The document discusses the concept and functions of libraries, defining them as collections of accessible materials, both physical and digital, and highlighting their role in providing information and community services. It traces the history of libraries from ancient times to modern digital transformations, emphasizing their evolving role in education and research. Various types of libraries are detailed, including public, academic, reference, and research libraries, each serving distinct purposes and clientele.

1. "I have always imagined that
Paradise will be a kind of a
Library."
A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are easily accessible for use and not
just for display purposes. It is responsible for housing updated information in order to meet the
user's needs on a daily basis. A library provides physical (hard copies documents) or digital
access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a virtual space, or both. A
library's collection can include printed materials and other physical resources in many formats
such as DVD, CD and Cassette as well as access to information, music or other content held on
bibliographic databases.
A library, which may vary widely in size, may be organized for use and maintained by a public
body such as a government; an institution such as a school or museum; a corporation; or a
private individual. In addition to providing materials, libraries also provide the services of
librarians who are trained and experts at finding, selecting, circulating and organizing

2. information and at interpreting information needs, navigating and analyzing very large amounts
of information with a variety of resources.
Library buildings often provide quiet and conducive areas for studying, as well as common
areas for group study and collaboration, and may provide public facilities for access to their
electronic resources; for instance: computers and access to the Internet. The library's clientele
and therefore the services offered vary depending on its type: users of a public library have
different needs from those of a special library, for example. Libraries may also be community
hubs, where programs are delivered and people engage in lifelong learning. Modern libraries
extend their services beyond the physical walls of a building by providing material accessible by
electronic means, including from home via the Internet. Hence managing information in an
information world has become very easy simply because information can be provided or being
accessed virtually by people who are in remote areas and other places away from the library.
The services the library offers are variously described as library services, information services,
or the combination "library and information services", although different institutions and sources
define such terminology differently.
History
Main article: History of libraries
The Sistine Hall of the Vatican Library.

3. The history of libraries began with the first efforts to organize collections of documents.[1] The
first libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writing—the clay tablets in cuneiform
script discovered in Sumer, some dating back to 2600 BC. Private or personal libraries made up
of written books appeared in classical Greece in the 5th century BC. In the 6th century, at the
very close of the Classical period, the great libraries of the Mediterranean world remained those
of Constantinople and Alexandria.
The Fatimids (r. 909-1171) also possessed many great libraries within their domains. The
historian Ibn Abi Tayyi’ describes their palace library, which probably contained the largest
collection of literature on earth at the time, as a “wonder of the world”. Throughout history, along
with bloody massacres, the destruction of libraries has been critical for conquerors who wish to
destroy every trace of the vanquished community’s recorded memory. A prominent example of
this can be found in the Mongol massacre of the Nizaris at Alamut in 1256 and the torching of
their library, “the fame of which,” boasts the conqueror Juwayni, “had spread throughout the
world”.[2]
The libraries of Timbuktu were established in the fourteenth century and attracted scholars from
all over the world.[3]
Etymology
The term library is based on the Latin liber for 'book' or 'document', contained in Latin libraria
'collection of books' and librarium 'container for books'. Other modern languages use derivations
from Ancient Greek βιβλιοθήκη (bibliothēkē), originally meaning 'book container', via Latin
bibliotheca (cf. French bibliothèque or German Bibliothek).[4]

