Public libraries across Karnataka are witnessing a significant transformation, increasingly serving as vital study hubs for aspirants preparing for competitive examinations like the UPSC, KAS, and banking tests. However, this surge in student footfall has starkly highlighted a critical gap: the libraries' shelves are failing to keep pace with the demand for current and relevant study material.
Dated Collections and Structural Hurdles
The core of the issue lies in the outdated collections. A recent list of titles approved for procurement in the current financial year revealed that several books were published as far back as 2022, leaving students without access to the latest guides and reference materials. This problem is partly structural. The two-year term of the State-Level Book Selection Committee has recently concluded, and a new panel, primarily composed of experts from the literature community, is set to take charge soon.
Officials explained that this committee traditionally decides the list of books libraries can purchase, with a heavy emphasis on Kannada literature. Current guidelines further restrict the stock, allowing only up to 30% of library procurement to be a mix of competitive exam guides, reference books, and textbooks. Students and advocates argue this ratio is inadequate for today's needs.
Student Struggle and the Price Cap Challenge
For many students, public libraries remain the only accessible quiet space for study, forcing them to bring their own costly materials. "Public libraries lack quality competitive exam books," stated Jayanna, Bengaluru district secretary of the All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO). He pointed out that basic book sets can cost between Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000, with updated coaching materials being even more expensive.
Basavarajendra H, Commissioner of the Department of Public Libraries, noted that students can request books through librarians, but procurement is bound by a government-mandated price ceiling. This price cap is a major bottleneck, deemed unrealistic by many publishers. Its impact extends beyond exam aspirants, also keeping prestigious literary works, like Karnataka author Banu Mushtaq's International Booker Prize-winning Heart Lamp, out of reach for most state libraries.
Proposed Reforms and Future Steps
In response to the crisis, the Karnataka Writers and Publishers Association urged the government in September 2025 to increase the approved pricing by 50% per page and allow for an annual 10% price hike. More significantly, the libraries department has sent a proposal to the education department seeking a key policy change.
The proposal aims to exempt competitive exam books from the centralized state-level procurement list and the strict price caps. This would decentralize the process, empowering district-level committees overseen by deputy commissioners to purchase updated guides based on local demand. Rashmi Mahesh, Principal Secretary of the Department of School Education, confirmed the proposal is under consideration, with a decision expected before the end of the financial year.
The high reader footfall underscores the urgency of the situation. Data shows that district and city central libraries in Karnataka attracted over 1.71 crore visitors in 2023-24, demonstrating their crucial role in the state's educational ecosystem.
