How the British Council Library Is Reinventing Reading Through Digital Access and Community Engagement

From digital bookshelves and AI-powered discovery to rural library partnerships, the British Council Library is redefining how readers access books and knowledge in India.
on Jun 23, 2026

Amid the changes in the reading culture of libraries all around the world, due to digitization and artificial intelligence, the British Council Library is revolutionizing what it means to be a library in this age. From fully digital memberships to using AI for content discovery and partnering with rural libraries in Karnataka, the British Council Library is creating a new template combining technology and engagement.

This change is especially evident in Chennai, where the British Council Library shut down its brick and mortar premises at Anna Salai earlier this year and became fully digital. Although this decision caused great disappointment to its many members who enjoyed its physical collection and literature programs, the figures reveal an increasing acceptance of the digitized library.

As per Viji Thiyagarajan, Director, Libraries Global, British Council, the number of members of the library in Chennai rose from about 5,000 to 15,000 when it went fully digital.

More Than Books Shelves Emergence of Hybrid Libraries

The experience of the British Council mirrors a growing trend for the development of libraries around the world. Modern libraries go beyond storing just books; instead, these institutions are becoming hybrid information environments combining digital content with cultural events, community activities, and education.

In India, almost all the libraries run by the British Council have already switched to a digital format with Delhi and Kolkata remaining the only two places where physical libraries still coexist with digital formats.

This development coincides with a declining number of public libraries in India. Based on the available statistics, the number of public libraries in the country has greatly decreased in the last ten years.

However, according to the specialists working with libraries, relevance today is all about adaptation to changing user behavior.

Reading in the Era of AI

AI is altering the way readers access information. Instead of seeing it as a potential hazard, the British Council is looking at AI as a technology that will be used by libraries to enhance their services.

This is because their digital library system relies on an AI-powered resource management system that makes it easy for readers to access various books, magazines, audiobooks, and academic resources in their vast library databases. The technology not only recommends reading materials but also makes it easier to search through the large digital databases.

However, librarians point out the need to continue cultivating deep reading. Though AI allows instant access to information, libraries have a critical role in providing curated resources.

The Value of Physical Discovery

In an age where the digital world is gaining traction at an alarming rate, professionals still emphasize the distinct advantage of using the physical library system.

According to literature from library science, people discover and gain interest in new topics and ideas through the process of physical exploration. In fact, for some people, especially young children and teenagers, being able to physically pick their own books is an essential aspect of building their reading routine.

Rural Karnataka Initiative for Libraries

One of the most creative projects launched by the British Council in recent years comes from rural Karnataka.

Thanks to the collaboration with the Karnataka Rural Development Project, the organisation started collaborating with five Panchayati Raj libraries initially before expanding their operations to 70 libraries, which offers digital access, librarian training, and bilingual orientation programmes for locals.

The project marks the first major initiative by the British Council in India, and it acts as an example for similar projects in other parts of the country as well as smaller towns.

This initiative proves how digital resources can enhance the existing local library infrastructure without trying to replace it.

New Bookshelves and Reading Spaces

Creative ideas are coming from outside of India too. In Sri Lanka, the British Council launched an interesting project called Digital Bookshelves, which provides readers with the opportunity to read books with the help of QR codes and discuss them in physical libraries organised inside universities.

The idea behind these projects is that modern libraries have gone beyond bookshelves.

Libraries as Cultural and Community Hubs

According to Viji Thiyagarajan, libraries must transform themselves into spaces where reading meets discussion, creation, and civic participation. By organizing reading competitions, clubs, storytelling workshops, movies, and youth ambassador programs, libraries are turning into dynamic cultural hubs rather than passive stores of books.

Other examples include libraries like the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai which showcases the potential of public institutions in attracting young readers through spaces for literature, science, digital education, exhibits, author discussions, and other community-based activities.

The Future of Reading

In times when reading practices keep evolving, the future of libraries might not depend on choosing between physical and digital forms of storing information.

Based on the experience of the British Council, the libraries of the future might be successful only if they combine flexibility of access with human interactions, curiosity, and engagement. In times of algorithms and infinite scrolling, the role of libraries is becoming more important than ever before – in addition to access to information, they are helping people to learn to enjoy reading again.