4. Changing roles and content
Libraries may provide physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical location or a
virtual space, or both. A library's collection can include books, periodicals, newspapers,
manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, microform, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs,
Blu-ray Discs, e-books, audiobooks, databases, table games, video games and other formats.
Libraries range widely in size, up to millions of items.[5]
Libraries often provide quiet areas for studying, and they also often offer common areas to
facilitate group study and collaboration. Libraries often provide public facilities for access to their
electronic resources and the Internet. Public and institutional collections and services may be
intended for use by people who choose not to—or cannot afford to—purchase an extensive
collection themselves, who need material no individual can reasonably be expected to have, or
who require professional assistance with their research.[6]
Services offered by a library are variously described as library services, information services, or
the combination "library and information services", although different institutions and sources
define such terminology differently. Organizations or departments are often called by one of
these names.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] However, in a world that is not static the roles of the
libraries is slowly changing in order to suit the changing world, services provided by Libraries
has gone an extra mile in supporting research, reference services. Reference services that
include Current Awareness Services (CAS), Selective Dissemination Information (SDI) and
Telephone Services. Therefore these services creates a conducive environment where library
clients have the privilege to interact with the library staff in order to express their view and
Information related needs.[citation needed]
Librarians/information specialists
See also: Education for librarianship
Libraries are usually staffed by a combination of professionally-trained librarians,
paraprofessional staff sometimes called library technicians, and support staff. Some topics
related to the education of librarians and allied staff include accessibility of the collection,
acquisition of materials, arrangement and finding tools, the book trade, the influence of the
physical properties of the different writing materials, language distribution, role in education,
rates of literacy, budgets, staffing, libraries for specially targeted audiences, architectural merit,
patterns of usage, the role of libraries in a nation's cultural heritage, and the role of government,
church or private sponsorship. Since the 1960s, issues of computerization and digitization have
arisen.[1] Librarians are trained to be updated with trending Information in order relevant
Information.[14]

5. Types
Poet Laureate Rita Dove's definition of a library at entrance to the Maine State Library in
Augusta, Maine, United States
Many institutions make a distinction between a circulating or lending library, where materials are
expected and intended to be loaned to patrons, institutions, or other libraries, and a reference
library where material is not lent out. Traveling libraries, such as the early horseback libraries of
eastern Kentucky[15] and bookmobiles, are generally of the lending type. Modern libraries are
often a mixture of both, containing a general collection for circulation, and a reference collection
which is restricted to the library premises. Also, increasingly, digital collections enable broader
access to material that may not circulate in print, and enables libraries to expand their
collections even without building a larger facility. Lamba (2019) reinforced this idea by observing
that "today’s libraries have become increasingly multi-disciplinary, collaborative and networked"
and that applying Web 2.0 tools to libraries would "not only connect the users with their
community and enhance communication but will also help the librarians to promote their library’s
activities, services, and products to target both their actual and potential users".[16]
Academic libraries
Main article: Academic library

6. The round reading room of Maughan Library, the main university library of King's College
London, London, England
Academic libraries are generally located on college and university campuses and primarily
serve the students and faculty of that and other academic institutions. Some academic libraries,
especially those at public institutions, are accessible to members of the general public in whole
or in part. Therefore Library Services are extended to the general public at a fee, most
academic libraries create such services in order to mobilize and also to just enhance literacy
levels in their own communities. Libraries are known as institutions that enables the
improvement of the reading culture in all parts of the world.
The University Library in Budapest, Hungary
Academic libraries are libraries that are hosted in post-secondary educational institutions, such
as colleges and universities. Their main functions are to provide support in research,
consultancy and resource linkage for students and faculty of the educational institution.
Academic libraries house current, reliable relevant information resources spread through all the
disciplines which serve to assuage the information requirements of students and faculty.
However, in cases where not all books are housed Libraries have come up with E-resources,
where they subscribe for a given institution they are serving in order to provide backups and
also it is not just possible to have all the types of information. furthermore, most Libraries
collaborate with other Libraries in exchange of books.

7. Specific course-related resources are usually provided by the library, such as copies of
textbooks and article readings held on 'reserve' (meaning that they are loaned out only on a
short-term basis, usually a matter of hours). Some academic libraries provide resources not
usually associated with libraries, such as the ability to check out laptop computers, web
cameras, or scientific calculators.
Academic libraries offer workshops and courses outside of formal, graded coursework, which
are meant to provide students with the tools necessary to succeed in their programs.[17] These
workshops may include help with citations, effective search techniques, journal databases, and
electronic citation software. These workshops provide students with skills that can help them
achieve success in their academic careers (and often, in their future occupations), which they
may not learn inside the classroom.
The Robarts Library at the University of Toronto, Canada
The academic library provides a quiet study space for students on campus; it may also provide
group study space, such as meeting rooms. In North America, Europe, and other parts of the
world, academic libraries are becoming increasingly digitally oriented. The library provides a
"gateway" for students and researchers to access various resources, both print/physical and
digital.[18] Academic institutions are subscribing to electronic journals databases, providing
research and scholarly writing software, and usually provide computer workstations or computer
labs for students to access journals, library search databases and portals, institutional electronic
resources, Internet access, and course- or task-related software (i.e. word processing and
spreadsheet software). Some academic libraries take on new roles, for instance, acting as an
electronic repository for institutional scholarly research and academic knowledge, such as the
collection and curation of digital copies of students' theses and dissertations.[19][20] Moreover,
academic libraries are increasingly acting as publishers on their own on a not-for-profit basis,
especially in the form of fully Open Access institutional publishers.[21]
Children's libraries
"Children's library" redirects here. For the collection of digitized books, see Internet Archive's
Children's Library.
A children's library in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1943
Children's libraries are special collections of books intended for juvenile readers and usually
kept in separate rooms of general public libraries.[22] Some children's libraries have entire
floors or wings dedicated to them in bigger libraries while smaller ones may have a separate
room or area for children. They are an educational agency seeking to acquaint the young with
the world's literature and to cultivate a love for reading. Their work supplements that of the
public schools.[23][24]

8. Services commonly provided by public libraries may include storytelling sessions for infants,
toddlers, preschool children, or after-school programs, all with an intention of developing early
literacy skills and a love of books. One of the most popular programs offered in public libraries
are summer reading programs for children, families, and adults.[25]
Another popular reading program for children is PAWS TO READ or similar programs where
children can read to certified therapy dogs. Since animals are a calming influence and there is
no judgment, children learn confidence and a love of reading. Many states have these types of
programs: parents need simply ask their librarian to see if it is available at their local library.[26]
National libraries
Main article: National library
Interior of the National Library of Finland in Helsinki, Finland
National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
A national or state library serves as a national repository of information, and has the right of
legal deposit, which is a legal requirement that publishers in the country need to deposit a copy
of each publication with the library. Unlike a public library, a national library rarely allows citizens
to borrow books. Often, their collections include numerous rare, valuable, or significant works.
There are wider definitions of a national library, putting less emphasis on the repository
character.[27][28] The first national libraries had their origins in the royal collections of the
sovereign or some other supreme body of the state.

9. Many national libraries cooperate within the National Libraries Section of the International
Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) to discuss their common tasks, define
and promote common standards, and carry out projects helping them to fulfill their duties. The
national libraries of Europe participate in The European Library which is a service of the
Conference of European National Librarians (CENL).[29]
Public lending libraries
Main article: Public library
Raczyński Library, the public library of Poznań, Poland
A public library provides services to the general public. If the library is part of a countywide
library system, citizens with an active library card from around that county can use the library
branches associated with the library system. A library can serve only their city, however, if they
are not a member of the county public library system. Much of the materials located within a
public library are available for borrowing. The library staff decides upon the number of items
patrons are allowed to borrow, as well as the details of borrowing time allotted. Typically,
libraries issue library cards to community members wishing to borrow books. Often visitors to a
city are able to obtain a public library card.

