artificial intelligence and how quickly it’s able to create art and images, these types of collections will likely become even more valuable.

“We very carefully curate our collections,” Chavez said. “Everything that’s in the library is here for a reason.”

Have Questions About Resources at USF?

The library offers endless resources, but there’s also a career services center, tutoring, and more. In other words, there are a lot of people and places waiting to help you throughout your academic journey. If you’re stuck on something, reach out to Student Success to get the guidance you need!

However, if your main goal is to have your own Belle moment in the library — you’ll have to discuss that with the librarians.

About Rachel Swearingen

Rachel Swearingen is a content developer with ample experience in higher education. She loves writing resources that help students and their families as they work through the admissions process and beyond.

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• CAREER FEATURE
• 08 May 2024

Illuminating ‘the ugly side of science’: fresh incentives for reporting negative results

• Rachel Brazil 0

Rachel Brazil is a freelance journalist in London, UK.

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The editor-in-chief of the Journal of Trial & Error , Sarahanne Field wants to publish the messy, null and negative results sitting in researchers’ file drawers. Credit: Sander Martens

Editor-in-chief Sarahanne Field describes herself and her team at the Journal of Trial & Error as wanting to highlight the “ugly side of science — the parts of the process that have gone wrong”.

She clarifies that the editorial board of the journal, which launched in 2020 , isn’t interested in papers in which “you did a shitty study and you found nothing. We’re interested in stuff that was done methodologically soundly, but still yielded a result that was unexpected.” These types of result — which do not prove a hypothesis or could yield unexplained outcomes — often simply go unpublished, explains Field, who is also an open-science researcher at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Along with Stefan Gaillard, one of the journal’s founders, she hopes to change that.

Calls for researchers to publish failed studies are not new. The ‘file-drawer problem’ — the stacks of unpublished, negative results that most researchers accumulate — was first described in 1979 by psychologist Robert Rosenthal . He argued that this leads to publication bias in the scientific record: the gap of missing unsuccessful results leads to overemphasis on the positive results that do get published.

Careers Collection: Publishing

Over the past 30 years, the proportion of negative results being published has decreased further. A 2012 study showed that, from 1990 to 2007, there was a 22% increase in positive conclusions in papers; by 2007, 85% of papers published had positive results 1 . “People fail to report [negative] results, because they know they won’t get published — and when people do attempt to publish them, they get rejected,” says Field. A 2022 survey of researchers in France in chemistry, physics, engineering and environmental sciences showed that, although 81% had produced relevant negative results and 75% were willing to publish them, only 12.5% had the opportunity to do so 2 .

One factor that is leading some researchers to revisit the problem is the growing use of predictive modelling using machine-learning tools in many fields. These tools are trained on large data sets that are often derived from published work, and scientists have found that the absence of negative data in the literature is hampering the process. Without a concerted effort to publish more negative results that artificial intelligence (AI) can be trained on, the promise of the technology could be stifled.

“Machine learning is changing how we think about data,” says chemist Keisuke Takahashi at Hokkaido University in Japan, who has brought the issue to the attention of the catalysis-research community . Scientists in the field have typically relied on a mixture of trial and error and serendipity in their experiments, but there is hope that AI could provide a new route for catalyst discovery. Takahashi and his colleagues mined data from 1,866 previous studies and patents to train a machine-learning model to predict the best catalyst for the reaction between methane and oxygen to form ethane and ethylene, both of which are important chemicals used in industry 3 . But, he says, “over the years, people have only collected the good data — if they fail, they don’t report it”. This led to a skewed model that, in some cases, enhanced the predicted performance of a material, rather than realistically assessing its properties.

Synthetic organic chemist Felix Strieth-Kalthoff found that published data were too heavily biased toward positive results to effectively train an AI model to optimize chemical reaction yields. Credit: Cindy Huang

Alongside the flawed training of AI models, the huge gap of negative results in the scientific record continues to be a problem across all disciplines. In areas such as psychology and medicine, publication bias is one factor exacerbating the ongoing reproducibility crisis — in which many published studies are impossible to replicate. Without sharing negative studies and data, researchers could be doomed to repeat work that led nowhere. Many scientists are calling for changes in academic culture and practice — be it the creation of repositories that include positive and negative data, new publication formats or conferences aimed at discussing failure. The solutions are varied, but the message is the same: “To convey an accurate picture of the scientific process, then at least one of the components should be communicating all the results, [including] some negative results,” says Gaillard, “and even where you don’t end up with results, where it just goes wrong.”

