Helly Malviya I 23rd May 2025
The Community Library Project:
A Home for Minds and Hearts
Eight years ago, Laila arrived in India feeling utterly disconnected. A passionate book lover, she found herself in a new city where finding books in her own language was impossible, and accessing any library felt like navigating a bureaucratic maze. "I couldn't find a place... even access to books was difficult for me," she recalls. But then, she discovered The Community Library Project (TCLP). Here, books aren't just paper and ink; they are "tools to connect, to get comfortable with the community, their new culture, and their language." This is the essence of TCLP: a dynamic space that goes beyond traditional library services to empower and uplift diverse communities, ensuring no one feels disconnected again.
More Than Just Books
At its heart, TCLP operates on a profound belief: a library is far more than a repository for books. As Laila, a collection specialist at TCLP, emphasises, "We always emphasise that the library is not just a place to keep or borrow books... At TCLP, we believe the library is a place where you can share information, any kind of information a community needs." This philosophy drives TCLP's open-door policy, welcoming marginalised communities, including forced migrants, and Indians displaced from their homes, regardless of their religion, background, language, or gender identity. The Khirkee branch, a vibrant hub of diverse communities, particularly those forcibly displaced, stands as a testament to this inclusive approach.
Empowering Through Access and Support
TCLP understands that for people who have been uprooted, access to necessities and information can be incredibly difficult. "I believe that access to something isn't just about having it, but about education for people who are forcibly displaced from their homes or countries," Laila states, drawing from her own experience of feeling disconnected from books after arriving in India. For these communities, books are vital "tools to connect, to get comfortable with the community, their new culture, and their language."
Beyond literacy, TCLP extends its support to address critical life challenges. Many members, including Afghan and Somali forced migrants, arrive unaware of their basic rights or how to navigate essential services. TCLP, often in collaboration with partners like the Migration & Asylum Project, conducts workshops to help them understand their rights, apply for opportunities, and address issues like visa or Aadhaar card problems, or even school admissions. This commitment to holistic community support ensures that TCLP isn't just fostering a love for reading; it's empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools to rebuild their lives and thrive.
Programmes That Connect and Educate
TCLP's philosophy blossoms into a diverse array of programmes, meticulously designed to meet the evolving needs of its community. At the forefront are initiatives like the Women's Reading Circle and Bindas Shaam, dedicated spaces for women aged 18 and above, including housewives and girls who might not regularly access the library. These weekly, two-hour sessions bring together ladies from varied communities—forced migrants and Indians alike—to share stories, watch films related to literature, and engage in arts and crafts. More importantly, these programmes foster open dialogue, allowing participants to comfortably discuss any topic, creating a powerful space for connection and mutual support. "Bindas Shaam ensures that all women and different communities come together to share their history and feel that the library is not only for a specific group of people," Laila explains, highlighting the programme's role in breaking down misconceptions and fostering inclusivity.
Recognising the crucial role of digital literacy, TCLP offers the Cyber Project programme. This initiative provides dedicated laptop access to members, empowering them to overcome technological barriers and navigate the digital world. Laptops are even reserved specifically for the women attending the reading circles, encouraging them to gain confidence and access vital online information.
Beyond books and digital skills, TCLP acts as a vital bridge to essential services through its workshops with partners like MAP. Many forced migrants arrive unaware of their basic rights or how to access critical documents like birth certificates, or even apply for school admissions. TCLP steps in to provide guidance and support, helping members navigate bureaucratic processes and resolve pressing issues related to visas. This hands-on assistance underscores TCLP's commitment to holistic community support, ensuring individuals can access the information and resources they need to thrive.
A Cultural and Information Hub
TCLP also serves as a vibrant cultural hub. Through book talks, like a recent one with author Annie Zaidi, the library fosters cultural understanding, allowing people from different parts of India to share their traditions and perspectives. The library's dynamic weekly or monthly book displays further celebrate diverse cultures, often coinciding with festivals like Holi, Diwali, Diksha Diwas, Ramadan, Afghan New Year, and Shab-e-Yalda (An ancient Persian festival celebrating the longest night of the year; symbolises the triumph of light over the darkness).These displays go beyond mere celebration, ensuring that the history and cultural significance of these important occasions are understood and shared, enriching the entire community.
Daily Operations and Evolving Collections
The daily pulse of TCLP's three branches is managed by a dedicated team, a testament to efficiency and responsiveness. Each branch is overseen by two core librarians, who are supported by various specialised departments including finance, administration, and a crucial curriculum team. These teams work in tandem to ensure seamless operations and programme development.
