UNDERSTAND PHYSICAL LIBRARIES

 UNDERSTANDING PHYSICAL LIBRARIES

Generally, physical libraries are buildings where people can go to borrow and read books, magazines, and other materials. They have shelves of books, comfortable reading areas, and librarians who help in finding what the user needs. Libraries play a vital role in acquiring, preserving, and sharing information with the public, regardless of its format. They provide a valuable service that often goes unnoticed. To truly thrive, libraries should be at the forefront of adopting new technologies and innovations (Shanthakumara and Ravinder 2018). Physical libraries serve as cultural hubs with rare and unique materials, such as special books, archives, and manuscripts that cannot be found online. They also preserve local history and provide valuable information about a specific area. Unlike the internet, where information often comes at a cost, libraries offer free access to these resources. For those who are seeking specific and reliable information, physical libraries remain valuable and often preferred resources (Shanthakumara and Ravinder 2018). The Internet cannot replace libraries; rather, it will transform libraries.

“Libraries have emerged since the middle of the 20th century as a far-reaching body of information resources and services that do not even require a building” (Francis et al., 2025). “Library is also known as knowledge archival, preservation and maintenance of culture, knowledge dissemination, knowledge sharing, information retrieval, education and social interaction” (Lee et al., 2005: 2). There are also public libraries, which help communities. In Durban, eThekwini Municipal has provided public libraries, which help a lot as they are free, and you can visit anytime when it is still open. Public libraries serve as community hubs, offering easy access to various types of knowledge and information. Funded and supported by the community, they provide a wide range of resources and services that cater to diverse needs, fostering learning, imagination and growth (Ngcobo 2020).

Public libraries are essential community hubs that provide free access to knowledge, promoting lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural development. They offer a wide range of resources, including books, periodicals and internet access, to people of all ages and backgrounds, bridging socio-economic gaps and serving humanity for centuries (Shanthakumara and Ravinder 2018). In my community, I use the Umlazi W library because it has computers and it is near my home. They have Wi-Fi, and you can connect and do school assignments. Now we live in a digital world, there are digital libraries, but physical libraries still have potential for those who want to explore physical space and reliable information. Academic libraries have become Hybrid libraries. They provide both physical materials and a digital collection. To illustrate, UKZN has many physical libraries, and then there is the UKZN library, which can be accessed off-campus.

REFERENCES

Ngcobo, J. B. 2020. Knowledge sharing practices in public libraries: a case study of eThekwini municipal libraries (EML) (Doctoral dissertation). Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZulu-Natal

Shanthakumara, T. N. And Ravinder, P. 2018. The Importance of Physical Libraries in the Digital World: An Overview. Researchgate. 1-10

Francis, F.C., Estabrook, L.S., Haider, S., Foskett, D.J. (2025, September 23). Library. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/library