The Environment And Library’s Function
Today, chatting, utilizing technology, and enjoying leisure activities take up most of people’s time; in addition, a 2017 poll on American time usage found that “people aged 15 to 44 read for an average of 10 minutes or fewer each day” (Thibodeaux). To illustrate the value of reading and visiting libraries, Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell produced the visual essay “Why We Need Libraries” from The Guardian. In addition, they emphasize that “if people see us reading, we indicate that reading is a positive thing” and that “reading for pleasure is one of the most essential things one can do” (Gaiman 16). Reading is a crucial habit since it develops our liberal thinking abilities and, when done in public, serves as a protest.
According to Gaiman, “When we read, everything changes” (Gaiman 3). The act of reading itself alters our mood. All of our senses get unconsciously stimulated the instant we enter a library: the sight of neatly arranged volumes, the scent of paper, and the sound of silence. We get to choose a book that speaks to us, build our own universe inside it, and experience this surge of exhilaration and fulfillment after finishing it. Our brains get more complicated as a result of all this experience and are changed in the way we generate ideas. Even when we read for pleasure, according to a Stanford University study, our cerebral blood flow rises. This result supports the notion that reading increases our cognitive and intellectual abilities.
The author makes a point of urging us to save libraries and oppose their closure. Many individuals utilize protesting as a means of spreading awareness and advocating for their cause; they all stand out in the open and yell in unison to inspire others to act responsibly. Although it is important to advocate for libraries publicly, I feel that reading aloud in public does serve as a kind of protest. It depicts a quiet individual protest because when we see others reading, we are able to appreciate how enjoyable it is and how even individuals with hectic schedules can find time to read in public. This motivates us, the viewers, to follow suit, which sparks a domino effect that spreads across society as more individuals support their cause. Since libraries are the main source of actual books, borrowing a book from one particular library helps it do better business and eliminates the possibility of it shutting.
There are a ton of different types of libraries. There are more than 2.6 million libraries in existence worldwide, some of which date back hundreds of years. More than 162 million volumes are housed in the largest library, yet the number of visitors is steadily declining. All these statistics indicate that libraries have existed in the past and will continue to exist, thus it is unfortunate that fewer people visit these important sites now. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum works on several initiatives that promote reading, such as declaring 2016 the Year of Reading and establishing the biggest library in the area, to address this problem. “The human mind is the core of growth, and the book is the instrument used to rejuvenate the mind,” he writes. Without a refreshed intellect and a vibrant, informed spirit, a country cannot progress (Sheikh Mohammad).
All visitors to libraries, regardless of their age or location, are there for the same reason: to read and learn. Library offer a very friendly atmosphere, and according to Gaiman, “libraries are about freedom” (Gaiman 10), thus we should support their mission by visiting them and reading the literature they have available to us. After all, without books, we would never have developed the knowledge and technology we have today, so we cannot ignore them at this point, particularly because we gain from the experience as well. It doesn’t matter whether we read actual books or digital ones; reading is the most crucial step. No matter how convenient technology makes knowledge access, we should always make an effort sometimes to visit the library and read actual books.