10. A community library in Ethiopia
Many public libraries also serve as community organizations that provide free services and
events to the public, such as reading groups and toddler story time. For many communities, the
library is a source of connection to a vast world, obtainable knowledge and understanding, and
entertainment. According to a study by the Pennsylvania Library Association, public library
services play a major role in fighting rising illiteracy rates among youths.[30] Public libraries are
protected and funded by the public they serve.
Bates Hall, the main reading room of the Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts, United
States
As the number of books in libraries have steadily increased since their inception, the need for
compact storage and access with adequate lighting has grown. The stack system involves
keeping a library's collection of books in a space separate from the reading room. This
arrangement arose in the 19th century. Book stacks quickly evolved into a fairly standard form in
which the cast iron and steel frameworks supporting the bookshelves also supported the floors,
which often were built of translucent blocks to permit the passage of light (but were not
transparent, for reasons of modesty). The introduction of electrical lighting had a huge impact on
how the library operated. The use of glass floors was largely discontinued, though floors were
still often composed of metal grating to allow air to circulate in multi-story stacks. As more space
was needed, a method of moving shelves on tracks (compact shelving) was introduced to cut
down on otherwise wasted aisle space.
Library 2.0, a term coined in 2005, is the library's response to the challenge of Google and an
attempt to meet the changing needs of users by using web 2.0 technology. Some of the aspects
of Library 2.0 include, commenting, tagging, bookmarking, discussions, use of online social
networks by libraries, plug-ins, and widgets.[31] Inspired by web 2.0, it is an attempt to make the
library a more user-driven institution.
Despite the importance of public libraries, they are routinely having their budgets cut by state
legislature. Funding has dwindled so badly that many public libraries have been forced to cut
their hours and release employees.[32]
Reference libraries
Main reading room of the New York City Public Library on 5th Avenue c. 1910–1920
A reference library does not lend books and other items; instead, they can only be read at the
library itself. Typically, such libraries are used for research purposes, for example at a university.
Some items at reference libraries may be historical and even unique. Many lending libraries
contain a "reference section", which holds books, such as dictionaries, which are common
reference books, and are therefore not lent out.[33] Such reference sections may be referred to

11. as "reading rooms", which may also include newspapers and periodicals.[34] An example of a
reading room is the Hazel H. Ransom Reading Room at the Harry Ransom Center of the
University of Texas at Austin, which maintains the papers of literary agent Audrey Wood.[35]
Research libraries
Main article: Research library
Quaid-e-Azam Library in Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan
A research library is a collection of materials on one or more subjects.[36] A research library
supports scholarly or scientific research and will generally include primary as well as secondary
sources; it will maintain permanent collections and attempt to provide access to all necessary
materials. A research library is most often an academic or national library, but a large special
library may have a research library within its special field, and a very few of the largest public
libraries also serve as research libraries. A large university library may be considered a research
library; and in North America, such libraries may belong to the Association of Research
Libraries.[37] In the United Kingdom, they may be members of Research Libraries UK
(RLUK).[38]
A research library can be either a reference library, which does not lend its holdings, or a
lending library, which does lend all or some of its holdings. Some extremely large or traditional
research libraries are entirely reference in this sense, lending none of their materials; most
academic research libraries, at least in the US and the UK, now lend books, but not periodicals
or other materials. Many research libraries are attached to a parental organization and serve
only members of that organization. Examples of research libraries include the British Library, the
Bodleian Library at Oxford University and the New York Public Library Main Branch on 42nd

