How to Start a Small Public Library
Ask an individual why they read a book, and certainly, you will receive different replies. The answers vary from as a means of escapism from the monotonous life to reading them to improving your communication skills.
Once you start delving deep into the world of reading books, it can be addictive. Take an example of reading fiction and experiencing the world around from 19th century Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to the 20th century For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemmingway. You can travel the world from the lush green mountains of Scandinavia to the beautiful snow-covered mountains of America while sitting in your room. Isn’t it exciting!
Sure, there exist people who have the hunger for learning the ropes about so many things, but they do not have access to the same. So, if you are someone who wants to contribute to spreading knowledge and offering free educational resources, you have come to the right place.
Imparting knowledge to someone is one of the greatest humanitarian acts you can commit to, and setting up a public library is the best example. Let me tell you that building it is not a cup of tea, but it’s also not rocket science. In this article, you will learn about the ways how to set up a public library making your task easy-peasy.
Choose a Location:
Choosing a good locality to set up your place can be tricky. You don’t want to set it up in a middle of a hustle-bustle area which can easily ruin the ambiance of a library, but at the same time, not at a faraway place where it is not easily accessible by the people. Look out for a place where one can walk by and the surrounding is quiet and peaceful. Try to find out a property where you have enough space for bookshelves and some chairs and tables for individuals to sit on.
One should also take into consideration the needs of the community, the location of the school and higher education facilities, and transport services. The public transport system should be available within 400-500 meters. Other utilities like safe car parking and some food outlets nearby are added on. Make sure to be thorough in reading all the laws and regulations and if your library is compatible with local zoning laws.
Decide the Structure:
After you are done deciding on the location, it’s time to think of what you want to do to make your library appealing. You can keep the interior traditional, just like most libraries. But it’s up to you to decide the vibe of the place. The experience of learning can be an exciting one, and you can accomplish this by adding some subtle colors, maybe adding some popular quotes on a wall. For that matter, you can ask the people to add their favorite quotes or a list of books that one should read to a space dedicated specially for this.
Just make sure that the surroundings should be compatible for the people to concentrate on their studies. Set up all the bookshelves and arrange all the work correctly in sections so that they can be accessible for someone who needs a specific one. Make your collection as organized as possible, be it genre vise, author, etc.
Gather Collection of Books:
Without books, a library is like a human without a heart. This part is the challenging one, as there are countless works out there. It can be overwhelming to decide, but you can always start by looking at your budget and then contact a book dealer or find them from book markets. They can also be purchased online. There are many online libraries that sell them to customers; find a trusted seller and contact them for the ones you need.
Specify what types of collections you need in your library. Decide whether you want to keep only specific ones related to science, geography, history, poetry, fiction, historical, etc. Make sure to have a diverse collection. Arrange and contact the dealers as per your requirement. Pay attention to the popular authors and the books in circulation. Examine the pattern of the circulation and stock up on those. Surely, people would love to read those. In the future, you can always follow up on the feedback from your trusted members.
Hire Employees:
Depending upon the size of your library, you can hire employees accordingly. If it is a small one, you need only 1-2 people to keep the place clean and set up the ambiance. But if it is bigger than a stall, hire more employees. As it can become confusing for people to find out the books they are looking for.
Many employees at once can also make the cleaning and managing task easier. You can also hire people who are passionate about the world of books and want to contribute to it.
Add Amenities:
After running your library for a good period and having a good budget, you can invest your money in amenities. You can add a WiFi connection, a few computers, add newspapers, articles, magazines, audiobooks, etc. Serving information through books is one way of channeling knowledge. Other ways can be icing on the top, like hosting events such as a human library, slam poetry, film appreciation, and many more.
Have Safety Measures:
With the opening of your place, you need to check the safety measures. You must think of safety because you cannot blame anyone if something happens. Install CCTV cameras, have some fire extinguishers, and a fire inspection software to be notified at the time of the fire. Instead of the old stamp method, start tracking with computers because it’s more efficient.
Now that you are all set to open your Public library, be mindful of the expansion of your business. Cater to all the needs that come your way, and as you grow, be cautious that the basic integrity of your library stays intact.