A hallmark of TCLP's daily management is the "gate duty." As Mausam Kumari, the director at TCLP explains, this involves tracking member attendance—often over a hundred visitors daily—and actively engaging with each person. This initial interaction is vital, fostering a welcoming atmosphere and building connections from the moment a member steps through the library's doors.
TCLP's collection is far from static; it's a living entity, constantly evolving to meet community needs and global conversations. "Our book collection is based on community needs," Mausam states. While the initial focus ten years ago was on English and Hindi books, the collection has dynamically expanded. Responding to the growing needs of older members, particularly those preparing for higher education, the library now includes exam preparation books for tests like CUET. Importantly, the curation process is highly responsive to member suggestions. This direct feedback has led to the creation of specialised shelves, such as one dedicated to transgender literature, ensuring that diverse identities are seen and represented. Furthermore, TCLP proactively addresses contemporary issues, like climate change, by curating relevant materials to inform and educate its community. Despite the challenges of catering to a wide array of communities, the goal remains to make information on every relevant topic accessible.
Beyond physical books, TCLP employs a multi-platform approach to information dissemination. Vital announcements and news are shared through a news bulletin board, where members themselves can even suggest relevant updates. In today's digital age, TCLP leverages digital library WhatsApp groups to share information three days a week. These groups are crucial for delivering timely updates on a range of topics, from library-related news and stories to critical information regarding exam dates, university admission deadlines, and their extensions, ensuring the community stays informed and connected. This dynamic operational model, from frontline engagement to responsive collection building and diverse information channels, underscores TCLP's commitment to being a truly community-driven institution.
Nurturing Leaders: Mausam's Journey
Mausam’s own journey stands as a powerful testament to TCLP's transformative impact and its commitment to nurturing leadership from within the community. "My four years at TCLP have been one of my most beautiful journeys," Mausam reflects, a sentiment deeply rooted in her personal evolution within the library. Her story began a decade ago as a simple member of a small book club that would evolve into TCLP. From there, she progressed through the ranks: an intern, then a student leader, moving on to become a part-time librarian, a full-time librarian, deputy director, and ultimately, the director of TCLP.
This remarkable trajectory is a direct outcome of TCLP's Leadership Development Programme. This initiative is designed to empower community and library members, giving them the opportunity to run the library and cultivate their leadership skills. The programme is structured into a core team for those 18 and above, and student leaders for those below 18, fostering growth at various stages. While participation in the programme doesn't guarantee a librarian role, its core purpose is to cultivate leadership and provide invaluable growth opportunities.
At the heart of Mausam's experience, and central to TCLP's ethos, is the profound sense of belonging and freedom. "I always feel like a home when I enter the TCLP gate," she shares, emphasising the environment where people are encouraged to speak their minds and share ideas without fear of judgment. She recalls that "no one laughs at me at my pronunciation, the way I talk or the way I wear clothes." This atmosphere of acceptance and support is crucial. "We don't let each other down," Mausam affirms, highlighting the collective spirit of upliftment that defines TCLP. For her, reading is not just a habit but a "therapy," a source of solutions and comfort. This personal conviction underscores TCLP's belief that books are best friends, offering answers and expanding one's world, whether imaginary or real. This profound human connection and the continuous cycle of learning and empowerment are the true hallmarks of TCLP's impact.
A Vision for the Future
As TCLP continues to empower lives, the vision for its future is as expansive as the minds it seeks to nourish. Mausam dreams of a world where there aren't just one or two libraries like TCLP, but "millions of such libraries all over the world." For now, with her feet firmly planted in India, she expresses a profound hope that at least here, people can have free access to books and truly understand their immense value. This ambition is rooted in TCLP's core belief that "reading is thinking," and that a library is a vital tool for empowerment, connection, and societal change.
Laila echoes this forward-thinking spirit, emphasising TCLP's continuous drive to find "better ways" to serve its diverse community. It's an ongoing process of innovation and adaptation, ensuring that the library remains responsive to the ever-evolving needs of those it supports. Through its unwavering commitment to providing knowledge, fostering confidence, and building a true sense of belonging, TCLP strives to create a future where every individual can access the transformative power of books and education, truly turning problems into pathways.
The journey through The Community Library Project reveals more than just books and programmes; it unveils a profound commitment to human potential. The lasting impression of TCLP is perhaps best encapsulated by Mausam herself, who, having experienced its transformative power firsthand, declares, "My four years at TCLP have been one of my most beautiful journeys. It's a place where people are free to speak their minds and share their ideas without fear of judgment... I always feel at home when I enter TCLP's gate."
As Laila and Mausam continue their dedicated work, their collective hope for "millions of such libraries" paints a future where the invaluable gift of knowledge and belonging is accessible to all.