12. Street in Manhattan, State Public Scientific Technological Library of the Siberian Branch of the
Russian Academy of Science.[39][40]
Digital libraries
Main article: Digital library
Digital libraries are libraries that house digital resources. They are defined as an organization
and not a service that provide access to digital works, have a preservation responsibility to
provide future access to materials, and provides these items easily and affordably.[41] The
definition of a digital library implies that "a digital library uses a variety of software, networking
technologies and standards to facilitate access to digital content and data to a designated user
community."[42] Access to digital libraries can be influenced by several factors, either
individually or together. The most common factors that influence access are: The library's
content, the characteristics and information needs of the target users, the library's digital
interface, the goals and objectives of the library's organizational structure, and the standards
and regulations that govern library use.[43] Access will depend on the users ability to discover
and retrieve documents that interest them and that they require, which in turn is a preservation
question. Digital objects cannot be preserved passively, they must be curated by digital
librarians to ensure the trust and integrity of the digital objects.[44]
One of the biggest considerations for digital librarians is the need to provide long-term access to
their resources; to do this, there are two issues requiring watchfulness: Media failure and format
obsolescence. With media failure, a particular digital item is unusable because of some sort of
error or problem. A scratched CD-ROM, for example, will not display its contents correctly, but
another, unscratched disk will not have that problem. Format obsolescence is when a digital
format has been superseded by newer technology, and so items in the old format are
unreadable and unusable. Dealing with media failure is a reactive process, because something
is done only when a problem presents itself. In contrast, format obsolescence is preparatory,
because changes are anticipated and solutions are sought before there is a problem.[45]
Future trends in digital preservation include: Transparent enterprise models for digital
preservation, launch of self-preserving objects, increased flexibility in digital preservation
architectures, clearly defined metrics for comparing preservation tools, and terminology and
standards interoperability in real time.[45]
Special libraries
Main article: Special library
Bookshelf at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. The top floor contains 180,000
volumes. Since 1977, all new acquisitions are frozen at −33 °F (−36 °C) to prevent the spread of
insects and diseases.

13. All other libraries fall into the "special library" category. Many private businesses and public
organizations, including hospitals, churches, museums, research laboratories, law firms, and
many government departments and agencies, maintain their own libraries for the use of their
employees in doing specialized research related to their work. Depending on the particular
institution, special libraries may or may not be accessible to the general public or elements
thereof. In more specialized institutions such as law firms and research laboratories, librarians
employed in special libraries are commonly specialists in the institution's field rather than
generally trained librarians, and often are not required to have advanced degrees in a
specifically library-related field due to the specialized content and clientele of the library.
Special libraries can also include women's libraries or LGBTQ libraries, which serve the needs
of women and the LGBTQ community. Libraries and the LGBTQ community have an extensive
history, and there are currently many libraries, archives, and special collections devoted to
preserving and helping the LGBTQ community. Women's libraries, such as the Vancouver
Women's Library or the Women's Library @LSE are examples of women's libraries that offer
services to women and girls and focus on women's history.
The Long Room of the Trinity College Library in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. It is a legal
deposit or "copyright library" and is entitled to receive a copy of all books published in the UK.
Some special libraries, such as governmental law libraries, hospital libraries, and military base
libraries commonly are open to public visitors to the institution in question. Depending on the
particular library and the clientele it serves, special libraries may offer services similar to
research, reference, public, academic, or children's libraries, often with restrictions such as only
lending books to patients at a hospital or restricting the public from parts of a military collection.
Given the highly individual nature of special libraries, visitors to a special library are often
advised to check what services and restrictions apply at that particular library.
Special libraries are distinguished from special collections, which are branches or parts of a
library intended for rare books, manuscripts, and other special materials, though some special
libraries have special collections of their own, typically related to the library's specialized subject
area.
For more information on specific types of special libraries, see law libraries, medical libraries,
music libraries, or transportation libraries.

14. “ Organization “
Library shelves in Hong Kong, showing numbers of the classification scheme to help readers
locate works in that section
Most libraries have materials arranged in a specified order according to a library classification
system, so that items may be located quickly and collections may be browsed efficiently.[46]
Some libraries have additional galleries beyond the public ones, where reference materials are
stored. These reference stacks may be open to selected members of the public. Others require
patrons to submit a "stack request", which is a request for an assistant to retrieve the material
from the closed stacks: see List of closed stack libraries (in progress).
Larger libraries are often divided into departments staffed by both paraprofessionals and
professional librarians.
Circulation (or Access Services) – Handles user accounts and the loaning/returning and
shelving of materials.[47]
Collection Development – Orders materials and maintains materials budgets.
Reference – Staffs a reference desk answering questions from users (using structured
reference interviews), instructing users, and developing library programming. Reference may be
further broken down by user groups or materials; common collections are children's literature,
young adult literature, and genealogy materials.
Technical Services – Works behind the scenes cataloging and processing new materials and
deaccessioning weeded materials.
Stacks Maintenance – Re-shelves materials that have been returned to the library after patron
use and shelves materials that have been processed by Technical Services. Stacks
Maintenance also shelf reads the material in the stacks to ensure that it is in the correct library
classification order.

