Microsoft is shutting down its employee libraries in Redmond, Hyderabad, Beijing, and Dublin this week. The company ends a decades-old perk that gave workers access to physical books, author events, and curated reading lists. CEO Satya Nadella personally recommended some titles.
From Physical Books to AI Learning
Microsoft replaces the libraries with what it calls an "AI-powered learning experience" through its Skilling Hub. The transition also eliminates employee subscriptions to major news outlets and industry publications. Staff used these for research and professional development.
Loss of Digital Resources
The library overhaul means Microsoft employees lose access to digital publications like The Information and Strategic News Service (SNS). These served the company's roughly 220,000 employees for over 20 years. Workers can no longer digitally check out business books from the Microsoft Library either.
Publishers received automated emails in November notifying them of contract cancellations. One message from Microsoft's vendor management team read, "This correspondence serves as official notification that Microsoft will not renew any existing contracts upon their respective expiration dates."
Microsoft's Justification
In an internal FAQ, the company acknowledged "this change affects a space many people valued." Microsoft framed it as progress toward a "more modern, connected learning experience." The company says it still offers access to more than 20 digital resources. However, it remains unclear which specific subscriptions survived the cuts.
A Legendary Library's History
The Microsoft Library has been part of campus lore for years. An unproven legend claims the collection's sheer weight once caused Building 4 to sink. It was housed on the second floor above a cafeteria at the time.
Veteran Windows developer Raymond Chen wrote in 2020 that while the sinking might be debatable, "everyone agreed that the pillars in the underground parking were starting to crack." The library later moved to Building 92. This building is now being repurposed into collaborative spaces for "group learning and experimentation" with emerging technologies.
Reactions to the Change
Former Windows president Steven Sinofsky called the library "a crown jewel of the early days" on X. He noted they bought every PC book and would acquire any title employees needed.
Strategic News Service didn't hold back its criticism of the AI pivot. SNS chief operating officer Berit Anderson said, "Technology's future is shaped by flows of power, money, innovation, and people—none of which are predictable based on LLMs' probabilistic regurgitation of old information."
Microsoft's shift from physical libraries to AI-driven learning marks a significant change in corporate culture. Employees now adapt to a digital-first approach for professional development.
