If guys that live on the surface of the earth act like me, libraries would've been a thing of the past for a long time. And that's mostly due to the dysfunctional environment I grew up in, where libraries were treated like shiny toys meant for only the rich and powerful. For example, the only time I visited our state library was when I wanted to prepare for a serious exam. I went there to inquire about their fee and working hours.
Needless to say, I didn't show up afterward to use their services. I sat in my home, read very well, and passed the exam. I just didn't see any reason to spend regular transport fare to get to a place where I could read quietly. To me, it doesn't make sense. And that, in a nutshell, was my idea of what a library was: a place to read quietly without disturbances.
One of my most significant bromance with libraries happened during my senior secondary school days. The cleverest student in the school had a discussion with us where he told us the secret to his success was going to read at the school library during break or free periods. Without a doubt, when the most respected student in the school is talking, you not only want to listen but also to try out what he says.
So the next day I stormed the school library with my friends during the break period to also read. I was amazed by the number of books that were well-arranged there. I looked around and saw old books dating back to decades. The books were brownish, old, and worn out. They were neither exciting nor giving out the read-me vibes. And after making one too many noises, the "rude" librarian ejected us. We were disturbing the peace of the hallowed place.
Despite that terrible first experience, I came back alone at another time to satisfy my curiosity, only to stumble upon a thing of keen interest: daily newspapers. My dad bought newspapers every day and allowed me to read them whenever I was home. I couldn't do that in the boarding school till I went to that library. And from thence, I visit every day - to read newspapers, especially the sports session. It was important because this was a time when we had no internet in my country. Those newspapers connected me to the world.
The other time that I frequented the library was during my higher institution days. Whenever exams are in full swing, the school library becomes my first home. The second? Examination hall. I'd spend more time reading in the library than sleeping on my bed. I did that not because I loved the eerie place but because I was scared of failing and staying in there guaranteed that I would at least read some pages to stand a chance of passing my exams. So, simply put, the library to me was never a place to gain new knowledge. It was a place to read and solidify on the old one. Such a misjudgment!
Unfortunately, that's the perception of most people here about the library: a place to read and prepare for exams. But is the library much more than that? Are they still needed in this era where everything is getting digitalized? The answers are yes and yes. We need libraries; we will always have uses for them in society. And the fact that things are getting digitalized only makes libraries more important than ever.
Firstly, some rare books will never be available in digital form. These books are ancient and old and only needed for the deepest of research. Also, librarians are special; those guys have access to a lot of books and, thus, a lot of knowledge. Their expert guidance is always essential for research. Another benefit I enjoyed was during my latest sojourn in the educational lane. The papers I needed to read for my research were embedded in very expensive journals I could barely afford.
The solution? I visited the school library, registered with them, and got a login code that allowed me access to virtually every journal I needed. I was spoilt for choice and got the papers I needed for a token compared to what I would've paid if I had done it alone. The school library saved me. And as I frequented the library I also met people working in the same line of research. We combined knowledge, worked together, and achieved our individual goals. That would've been difficult to achieve if physical libraries were scrapped. That's one of the strong attributes of libraries which is to link people of like minds together.
When you frequent the library, there is a chance someone in there is trying to do exactly what you're also doing. Like the popular saying goes, "When you walk in a group, a good group, you walk far in life." Save the libraries.