Science’s messy side

Synthetic organic chemist Felix Strieth-Kalthoff, who is now setting up his own laboratory at the University of Wuppertal, Germany, has encountered positive-result bias when using data-driven approaches to optimize the yields of certain medicinal-chemistry reactions. His PhD work with chemist Frank Glorius at the University of Münster, Germany, involved creating models that could predict which reactants and conditions would maximize yields. Initially, he relied on data sets that he had generated from high-throughput experiments in the lab, which included results from both high- and low-yield reactions, to train his AI model. “Our next logical step was to do that based on the literature,” says Strieth-Kalthoff. This would allow him to curate a much larger data set to be used for training.

But when he incorporated real data from the reactions database Reaxys into the training process, he says, “[it] turned out they don’t really work at all”. Strieth-Kalthoff concluded the errors were due the lack of low-yield reactions 4 ; “All of the data that we see in the literature have average yields of 60–80%.” Without learning from the messy ‘failed’ experiments with low yields that were present in the initial real-life data, the AI could not model realistic reaction outcomes.

Although AI has the potential to spot relationships in complex data that a researcher might not see, encountering negative results can give experimentalists a gut feeling, says molecular modeller Berend Smit at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne. The usual failures that every chemist experiences at the bench give them a ‘chemical intuition’ that AI models trained only on successful data lack.

Smit and his team attempted to embed something similar to this human intuition into a model tasked with designing a metal-organic framework (MOF) with the largest known surface area for this type of material. A large surface area allows these porous materials to be used as reaction supports or molecular storage reservoirs. “If the binding [between components] is too strong, it becomes amorphous; if the binding is too weak, it becomes unstable, so you need to find the sweet spot,” Smit says. He showed that training the machine-learning model on both successful and unsuccessful reaction conditions created better predictions and ultimately led to one that successfully optimized the MOF 5 . “When we saw the results, we thought, ‘Wow, this is the chemical intuition we’re talking about!’” he says.

According to Strieth-Kalthoff, AI models are currently limited because “the data that are out there just do not reflect all of our knowledge”. Some researchers have sought statistical solutions to fill the negative-data gap. Techniques include oversampling, which means supplementing data with several copies of existing negative data or creating artificial data points, for example by including reactions with a yield of zero. But, he says, these types of approach can introduce their own biases.

Computer scientist Ella Peltonen helped to organize the first International Workshop on Negative Results in Pervasive Computing in 2022 to give researchers an opportunity to discuss failed experiments. Credit: University of Oulu

Capturing more negative data is now a priority for Takahashi. “We definitely need some sort of infrastructure to share the data freely.” His group has created a website for sharing large amounts of experimental data for catalysis reactions . Other organizations are trying to collect and publish negative data — but Takahashi says that, so far, they lack coordination, so data formats aren’t standardized. In his field, Strieth-Kalthoff says, there are initiatives such as the Open Reaction Database , launched in 2021 to share organic-reaction data and enable training of machine-learning applications. But, he says, “right now, nobody’s using it, [because] there’s no incentive”.

Smit has argued for a modular open-science platform that would directly link to electronic lab notebooks to help to make different data types extractable and reusable . Through this process, publication of negative data in peer-reviewed journals could be skipped, but the information would still be available for researchers to use in AI training. Strieth-Kalthoff agrees with this strategy in theory, but thinks it’s a long way off in practice, because it would require analytical instruments to be coupled to a third-party source to automatically collect data — which instrument manufacturers might not agree to, he says.

Publishing the non-positive

In other disciplines, the emphasis is still on peer-reviewed journals that will publish negative results. Gaillard, a science-studies PhD student at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, co-founded the Journal of Trial & Error after attending talks on how science can be made more open. Gaillard says that, although everyone whom they approached liked the idea of the journal, nobody wanted to submit articles at first. He and the founding editorial team embarked on a campaign involving cold calls and publicity at open-science conferences. “Slowly, we started getting our first submissions, and now we just get people sending things in [unsolicited],” he says. Most years the journal publishes one issue of about 8–14 articles, and it is starting to publish more special issues. It focuses mainly on the life sciences and data-based social sciences.

In 2008, David Alcantara, then a chemistry PhD student at the University of Seville in Spain who was frustrated by the lack of platforms for sharing negative results, set up The All Results journals, which were aimed at disseminating results regardless of the outcome . Of the four disciplines included at launch, only the biology journal is still being published. “Attracting submissions has always posed a challenge,” says Alcantara, now president at the consultancy and training organization the Society for the Improvement of Science in Seville.

