Reaching the Unreached to Empower Citizens in Democracy: Scope, Opportunities, Possibilities and Challenges of Peripatetic Libraries
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Date
2025-12-08
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INFLIBNET Centre Gandhinagar
Abstract
In many parts of the world, access to knowledge and information continues to be a distant
dream for marginalized communities, especially those in remote, conflict-prone, or climate-
vulnerable regions. This paper explores the concept and practice of peripatetic libraries—
mobile, flexible, and community-oriented initiatives that bring books and learning resources
to the doorstep of the underserved. From camel libraries in Kenya and boat libraries in
Bangladesh to donkey libraries in Colombia and mobile van libraries in India, these
unconventional library models are powerful tools for democratizing education, fostering
civic engagement, and advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Drawing upon theoretical frameworks such as Amartya Sen’s capability approach and
Habermas’ public sphere, the paper highlights how access to information is critical to
democratic citizenship. The paper also aligns the vision of peripatetic libraries with SDG-4
(Quality Education) and India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, arguing for their
integration into formal educational frameworks. Through global case studies, opportunities,
and policy recommendations, the study advocates for peripatetic libraries not as peripheral
experiments but as core democratic innovations essential for reaching the unreached and
empowering citizens at the margins
Description
14th International CALIBER 2025, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, November 17-19, 2025
Keywords
Capability Approach, Citizen Empowerment, Democratization of Knowledge, Library Outreach, Lifelong Learning, National Education Policy - India, Peripatetic Libraries, Public Sphere, Sustainable Development Goals