LIBRARIES have been my second home since primary school. As a student in New Zealand, I relied on them heavily.
Later, in my working years, I made a habit of visiting libraries wherever my travels took me, from Alexandria to London, San Francisco and Cape Town. In every city, the best libraries had one thing in common: they were full of people who were not necessarily there to borrow books.
That is the reality Malaysian policymakers need to recognise. The modern public library is no longer simply a lending service. It is a community centre, a study room, a digital access point and, increasingly, a refuge.
Students come to libraries because home is noisy or crowded. Job seekers come for free internet access and help with online applications.
