Libraries play dominant roles in expansion of knowledge. As gateways to knowledge and culture, roles of libraries are indispensable. 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.

According to a report of this newspaper yesterday, Kirsty Crawford, Programme Director of the British Council’s “Libraries Unlimited” programme, a Bill and Melinda Gates-funded initiative to transform the library landscape of Bangladesh, is striving to promote library-related activities in Bangladesh. Before taking up her recent assignment, Crawford worked as Director of Libraries of the British Council in India. Crawford managed the famed libraries of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for 15 years before moving to the sub-continent in 2015. 

According to the findings of the Library Landscape Assessment of Bangladesh (LLAB) study the libraries in Bangladesh are in a sorry state. There are only 68 public libraries in Bangladesh, which means there is a library for every 2.2 million people. That’s not a good condition. To change the scenario, application for a grant in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was dropped and eventually it was accepted. The Department of Libraries of Bangladesh promised to match the fund. It is heartening to note that a total of 10 million pound was raised for the programme.

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. It is the responsibility of the relevant department to set up more libraries in the country. At the same time the libraries lying in deplorable conditions should be revamped to attract new readers. NGOs and people belonging to conscious section of the society can supplement the government efforts in this regard.