Located on the 8th and 9th floors of the campus, Ayesha Abed Library of BRAC University is completely opposite in this regard.

The eye-catching modern architecture of the BRAC University library stands as a graceful dialogue between light, space and purpose.

The clean geometric lines, with expansive glass panels, invite in rays of light. The lines split across open corridors, quiet study corners, discussion rooms and PODs.

The thoughtful blend of concrete and greenery creates a serene balance between sophistication and natural calm. Every staircase and corner feels intentionally designed to give birth to creativity.

To know more about the thought process behind constructing such a majestic environment, I talked to Hasina Afroz Madam, Librarian, BRAC University.

Expressing her gratitude towards the university, she said, “It’s a pleasure to work at this university. The fidelity of the institution to education, research and social development goes perfectly with my ethical values.”

The library is not an ordinary one containing only tables and shelves. BRACU achieved a noteworthy upliftment by establishing a digital library designed to meet the needs of the students in the institution.

The global state of libraries is worrisome, and most university libraries in Bangladesh are not different.

Private university libraries often fall victim to financial pressures and budgetary constraints, as the government offers little to no support, often relying on private tuition revenue and grants.

However, BRAC, in this regard, aims to build the library as a world-class knowledge resource centre. For this purpose, they are establishing the Digital Scholarship Lab.

Hasina Afroz Madam stated, “Recently, we applied for funds to urge support for our newly established Digital Scholarship Lab. We need data analysis and visualisation software, and other digital tools to set up training programmes in the lab.”

The library provides various facilities, such as all issues and volumes of the BRACU Journal, Annual Reports, MSDN Academic Alliance (MSDNAA), and access to research journals.

An Integrated Library System for efficient management of library resources, along with a dynamic library website and a discovery tool, provides students with ultimate convenience when it comes to locating books and offering a hassle-free overall experience.

A coffee-like corner also gives the library the essence of studying at a genuine coffee shop.

Our interviewee expressed her next plan for the library.

“We are planning to set up an Open Education Resources programme as a cost-effective alternative to textbooks. BRAC University is a member of the Open Society University Network (OSUN). As part of this network, all library directors from OSUN member universities come into contact both in person and virtually to share their experiences, attend training programmes and address the collaborative courses offered to both students and faculty.”

Not only this, OSUN includes high-performance computing tools, designated research areas, and training and workshop facilities. BRACU believes the lab will act as a bridge to consolidate collections and expertise to create a centralised hub for learning and teaching.

The vision of the library towards the next triumph is noteworthy.

Hasina Afroz Madam stated her clear vision to build a world-class library inspired by the founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s vision of making BRACU the Harvard of South Asia.

As a BRACU student myself, this is more than a library to me. It represents a soothing corner to rest whenever I need to get away from the hustle and bustle of routine courses and heavy crowds.