But Alcantara thinks there has been a shift in attitudes: “More established journals [are] becoming increasingly open to considering negative results for publication.” Gaillard agrees: “I’ve seen more and more journals, like PLoS ONE , for example, that explicitly mentioned that they also publish negative results.” ( Nature welcomes submissions of replication studies and those that include null results, as described in this 2020 editorial .)

Journals might be changing their publication preferences, but there are still significant disincentives that stop researchers from publishing their file-drawer studies. “The current academic system often prioritizes high-impact publications and ground-breaking discoveries for career advancement, grants and tenure,” says Alcantara, noting that negative results are perceived as contributing little to nothing to these endeavours. Plus, there is still a stigma associated with any kind of failure . “People are afraid that this will look negative on their CV,” says Gaillard. Smit describes reporting failed experiments as a no-win situation: “It’s more work for [researchers], and they don’t get anything in return in the short term.” And, jokes Smit, what’s worse is that they could be providing data for an AI tool to take over their role.

Ultimately, most researchers conclude that publishing their failed studies and negative data is just not worth the time and effort — and there’s evidence that they judge others’ negative research more harshly than positive outcomes. In a study published in August, 500 researchers from top economics departments around the world were randomized to two groups and asked to judge a hypothetical research paper. Half of the participants were told that the study had a null conclusion, and the other half were told the results were sizeably significant. The null results were perceived to be 25% less likely to be published, of lower quality and less important than were the statistically significant findings 6 .

Some researchers have had positive experiences sharing their unsuccessful findings. For example, in 2021, psychologist Wendy Ross at the London Metropolitan University published her negative results from testing a hypothesis about human problem-solving in the Journal of Trial & Error 7 , and says the paper was “the best one I have published to date”. She adds, “Understanding the reasons for null results can really test and expand our theoretical understanding.”

Fields forging solutions

The field of psychology has introduced one innovation that could change publication biases — registered reports (RRs). These peer-reviewed reports , first published in 2014, came about largely as a response to psychology’s replication crisis, which began in around 2011. RRs set out the methodology of a study before the results are known, to try to prevent selective reporting of positive results. Daniël Lakens, who studies science-reward structures at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, says there is evidence that RRs increase the proportion of negative results in the psychology literature.

In a 2021 study, Lakens analysed the proportion of published RRs whose results eventually support the primary hypothesis. In a random sample of hypothesis-testing studies from the standard psychology literature, 96% of the results were positive. In RRs, this fell to only 44% 8 . Lakens says the study shows “that if you offer this as an option, many more null results enter the scientific literature, and that is a desirable thing”. At least 300 journals, including Nature , are now accepting RRs, and the format is spreading to journals in biology, medicine and some social-science fields.

Yet another approach has emerged from the field of pervasive computing, the study of how computer systems are integrated into physical surroundings and everyday life. About four years ago, members of the community started discussing reproducibility, says computer scientist Ella Peltonen at the University of Oulu in Finland. Peltonen says that researchers realized that, to avoid the repetition of mistakes, there was a need to discuss the practical problems with studies and failed results that don’t get published. So in 2022, Peltonen and her colleagues held the first virtual International Workshop on Negative Results in Pervasive Computing (PerFail) , in conjunction with the field’s annual conference, the International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications.

Peltonen explains that PerFail speakers first present their negative results and then have the same amount of time for discussion afterwards, during which participants tease out how failed studies can inform future work. “It also encourages the community to showcase that things require effort and trial and error, and there is value in that,” she adds. Now an annual event, the organizers invite students to attend so they can see that failure is a part of research and that “you are not a bad researcher because you fail”, says Peltonen.

In the long run, Alcantara thinks a continued effort to persuade scientists to share all their results needs to be coupled with policies at funding agencies and journals that reward full transparency. “Criteria for grants, promotions and tenure should recognize the value of comprehensive research dissemination, including failures and negative outcomes,” he says. Lakens thinks funders could be key to boosting the RR format, as well. Funders, he adds, should say, “We want the research that we’re funding to appear in the scientific literature, regardless of the significance of the finding.”

There are some positive signs of change about sharing negative data: “Early-career researchers and the next generation of scientists are particularly receptive to the idea,” says Alcantara. Gaillard is also optimistic, given the increased interest in his journal, including submissions for an upcoming special issue on mistakes in the medical domain. “It is slow, of course, but science is a bit slow.”

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