The Contemporary Relevance and Importance of Libraries

By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam 2 October 2025 Abstract: Libraries have always been the centre of learning, culture, and civilization. From the House of Wisdom in Baghdad to modern universities, they shaped societies and preserved knowledge. Today, digital technology offers quick access to books and research, but it has reduced the habit of buying and reading physical books. This weakens our intellectual depth and cultural connection. True growth needs balance: use digital tools but also value real libraries. Reviving libraries, encouraging book reading, and supporting publishing will keep languages, cultures, and communities alive. Without libraries, no society can progress with unity, wisdom, or originality. Main Points: 1. Libraries preserve culture, language, knowledge, and collective human memory. 2. Digital tools help learning but weaken physical book-reading culture. 3. Real books provide deeper joy, focus, and intellectual growth. 4. Muslim decline links to neglect of libraries, knowledge, and research. 5. Reviving libraries ensures unity, awareness, wisdom, and future progress. ----- Introduction: The bond between knowledge and books is as old as human civilization itself. From the earliest clay tablets and manuscripts to the grand libraries of the medieval period, and now the digital archives of the modern world, the written word has remained the foundation of learning. Libraries have always been central to this journey. They were not simply storehouses of books but served as spaces of intellectual exchange, collective memory, and cultural growth. In today’s world, where technology dominates almost every aspect of life, the role of libraries appears to be fading. With just a few clicks on a search engine, people can now access what once required hours of study within a library. Yet, this convenience has also created a silent crisis. The culture of buying books, of handling them physically, and of immersing oneself in the atmosphere of a library has sharply declined. While digital tools bring undeniable advantages, the erosion of library culture raises important questions about the long-term intellectual and cultural well-being of societies. This essay seeks to explore the contemporary relevance of libraries. It will examine their historical legacy, their social and intellectual significance, the challenges posed by digital resources, and why it remains essential to preserve libraries in the twenty-first century. In the present age, while there is an abundance of resources and means available, modern technology has also made the tools of research, investigation, and academic enquiry far easier. For example, in the past, one had to visit libraries to search for certain books, but today many of those books are available at home through search engines and digital libraries. Not only this, but now there are resources where if you are looking for a particular issue or a Hadith, you can simply refer to these tools and find the answer with ease. This modern technology and these research facilities have undoubtedly saved time for researchers and made tasks simpler. However, it cannot be denied that the habit of purchasing books and reading them directly has been affected. According to major book sellers and librarians, ever since these new tools of learning have emerged, there has been a serious decline in the buying of books and direct reading. This trend is still increasing. Today, most students, teachers, and scholars no longer prefer to buy books for reading. Whenever a new book is published, there is a large number of people who immediately ask for the PDF rather than purchasing it. This shows that the desire to read is present, but not the willingness to buy. It should be remembered that the true beauty of a book can only be enjoyed when it is in your hands. Even those who read online admit that, although they completed the reading, they did not experience the same joy and depth of understanding as they would have if they had read the printed book. Therefore, to benefit fully, a book must be bought and read directly. Unfortunately, a large section of educated people is gradually distancing itself from libraries and direct book study. This lack of interest is having negative effects on society. The serious question for scholars and intellectuals today is: how can the importance and relevance of libraries be revived at a time when their social and cultural value is rapidly diminishing? This requires deep thought and reflection, and it is clearly the responsibility of intellectuals, not of the ignorant. It is fine to make use of modern digital resources, but this should not mean that we cut off ties with libraries altogether. Experts and analysts believe that if our attitude continues like this, within the next fifty years, the new generation will completely forget the importance of libraries. They will need to be reminded that universities and institutions once had libraries, where people used to go and study. The positive social and intellectual impact of such institutions was undeniable, but unfortunately, today we pay little attention to this fact. Libraries cannot be ignored when it comes to social reform, community unity, balanced academic research, and moral as well as spiritual training. When we speak of a library, it includes not only the building but also the books, scriptures, journals, magazines, and other resources collected there. Today, though libraries are full of books, the number of readers has declined compared to twenty years ago. We all know that study and research are essential elements of social peace and national understanding; they can never be ignored. This does not mean that modern tools of reading and research should not be used. The truth is that we need balance. The younger generation must be made aware of the importance of libraries. It must also be understood that books are masterpieces of knowledge, culture, and civilization. They nurture awareness, maturity of thought, and strengthen intellectual vision. Moreover, books promote the language in which they are written, helping its growth and preservation. For this reason, publishing, buying, and reading books is essential for the survival of any language and literature. It is a fact that only those nations are considered civilised and progressive that protect and promote their knowledge and language. Sadly, the Muslim community today is facing decline in academic and research fields mainly because it spends its wealth on other things rather than investing in books and knowledge. Nations that adopt knowledge as their foundation are successful, while those who neglect it become intellectually and ideologically dependent, having no thoughts or ideas of their own. Another problem is the division between "religious" and "worldly" knowledge, which has created a negative mindset. We must seriously reflect on such issues. Human civilisation cannot be explained without recognising the role of libraries and books. We know from history that Muslim rulers and leaders established great libraries in their times to reduce ignorance and promote equality in learning, ensuring the prosperity of nations. Institutions like Bayt al-Hikmah and Dar al-Hikmah were founded by Muslim rulers, and they greatly benefited the world. It must also be acknowledged that the rapid development of today’s world, with all its advanced technologies, is the result of books and libraries. Therefore, even in this modern era, we must continue to uphold the value of libraries and books. This will only be possible if we cultivate a mindset of regular study and reading. The true contemporary importance of libraries lies in the establishment of more community libraries, reviving existing ones, encouraging the habit of reading, and promoting book publishing and sales for economic and social development. Only then will knowledge and awareness spread, and only then will society find unity, harmony, and collective progress. Conclusion: The story of human civilization cannot be told without libraries. From the House of Wisdom in Baghdad to the modern university library, these institutions have shaped human progress, preserved cultures, and elevated societies. The digital revolution has brought extraordinary convenience, but it has also weakened the bond between people and books. The contemporary relevance of libraries lies in reminding us that while technology is useful, true intellectual and cultural enrichment requires physical engagement with books and spaces of learning. Societies that neglect libraries risk losing depth, unity, and originality. To secure a future of wisdom and balance, we must rekindle the culture of libraries—buying books, building community collections, encouraging reading, and valuing knowledge above luxury. Only then can libraries once again become the beating heart of civilization, guiding humanity toward unity, awareness, and progress. ----- Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an author and a New Age Islam Regular Columnist. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/contemporary-relevance-importance-libraries/d/137070 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism