Back in February, when British Council Chennai shut its physical library at 737 Anna Salai, it was following a familiar narrative observed with dismay in other cities during the pandemic: from Bengaluru to Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Disappointed long-time members in these cities recalled Young Readers programmes and literary activities at these libraries, robust debates and cultural sessions, access to the latest Booker-shortlisted titles, international periodicals, audiobooks and, for some, solitude and quality ‘me time’. But British Council Library promised a seamless transition online, better access and flexibility. Did they deliver on their promise? Well, Viji Thiyagarajan, director, Libraries Global, British Council, confirms that Chennai BCL’s membership tripled after going fully digital. 

According to Chennai-based Viji, Chennai BCL’s membership rose from around 5,000 to 15,000 after the shift online. The closure, she says, was driven not by declining readership but by the expiry of the library’s lease and a decision not to seek new premises. “We put our energy into digital, and all our members stayed with us. In fact, the membership went up from 5,000 to 15,000,” she says.

As for the rest of British Council’s physical library network in India, many have already transitioned to fully digital operations, leaving only Delhi and Kolkata with physical libraries operating on a hybrid model that combines collections with reading programmes and cultural activities.

Traditionally seen as repositories of books, libraries are increasingly being reimagined as hybrid spaces that combine digital access, community engagement, lifelong learning, and cultural programming. The shift comes at a time when the traditional library infrastructure is shrinking. India has 46,746 public libraries across States and Union Territories, down from about 75,000 a decade ago. Yet Viji argues that survival in the digital age depends on reinvention rather than preservation. “Libraries have to transform into a hybrid public knowledge ecosystem,” she says.

The challenge is compounded by concerns over declining reading habits. The U.K. has designated 2026 as the National Year of Reading after surveys found that only about a third of children and young people aged 8-18 enjoy reading in their free time, the lowest level recorded since 2005.

Viji observes that in an era shaped by smartphones, algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), libraries can no longer function merely as standalone physical storehouses of books. They must evolve as cultural spaces, through intervention programmes such as curated digital challenges, structured reading and interactive book clubs online, virtual storytelling sessions, and digital film screening. Having joined the British Council in 1998, Viji currently leads the strategy and coordination of physical libraries across the globe and digital libraries across South Asia.

Having said that, no matter how much children are taught to make the best use of digital libraries and e-books, experts agree that searching for a book physically aids cognitive development. Indian library science research shows that visual and in-person browsing systems can enable serendipitous discovery, thus feeding curiosity, that keyword search alone may not capture. When BCL centres announced their closure, there were instances where former members recalled how early-years membership was their first opportunity to be independent, saying the process of selecting their books, using their library card and walking out with said books triggered a lifelong love of books.

Last week, on National Reading Day (June 19), Viji talked to this paper about changing reading habits, community-led libraries, and a special library in Madurai. Edited excerpts:

What is the future of library systems in India?

In the past, the library was the custodian of knowledge. Today, young readers seek guidance for career choices and search for current news and career-oriented material while also showing much interest in biographies and positive stories that impact life, mythology and folklores. Libraries will remain relevant by combining digital access with physical community spaces. The collaboration of public libraries with inclusive access to global information, along with people’s participation, is a game-changer.

With AI dominance, is deep reading becoming a luxury?

We have to accept and live with AI. We can’t counter it, so collaborate with it. Our digital library is an aggregator of resources from leading e-resource suppliers, who have incorporated AI into their apps to gauge reader interest. Members, for instance, use MyLOFT (an AI-integrated digital library access and content management platform) to access vast global e-book and audiobook catalogues.

The right intervention, reading tips and techniques will rekindle creativity and curiosity about reading. AI searches throw up a lot more information, and libraries have to curate it and offer readers ways of making better use of AI.

What reading trends among young adults make you optimistic?

The trends vary geographically. Based on our library member database, in south India, around 4,000 young adults prefer to equip themselves academically. They show more interest in STEM and newspaper reading and research books; in the north (5,000 young members), magazine reading has a high uptake with interest in fiction and non-academic audiobooks, while the east (2,000 young members) remains strongly literature-oriented.

Our library programmes are based on monthly themes revolving around reading, books, environment, gender, inclusivity, celebrating youth and literature.

Can libraries be a counterweight to the culture of endless scrolling?

Libraries today provide books, host events and offer a platform to voice opinions. At the BCL, we have created a community of reading ambassadors as influencers. Under it, members aged between 10 and 25 years join the reader’s club, take up reading challenges, join the reading marathon and other activities.

Are libraries among the last genuinely public spaces left?

Libraries need to reposition themselves with collaborators. BCL moved into a public library space in Karnataka when we got an opportunity to partner with the Karnataka Rural Development Project. We started with five Karnataka Rural Panchayati Raj libraries last year as a trial; today, we are working with all 70.

While our digital libraries are reaching out to audiences in 190-plus cities, engaging with two million people in India (with an aim to reach five million), the Karnataka model is our first attempt at reaching out at the grassroot level. We have provided digital access, trained the local language facilitators, done bilingual orientation for the librarians. Collectively, it has turned out to be a successful initiative. We are working to replicate this model in other States, and in tier-2 cities where the quest for English already exists.

Which libraries have impressed you?

In Sri Lanka, we introduced the Digital Bookshelf concept this year in partnership with institutions, such as at the universities in Colombo. It allows people to borrow books through QR codes, scan and read, and visit our physical library spaces in the university campuses to discuss them.

The Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is a nice example of interactive libraries of the future. Each of the six floors has a surprise, from an art gallery to a science park, an e-library, a periodicals section, separate Tamil and English book sections, a 40-seater theatre, and a 200-seater auditorium where regular book and author talks are held.