A library which prohibits learning – not giving book becauseonly 15 minutes is remaining. Or not giving a book which they think youshouldn’t be reading.
Access to the library is of prime importance. Although, nowthere is internet with access to infinite knowledge, sometimes you are lookingfor a place which has the vibe to consume a book in a quiet environment.
Hence, the library is still in existence, and it makes for areliable, productive place. Often when you go in and constrain yourself to abook, you see others and get motivated to indulge.
The alternative is to go out of the library, but as long asyou are in there, you feel like reading, exploring, and understanding.
But what would happen if someone stopped you from going tothe library or made decisions on your behalf? Access is an important thing – ina capitalist world, often the access and consequently, distribution isrestricted so that the people at the top can retain their position. It’s a sadreality, but it happens. And one of the revolutionary thing you can have accessto is books – they have the power to change the world.
Knowledge Place
Public libraries provide a space for people who don’t have aquiet, ambient, and inspiring place to take in knowledge.
Often those people come from poor backgrounds, and thus,books provide them with knowledge to learn, understand, and upgrade theirskill.
This results in them breaking the cycle of poverty andjoining the so-called upper class where there are more opportunity, growth, andrespect.
Because of all these benefits, it makes sense to open thepublic library to as many people as possible with minimum or subsidized fee andentry should be given to everyone. The more inclusive a library and itsawareness is – the better society will be.
Denied Book
At one of the libraries I went, the librarian denied a bookto me because she thought that I wouldn’t comprehend it.
And I am a Bachelor’s in Physics. At this point, I thoughtif I am being denied a book despite having a membership, then what about manyless privileged people.
The real reason was that she wanted not to have open theless frequently opened shelf – hence she out rightly denied me.
If you are human, then it makes sense to have an open mindand not think less of someone. And if you are a librarian, then you need togive them the benefit of the doubt.
On another occasion, she denied me a book because there wereonly 15 minutes left for the closing time of the library.
Her reason was she didn’t want to wait longer and put thebooks back on the shelf so 15 minutes before she would stop giving books toread.
What if you wanted to reference something for a project –you might need to wait for one day. This might seem like a small nuisance, butwhen you consider the implications it could have, then this is in contrast withthe role a librarian is given.
Centered Around Readers
Doesn’t what kind of job you are doing, your role should becentered around those you seek to serve. For example, if you are a librarian,then the readers who come in are your customers, and they should be of toppriority.
When you do your work in this manner, your work will shine,you will become a better human being, and the overall growth of the societywill flourish.
Being Open, Optimistic and Willing
These are the three characteristics which you can develop,and it will benefit you in the long run:
- Being Open: There are different perspectives out there and you might be wrong most of the times
- Optimistic: If you need to think of a reason of a mishap, it helps to think in optimistic manner first
- Willing: And if you are ready to do the change, make an impact and connect – you and your work will shine
What else can you do to become a better person, do your workin the best possible way and uplift another human being?
Rohan's blog 