المكتبات العامة ضرورة وليست رفاهية

Public libraries are not just a building that contains books and shelves inside; no! The library is a spirit that adds sweetness and beauty to the city in which it exists, providing its residents with culture and knowledge.

For example, the King Fahd Public Library in Jeddah is a scientific hub that attracts anyone seeking knowledge, whether they are a reader, student, researcher, or author. It is also a suitable place to encourage the writing of research and scientific works that help elevate society and raise its status among nations.

The library is also not just a place for reading; it can serve as a center for awareness and training by holding courses in various fields within it. Libraries can also lend books so that the benefit extends beyond their boundaries. They can also assist in raising children properly by establishing dedicated programs for them and providing educational books that suit them, as well as catering to all segments of society.

Let’s take another example from the United States of America, which has more than sixteen thousand public libraries distributed across its states, cities, and neighborhoods, contributing to the intellectual and scientific enrichment of the American people.

Building libraries in every city may be costly, but there are, in my opinion, less expensive solutions that serve the same purpose, including:

First: Encouraging commercial shops, especially cafes, to place books inside for patrons to read.

Second: Encouraging shopping malls to allocate one or several shops as a public library.

As an incentive, regional awards could be established for the best library within cafes and shopping centers.

For libraries to operate continuously, they certainly need a source of income to sustain them. This source can be provided, in my opinion, through:

First: Offering paid memberships with additional features.

Second: Providing printing, copying services, and paid private spaces.

Third: Renting part of the library space for commercial use.

Fourth: Holding various paid courses.

Finally, the presence of libraries is, in my view, essential in any society for its advancement, elevated status, and civilization. I hope there will be direct cooperation between businessmen and local municipalities to establish hundreds of libraries across Saudi Arabia in the coming years.