Libraries

 Dusty Shelves, Bright Minds: My Life Among Libraries

Some say libraries are dying; I say they’re just getting quieter, while slyly plotting their comeback! 

My earliest memory of a library goes back to St Joseph’s, Allahabad – I was probably in Grade 6. There was a proper, central library, and within it, two or three cupboards were allocated to each grade. A serious looking Librarian sat in one corner. From those shelves, I devoured every Enid Blyton book I could find. There was also a thrilling series called Biggles, which convinced me I might one day fly secret missions over enemy territory. And of course, Secret Seven must take some responsibility for several earnest, if slightly misguided, crime-fighting adventures in the school corridors.

Then came The Boy’s High school – also in Allahabad - Grade 8 onwards, with its dusty, upstairs library. It was a large room but rather run down and forgotten … though more mischief happened there than serious reading. Books fell, paper planes soared, fights broke out and football was played. 

I then moved to teach in The Bishop’s School, Pune.  The library there offered a large, bright, airy sanctuary. Staff and boys flocked to the library to read the newspapers and books, plan which movie to see (and the staff to work out details and odds for the afternoon Horse racing on the Pune racecourse! Getting a look in on weekends was a difficult proposition. 

 I remember less about the novels and far more about the encyclopedias: Encyclopedia Britannica, World Book Encyclopedia, and The New Book of Knowledge. I spent hours poring over them, researching Shakespeare’s plays and poems which I taught to Grade nine and ten, long before Google made it effortless. Boys were smart and I was always determined to be one step ahead. 

Then Google arrived. Slowly, quietly, it changed everything. Over the past decade, library usage has dropped by roughly a third, as instant access to information replaced the ritual of wandering shelves. 

Yet, libraries are far from obsolete. Many people still maintain home libraries, surrounding themselves with books for comfort, curiosity, and the joy of discovery.

Reading remains one of the most wonderful, thought slightly underestimated pastimes. It entertains, sharpens the mind, broadens perspectives, and keeps one alert and thoughtful. 

Will libraries ever be fully replaced? I doubt it. They are more than just repositories of information; they are spaces that nurture imagination, cultivate wisdom, and quietly demand focus in a noisy world. There is something sacred about a good Library, which is indescribable.  

For those of us who grew up among Blyton’s, Biggles, and dusty encyclopedias, libraries will always remain sacred places – cathedrals of thought, knowledge, and yes, a little mischievous fun too.