LIBRARY DEFINITION

What is the Library ?

It is generally an institution that has books and other forms of information stored for use by the public or qualified persons. It is customary, but not a defining characteristic of a library, to be housed in the rooms of a building, to loan items from its collection to members with or without payment, and to provide other services for its community of users.

The library is the physical building or room with the collection of books and resources accessible to a community. It consists of books and resources on various genres and topics. Libraries are important for the healthy development of society. Libraries provide valuable services to meet people’s learning needs. Libraries also benefit our nation’s economy as people use them for research and to improve their job skills.

They play an essential role in the overall educational development of individuals and the community. Almost every educational institute around the world has a library, with low-cost reading and book-casting facilities. Many communities or societies also have their own libraries, open to all members. Libraries play an important role in spreading knowledge and keeping people’s reading habits alive.

Libraries play a vital role in encouraging and promoting the process of learning and acquiring knowledge. People who love reading can access a wide range of books and resources. Libraries provide educational resources for everyone. Reading improves social skills, knowledge, mental health, academic performance, and offers many other benefits. The library is a common platform for people with diverse interests and reading abilities.

People have the opportunity to learn and progress according to their interests and abilities. The library is the best place to spend leisure time wisely, leading to the overall development and well-being of an individual. The word “library” seems to be used in many different ways now, from the physical public library to the digital library. Public libraries, and indeed all libraries, are changing and dynamic places where librarians help people find the best source of information, whether it is a book, a website, or a database entry.

In The Librarian’s Book of Lists (Chicago: ALA, 2010), George Eberhart offers this definition:

“A library is a collection of resources in a variety of formats that is organized by information professionals or other experts who provide convenient physical, digital, bibliographic, or intellectual access. They offer specific services and programs with a mission to educate, inform, or entertain a variety of audiences with the goal of stimulating individual learning and promoting society as a whole.

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