Choice
The first condition is Choice: Choice matters because none of us can predict which book will excite a person.
Infrastructure of imagination
World-class public libraries that welcome everyone
We are building a network of free public libraries to democratise access to knowledge for all Indians. No barrier to entry. No charges. Open 365 days a year.
0Charges
9 AM–8 PMEvery day
365Days a year
Our story
Do we still need libraries?
Reading books gives us two things no society can afford to lose: language and knowledge.
If we do not read widely, we have fewer words with which to think, express ourselves and imagine possibilities.
If we stop reading deeply, we will find ourselves surrounded by information but not the understanding to make sense of it.
And today both these risks are real because we are losing the ability and the desire to read books.
The decline in reading is not a failure of discipline
We treat the decline in reading as a failure of discipline. We tell ourselves and our children to put down the phone, concentrate harder, and build a habit. These suggestions are not wrong. But human behavior is not shaped by willpower alone. It is shaped by what is easy, visible, and inviting.
Our cities are crowded. Our attention is stolen by noise around us and the endless notifications and demands made by our screens.
We asked ourselves - What conditions would improve people’s chances of reading?
Space
The second condition is Space: We need a space where the business of daily living loosens its hold on us. A place where reflection can find us. A place we can visit with a parent, a grandparent, a friend—or alone. A place that we like spending time in.
“Curiosity is universal
Access is not”
The gap
Public libraries in India
- 1.46 billionIndia population
- 46,746Reported public libraries in India (*2018-19)
- 1.46 lakhLibraries needed (1 library per 10,000 people)
India has a population of approximately 1.46 billion people and 46,746 reported public libraries (data collected in 2018-19). If we set ourselves a planning goal of one public library for every 10,000 people, India needs approximately 1.46 lakh libraries.
Too many public libraries in India are defined by basic furniture, harsh tube lights, ageing books collecting dust, narrow and dark aisles that exclude people with disabilities apart from being very unwelcoming, and an atmosphere in which librarians feel more like gatekeepers than guides.
They provide students a place to study, but they are not compelling places for reading, certainly not for children.
Imagine public libraries where rows upon rows of the latest books are placed on beautiful shelves. There are no academic books but 16,000 books on every category – fiction, travel, poetry, autobiographies, biographies, graphic novels, comics, cooking, self help, spirituality, health and fitness, parenting…
No laptops, tablets or phones are allowed, no wifi and no digital resources. The aisles are so wide that two wheelchairs can pass through. Comfortable chairs invite you to stay. Tables are wide enough for strangers to sit across from one another without discomfort. Light falls exactly where a reader needs it. Large windows let in sunlight, offer lovely views, and let people outside see people inside reading. Thoughtful quotes from books and authors adorn the walls. A children’s room with pastel-coloured walls, low shelves and soft cushions, where children can choose a book, settle in and simply be themselves. Friendly librarians who make you feel welcome and who tell stories to children.
“Design is never neutral. It can say, ‘Go away.’ Or it can say, ‘This is just the place for you.’”
“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.”Jorge Luis Borges · written on our walls
Libraries designed for long, unhurried reading.
Natural light, wide aisles, soft seating and the quiet hum of pages turning. Every space is designed so that a first-time visitor feels as welcome as a regular.
When a child sees another child reading, reading feels natural. When a family visits together, it becomes a ritual. When people of different backgrounds share the same space, they learn from each other as much as they learn from the books they read.
Why visit
Top 12 reasons for you to visit.
- Free for all visitors
Library entry and reading cost nothing, for everyone.
- Refundable deposit
Borrowing needs only a small refundable deposit, waived for children in govt and NGO-run schools and for anyone who says they cannot pay.
- Open 9 AM to 8 PM
365 days a year, including on national holidays.
- Spacious & air-conditioned
Beautifully designed rooms that are comfortable in every season.
- A curated collection
We don’t chase numbers. Each of our 16,000 books, across many genres and languages, has earned its place on our shelves.
- Digitised catalogue & RFID
Find and issue books quickly and easily.
- Comfortable seating
With energy-efficient lighting for the best reading experience.
- Dedicated kids' zone
A playful space that helps early learners discover books.
- Accessible
When we say our libraries are for everyone, we mean it. They are housed only in buildings accessible to people with disabilities, our aisles are wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass, and we have Braille collections.
- A screen-free space
No laptops, tablets or phones, no Wi-Fi and no digital resources. We don’t even offer plug points to charge your devices, let alone use them.
- Friendly librarians
Professional staff to help you find your next book.
- Safe & secure
We take extra care to make our libraries safe spaces for children: no dark corners, vigilant staff and CCTV surveillance.
Bridging the gap
Reaching every potential reader
We make extra efforts to help underserved children make their way into our libraries.
Stories in schools
Every week our librarians and volunteers head out to govt and NGO-run schools to read stories to the children there and to invite them to come and check out the library.
Buses to the library
These schools do not have buses so we also arrange buses for them.
School → Library → School
Storytelling at the Library
We conduct fun reading-related activities and storytelling sessions for children. Write to the library nearest you to plan a visit.
Nukkad natakStreet plays
We conduct fun street plays - playful faceoffs between a mobile-addicted uncle and a young girl who reads books, which entertain as well as educate.
“If we are to develop as a nation, Knowledge must be a public good, not a private advantage.”
Children come back with their siblings and friends.
Our libraries are building rituals, relationships and a sense of community.
We learn from one another, we nourish one another, and we discover new ways to give back.
We want the next generation to read more books. And so, we are creating the conditions that make reading irresistible - books they want to read, people who welcome them, and spaces beautiful enough to honour their dreams.
Every time a person enters a library freely, chooses a book and is trusted with it, they receive a message: your questions are legitimate; your future is worth investing in. That message matters especially to those who have been told—directly or indirectly—that certain spaces, opportunities or ambitions are not for them.
“Amidst all the infrastructure being built across our country, we are building something equally vital: the infrastructure of imagination.”
Our vision & mission
Our vision is to support India’s journey towards comprehensive development by giving everyone access to knowledge, learning and growth, regardless of age or background. Our mission is to build a lasting and impactful network of free public libraries across India: places of inclusion, community and lifelong learning.
Impact so far
- 3,50,000+Footfalls
- 1,30,000+Books issued
- 16,000Children reached
- 450Schools visited
Visitor voices
What visitors have to say.
It's always a pleasure and delight to visit. We feel fortunate to have such a rich and cozy space, and kid friendly too, in our proximity. Thank you for this!
Shiva TripathiSr. consultant, IBM
NoidaThe library is well decorated; sitting and walking space is better and suitable. The staff is well-mannered and educated. I really appreciate that we are finding all this without any cost.
Navneet Kumar ShuklaTeam leader, HDB Financial
GurugramAn incredibly peaceful and motivating environment, completely free and open to everyone regardless of age and background. A true hidden gem.
Karan Anil BelaniNavigation officer, Merchant Navy
Noida
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