15. Card used by a user to sign out a book
Basic tasks in library management include the planning of acquisitions (which materials the
library should acquire, by purchase or otherwise), library classification of acquired materials,
preservation of materials (especially rare and fragile archival materials such as manuscripts),
the deaccessioning of materials, patron borrowing of materials, and developing and
administering library computer systems.[48] More long-term issues include the planning of the
construction of new libraries or extensions to existing ones, and the development and
implementation of outreach services and reading-enhancement services (such as adult literacy
and children's programming). Library materials like books, magazines, periodicals, CDs, etc. are
managed by Dewey Decimal Classification Theory and modified Dewey Decimal Classification
Theory is more practical reliable system for library materials management.[49]
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published several standards
regarding the management of libraries through its Technical Committee 46 (TC 46),[50] which is
focused on "libraries, documentation and information centers, publishing, archives, records
management, museum documentation, indexing and abstracting services, and information
science". The following is a partial list of some of them:[51]
ISO 2789:2006 Information and documentation—International library statistics
ISO 11620:1998 Information and documentation—Library performance indicators
ISO 11799:2003 Information and documentation—Document storage requirements for archive
and library materials
ISO 14416:2003 Information and documentation—Requirements for binding of books,
periodicals, serials, and other paper documents for archive and library use—Methods and
materials
ISO/TR 20983:2003 Information and documentation—Performance indicators for electronic
library services
The Internet
British Museum Reading Room
A library may make use of the Internet in a number of ways, from creating their own library
website to making the contents of its catalogues searchable online. Some specialised search
engines such as Google Scholar offer a way to facilitate searching for academic resources such
as journal articles and research papers. The Online Computer Library Center allows anyone to
search the world's largest repository of library records through its WorldCat online database.[68]
Websites such as LibraryThing and Amazon provide abstracts, reviews, and recommendations
of books.[68] Libraries provide computers and Internet access to allow people to search for
information online.[69] Online information access is particularly attractive to younger library
users.[70][71][72][73]
Digitization of books, particularly those that are out-of-print, in projects such as Google Books
provides resources for library and other online users. Due to their holdings of valuable material,
some libraries are important partners for search engines such as Google in realizing the

