Within the core of every nation lies its treasure of knowledge, its sanctuary of learning and its beacon of enlightenment - the National Library. While we celebrate Library Day of India which falls on February 5th, 2024, this is not just another date on calendar but a celebration of the core function of education, storing the heritage of art and empowering of minds.
Smart Bangladesh, envisioned as the goal for this year's National Library Day, is a product of reading, unveiling the role books and libraries play. This proves that reading isn't just an entertainment cause but a way to build future, a window to the world that is getting smaller as days go by.
Recalling the voyage which culminated into National Library Day celebration, one is reminded of a prophetic statement made by the Ministry of Education in the year 2017. It was on the 7th of November of that year when the General Division of the Ministry had a circular issued that February 5th would be the National Library Day, a day of celebration for bibliophiles and lovers of libraries all over the country. Henceforth, each subsequent festivity features a different motif that has become in keeping with the dynamic essence of literacy and education.
Through the years these themes have mirrored the yearnings and ideals of a nation struggling for intellectual supremacy and cultural renaissance. From "Reading Books, Building the Nation" in 2018 to "Smart Libraries, Smart Bangladesh" in 2023, every theme has brought out the roling force of knowledge in the making of Bangladesh.
The national library day isn't celebrated only with big words and ideals but the way the libraries on the ground benefit people, give a practical demonstration of this. It is about the kid who make a discovery of magic inherent to storytelling in the lines of fairytale, the college student who finds solace and inspiration in a peace and quiet of a library room, and the researcher who uncover the treasure of valuable knowledge hidden in the ancient books.
The status granted to education in Bangladesh as a sacred obligation makes the role of libraries transcend the mere function of book repositories. They are alive spots of intellectual debate, areas of cultural exchange, and fortresses of the social inclusion. In the corridors that buzz with activity from primary schools to the reading rooms of universities silent and with books, libraries act as equalizers, bridging the gap between privilege and opportunity.
Nevertheless, making a genuinely knowledge-rich society is an uphill task. Although progress has been made to increase the access to education and literacy there are still problems that should be taken care of. Interestingly, the scarcity of library facilities remain a trend among primary and secondary schools while colleges and universities are more concerned with how to instill information literacy among students.
To actually tap the power of libraries as change agents, all sectors of society need to act accordingly. The governments should give preference to investments in library infrastructure and educators should integrate information literacy in curriculum and the communities should nurture a reading culture from an early age.
On this National Library day we promise to preserve our values of learning knowledge and wisdom. Let us acknowledge the central position that libraries occupy in the future of our country. Let us be on our way, having our first step towards a cleverer and enlightened Bangladesh - just one book at a time.
