Quaid-e-Azam Library is situated in Lahore – the city of colleges. This library was established during the British Raj. the environment of the library is clean and peaceful. It is surrounded by trees and plants which make it human-friendly. Moreover, the library has a huge collection of books, a lot of peaceful space and computer labs.
The history of the library dates back to the British Empire. The building was constructed in the mid 19th century, during the Victorian Era, around 1986, the initial cost was Rs. 108000. However, after the division of the subcontinent, the government of Pakistan used this building for many purposes. In the early days, it was named Lahore and Mian Mir Institute. The building was also shared by Lahore Gymkhana Club. However, later in 1972, the club was shifted to Upper Mall and it becomes the academy for administrative training. Finally, on December 25, 1984, the President, General Zia-ul-Haq officially inaugurated the library and named it Quaid-e-Azam Library.
“If you read, you can learn to think for yourself.” – Doris Lessing
The library has a huge collection of books, magazines, manuscripts, newspapers, maps and charts; some of them date back to the Mughal era. This library has 125,000 collections of books. The library is well maintained, the management adds 2000 books each year. There are 17000 members enrolled in this library. Nearly, 19000 people visit annually.
Public walk-ins are not allowed in Quaid-e-Azam library. Only enrolled members are allowed to use the premises. There is a membership fee. The security fee is 500 rupees that are charged on time and are refundable. The annual charges are 300 rupees. These charges are for the general public; there is a discount offer for students. Outside books are not allowed in the library.
“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.” – Jorge Luis Borges
The library has two halls which are occupied by couches, tables and chairs. The government often organizes religious and cultural events. There are multiple computer labs in the library; the computers are equipped with Internet Students and researchers can freely access research papers and journals such as IEEE.
Above all, the everyday library has a huge influx of students, teachers, researchers and professionals. Some people go to the library for collaboration and to discuss with friends and colleagues. Sometimes, the library feels a bit congested place, however, it provides a lot of opportunities to the ones who want to explore the world by reading.