16. potential of such projects and have received reciprocal benefits in cases where they have
negotiated effectively.[74] As the prominence of and reliance on the Internet has grown, library
services have moved the emphasis from mainly providing print resources to providing more
computers and more Internet access.[75] Libraries face a number of challenges in adapting to
new ways of information seeking that may stress convenience over quality,[76] reducing the
priority of information literacy skills.[77] The potential decline in library usage, particularly
reference services,[78] puts the necessity for these services in doubt.
Library scholars have acknowledged that libraries need to address the ways that they market
their services if they are to compete with the Internet and mitigate the risk of losing users.[79]
This includes promoting the information literacy skills training considered vital across the library
profession.[77][80][81] Many US based research librarians rely on the ACRL Framework for
Information Literacy in order to guide students and faculty in research.[82] However, marketing
of services has to be adequately supported financially in order to be successful. This can be
problematic for library services that are publicly funded and find it difficult to justify diverting tight
funds to apparently peripheral areas such as branding and marketing.[83]
The privacy aspect of library usage in the Internet age is a matter of growing concern and
advocacy; privacy workshops are run by the Library Freedom Project which teach librarians
about digital tools (such as the Tor network) to thwart mass surveillance.[84][85][86]
Associations
See also: List of library associations
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading
international association of library organizations. It is the global voice of the library and
information profession, and its annual conference provides a venue for librarians to learn from
one another.[87]
Library associations in Asia include the Indian Library Association (ILA),[88] Indian Association
of Special Libraries and Information Centers (IASLIC),[89] Bengal Library Association (BLA),
Kolkata,[90] Pakistan Library Association,[91] the Pakistan Librarians Welfare Organization,[92]
the Bangladesh Association of Librarians, Information Scientists and Documentalists, the
Library Association of Bangladesh, and the Sri Lanka Library Association (founded 1960).
National associations of the English-speaking world include the American Library Association,
the Australian Library and Information Association, the Canadian Library Association, the
Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, and the Research Libraries UK
(a consortium of 30 university and other research libraries in the United Kingdom). Library
bodies such as CILIP (formerly the Library Association, founded 1877) may advocate the role
that libraries and librarians can play in a modern Internet environment, and in the teaching of
information literacy skills.[80][93] The Nigerian Library Association is the recognized group for
librarians working in Nigeria. It was established in 1962 in Ibadan.

17. Public library advocacy is support given to a public library for its financial and philosophical
goals or needs. Most often this takes the form of monetary or material donations or campaigning
to the institutions which oversee the library, sometimes by advocacy groups such as Friends of
Libraries and community members. Originally, library advocacy was centered on the library
itself, but current trends show libraries positioning themselves to demonstrate they provide
"economic value to the community" in means that are not directly related to the checking out of
books and other media.[94]
International protection
Libraries are considered part of the cultural heritage and are one of the primary objectives in
many state and domestic conflicts and are at risk of destruction and looting. Financing is often
carried out by robbing valuable library items. National and international coordination regarding
military and civil structures for the protection of libraries is operated by Blue Shield International
and UNESCO. From an international perspective, despite the partial dissolution of state
structures and very unclear security situations as a result of the wars and unrest, robust
undertakings to protect libraries are being carried out. The topic is also the creation of "no-strike
lists", in which the coordinates of important cultural monuments such as libraries have been
preserved.[95][96][97][98]
BENEFITS OF READING FOR YOUNG KIDS
Although we often hear that reading is essential, many people don’t know specific reasons that
kids need to read. Developing strong literacy skills helps prepare children not only for success in
reading and writing but also in other academic fields. It also helps them become more able to
interpret the world around them.
In an increasingly digital world, it’s crucial for us to keep our kids reading books for many
reasons, including the following.
1. INCREASING EMPATHY IN READERS
Reading can increase a person’s empathy, helping them imagine others’ emotions and
circumstances. Learning about different viewpoints or beliefs builds an understanding of culture
and values outside of the reader’s experience. These experiences are integral in allowing
children to imagine the lives and experiences of people from different places and time periods,
enabling them to consider multiple perspectives or understand the greater impact of their

18. actions.
2. IMPROVING LITERACY SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE IN VARIOUS SUBJECTS
It may seem evident that strong reading habits will help develop children’s language abilities.
For instance, reading to kids at a young age makes them much more likely to recognize letters
or write their name. These experiences can create a cycle of success in which students can
build on these skills and continue moving forward as other children are just beginning to
recognize their letters.
This process is one of the clearest indicators of reading being essential for young kids, giving
earlier access to information and learning opportunities. What may be a less obvious advantage
of reading for kids, however, is the effect positive reading experiences can have in other
subjects.
To begin with, developing healthy reading habits opens avenues for learning about a variety of
topics, such as science, history, social studies, and more. In much the same way early access to
letter sounds and writing may provide a benefit in language, students with more background
knowledge in these content areas will be able to make more connections and gain greater
insight when they learn about new topics. They’ll also be capable of engaging in their learning
paths, choosing to further their understanding of a topic beyond what other children around
them do.
Reading opens children’s brains to different ways of processing information. In fact, research
indicates that reading enhances students’ ability to perform in multiple subjects, even when the

