Indian professor in China explains how public libraries are benefiting Chinese society
They not only serve as 'knowledge depositories' for research, but also as centres for spreading knowledge.
What could be the best way to construct a better society? Imparting free education and opening the gates of learning centres to all. Libraries are repositories of knowledge, and as was argued by Francis Bacon centuries ago, knowledge is power.
The rise of China is not only about asserting its political and economic might, but more precisely in investing in knowledge-building. China's growing influence in the world has been marked by the spectacular performance of its universities in global rankings, a growing numbers of patents, and scientific research that has challenged hitherto Western-dominated domains of knowledge and social sciences by providing alternative concepts and theories.
Public libraries in China are serving not only as "knowledge depositories" for research, but also as centres for spreading knowledge across segments of society. Access to libraries is free and requires only an identity proof - passport for foreigners. A smart library card makes the reader's experiences convenient and hassle-free while enjoying the library's facilities. Membership is free and for life. For borrowing books, users need to deposit a security amount, which is refundable.
Compare this to any public library in India, where administrative hurdles seem designed to restrict the access to knowledge, historically a privilege for a few. For instance, to get a membership of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial and Library, commonly known as Teen Murti Library, in New Delhi, you need identity cards (PAN card, Aadhaar card, official id, student id) and a reference letter from your institute, or prove that you are an independent researcher. You also need to pay for packaged membership options. To put it differently, common citizens are discouraged from accessing public libraries.
China has invested generously in its libraries, also taking care of the buildings' aesthetics - not just Chinese, but even reputable international architects are brought in to design library buildings.
