A library is a collection of books on various subjects, to be used for supplementing knowledge. It may be private, belonging to an individual, or public, for the use of all people who pay subscription as members ; or can read free. A private library reflects the tastes or the personal likes and dislikes of its owner. Here books are selected according to the owner's judgement and requirements. Often a good private library is donated to the public after the owner's death. Such, for example, is the Khuda Buksh Library of Patna, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee's private library, is now a part of the National Library of India in Calcutta. Public libraries may be meant for the general readers and these contain books on all subjects. Of the former category is the National Library. Public libraries are generally state-aided ; books may not be lent out to anyone ; if they are, it is usually against security deposits. The National Library belongs to this class.
The library of an academic institution is meant for the use of the teachers and the students as of the University. Schools and Colleges also have libraries which are used for the same purpose. So it has been rightly said that a modern university is a collection of books.
We, in India, are not good readers of books. In our Schools and Colleges we generally confine ourselves to the study of textbooks or light literature i.e, novels. There is, however, the librarian, one whose duty is to guide the readers in the choice of books.
Libraries are a necessity for all people who possess some culture. It is impossible for any one to purchase all the books that are necessary. In a library we can select the books in which we are interested. A good library also purchases books selected or recommended by the readers. Hence membership of a library gives one the opportunity of becoming familiar with a large variety of books and abreast with current trends of thought.
The proper management of libraries is a necessary system for the spread of education. In our country every village should have at least one library where the people can go for knowledge and information.
In order to make books available to the largest number of people, circulating or travelling libraries have been set up. Long ago Baroda took the lead in this direction. Books are carried in motor vans and distributed to their readers in Villages, according to their choice. In European countries libraries are inter—connected and readers of one library can requisition books from another. In a poor country like ours, the system has obvious advantages.
An adjunct of a library which greatly increases its utility is the reading room with facility for free reading. Readers meet together and discuss the latest publications. Sometimes enlightening lectures and debates are held there. But library books should be used carefully. Some Indians have the bad habit of mishandling books by disfiguring them with odd, an obscene comments, cutting off and stealing pages or otherwise mutilating the volumes. Such vandalism practice should be avoided by all means. Group discussion in the quiet part of the library helps to stimulate intellectual curiosity and makes the people mentally alert. It raises cultural standards. A spirit of co-operation is established between the library and its users.
The atmosphere of a library is an incentive to study, When one find so many readers attentively reading books, one naturally develops a desire to read on one's own account. It is thus that the library habit is cultivated among casual readers. We can then create a habit of using libraries for knowledge as well as for recreation.
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