19. reading isn’t specifically tied to that subject, such as mathematics. This effect is likely because
reading helps children learn to take in, interpret, comprehend, and store information, improving
their ability to handle new concepts and situations as they arise. These comprehension abilities
mold children into learners who are capable of considering complex situations and holding
multiple pieces of information in their head simultaneously.
3. ENHANCING COMMUNICATION SKILLS
One of the common reasons parents and teachers promote developing reading habits is
because it can help develop better communication skills in young language learners. As children
read, they can expand their vocabulary through interacting with challenging words, and if
they’ve selected the book themselves, they’re likely to try to understand the new words through
context clues and phonics skills. This process helps children develop a wide vocabulary that
they can use to more precisely articulate a thought or describe a situation. It also sharpens their
vocabulary skills for the next challenging words they come across.
Reading can also help students develop better speaking or reading habits because they’re
taking in well-formed sentences. As students interact with language and see a variety of
sentence structures, they gain a better grasp of how words can be used more fluidly or in
various arrangements, increasing their linguistic abilities.
4. EXERCISING AND EXPANDING THE BRAIN
Reading can expand a child’s brain ability in multiple ways. For example, exercising the brain
through reading can help readers interact with various parts of their mind. While reading is
widely known as a left-brain activity — processing language and organization — metaphors and
non-linguistic representations occur in the right brain. Because of this multi-dimensional
crossover, exercising the brain is very important to develop connections between various
regions.
Another way reading can help exercise the brain is to present fictional scenarios that force the
reader to question particular ideals. Readers can encounter fictional “what ifs,” which force them
to prioritize values or concepts. Often, readers can be expected to make decisions between
head and heart, love and money, or other internal conflicts. Such situations ask them to consider
what’s important to them before they encounter the same questions in real conversations. That
way, they’re more prepared to handle prioritizing these concepts when it’s essential in their lives.
5. CREATING AN INTRINSIC THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE
Reading is also crucial because it opens so many doors for new exploration. With nonfiction
books, there’s a clear pathway for readers to not only learn about interesting topics but also ask
questions that require further reading or study. This process creates a natural cycle of reading
for children who have specific interests — such as a particular time period, favorite animal or
sport — as they continually seek to find the answers to questions prompted through their
reading.

20. Nonfiction books, however, are not the only way of reading stokes children’s desire to learn.
Aside from the benefits of considering open-ended questions, fiction can also fuel a child’s
ambition to learn by introducing new topics in the fictional world. When reading a historical
fiction novel set in a particular time period, readers can come across intricacies that they never
expected about that time and see how it affected the everyday lives of the people involved.
Similarly, though science fiction often creates futuristic versions of our current world, it can often
play on current scientific trends based on current technology, meaning readers can question the
application of the materials they see around them. Dystopian fiction often focuses on a policy or
tendency in society and then extrapolates it out to its furthest reaches, asking readers to
reconsider the world around them in new, interesting ways.
6. PROVIDING ENTERTAINMENT VALUE
With all the other benefits in play, it can be easy to forget that reading also provides a sense of
entertainment for children. Developing an interest in reading at an early age can show children
that reading is a valuable and endless source of entertainment. Getting kids hooked on reading
at a young age is integral because they’ll become intrinsically motivated to continue their
reading habits, which will naturally develop the other positive results that come with reading.

21. 7. REDUCING STRESS
One of the most important and valuable aspects of reading is that it can help calm a reader
who’s experiencing stress. In fact, reading can work better on these fronts than other typical
stress relief methods — such as listening to music or drinking tea — that have also been shown
to provide stress-relieving qualities. Helping students connect reading to a low-anxiety activity
early in life can offer a powerful coping mechanism for dealing with stress later in life.
>>> “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read” <<<