5. Essay Libraries (10th/12/2nd Year/BA/B. Sc) by AG Ahmad

 Essay No. 5

--  LIBRARIES  --

Someone has wisely said,

“A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.”

It is beyond controversy that the libraries are for the benefit of the people. They produce better citizens, hap­pier people and finally a better society.  As it is rightly said,

“A good library is a place or a palace

where the lofty spirits of all nations and generations meet.”

Libraries are very important for the progress and development of a society. They are storehouse of knowledge. Libraries help to develop reading habits. They mould the character. They help us in the development of our personality.

“A room without a book is like a body without a soul.”

Libraries furnish in­formation on all subjects, provide the means of self-education, and stimulate continuous education to help men and women to parti­cipate intelligently in a. democratic society. As it is wisely said,

“If information is the currency of democracy,

then libraries are its banks.”

 Libraries can be classified into five groups.

Firstly, there are national libraries, the main purpose of which is to collect and preserve books. As it is rightly said,

“Libraries are not made; they grow.”

Secondly, there are academic libraries. They include university, college and school libraries. These libraries aim at cultivating a reading habit in the students in general. As it is wisely said,

“The Library is the Heart of the University.”

Thirdly, there are special libraries which deal with specific subjects for the benefit of special readers. As it is rightly said,

"If we didn't have libraries,

many people having thirst for knowledge would dehydrate."

Fourthly, there are public libraries which provide every member of the society. As it is wisely said,

“There was one place where I could find out,

who I was and what I was going to become.

And that was the Public Library.”

Fifthly, there are private libraries which are owned and looked after by intellectuals and are located in residential houses of such educated citizens. As it is rightly said,

“Reading of books is a pleasure

but to own them is bliss.”

A school without a library is unthinkable these days. It must have books on various subjects, newspapers, journals and magazines. The students, who want to add to their knowledge, go to the library in their vacant periods and study. It adds to their knowledge and creates dreams in them. As someone has rightly said,

“Our libraries create dreams.

If you take away the libraries, you will take away our dreams.”

My school also has a big library. It is located in a big hall. There are many almirahs in it. Each almirah has books on one subject only. There is a card for every book. Books are arranged according to their numbers. Every student applies for a card and gets it. The librarian issues books against the card. No student can keep a book for more than fourteen days. Defaulters (nonpayers) are fined. As it is wisely said,

“He who lends a book is an idiot.

He who returns the book is more of an idiot.”

On one side of the library hall, there are long tables and benches. Students sit there and read newspapers, journals and magazines; some take down notes. No body is permitted to talk to disturb others. Every class has one library period once a week. Students go to the library in the period and study. As it is rightly said,

“Some kids go to the library. Others to the street.

But they can't go to the libraries, if the libraries are closed.”

The library also has reference and text books. These are meant for studying in the library only. The calm and quiet atmosphere of the library helps the students to work attentively. As it is rightly said,

“Books add a lot to our knowledge.

These are our best friends.”

No one can deny the importance of libraries. They are useful for laymen, professionals and scholars. They make ancient and modern writings available to all those who cannot buy them. Costly textbooks and rare manuscripts are stored in libraries for the use of students and research scholars. As it is wisely said,

“Great libraries have always looked to both the future and the past.”

 In the fields of education, libraries play a very important role. Every person can get the books which are not readily available in the market, or so costly. They are lent to the readers, and thus one book serves the needs of many. As it is rightly said,

“If you have a garden and a library,

you have everything you need.”