Digital libraries are becoming much more common in India. They are not just a trend they are changing how students, teachers, researchers, and ordinary readers find and use information. Below We explain why this growth is happening, step by step,
1. Very large and growing internet and mobile access :
More people in India now have internet and smartphones than ever before. Mobile networks (4G) and cheaper data plans mean many students and users can reach online content from villages and towns. Reports show India’s internet user base grew quickly and is projected to cross hundreds of millions (close to 900–900+ million by 2025), which makes online reading and learning much easier for a large population. DataReportal – Global Digital InsightsThe Economic Times
Why this matters: a digital library only works if users can reach it. As connectivity spreads, more users can search, read, download, or stream library materials anytime.
2. Strong government and consortium support :
Several government initiatives and consortia provide free or low cost digital resources to colleges, universities, and schools. Two important examples :
National Digital Library of India (NDLI) , a government backed project that collects and provides learning materials from many institutions and is meant for learners across India. NDLI acts as a central portal where users can search many digital items.
e-ShodhSindhu / INFLIBNET a national consortium that gives universities and colleges country wide access to e-journals, e-books and databases (thousands of journals and many e-books). This reduces cost barriers for higher-education institutions. E-ShodhSindhuINFLIBNET
Why this matters: when the government and consortia buy or provide subscriptions and central services, even small colleges get access to high quality digital content without heavy local expense.
3. Big demand from students and teachers for remote/anytime learning :
Online courses, competitive exam preparation, and blended classroom teaching increased demand for digital resources. Students want instant access to lecture notes, reference books, past exam papers, videos, and journals especially when they cannot come to campus. The COVID period already pushed institutions to adopt online learning, and that momentum continues.
Why this matters: libraries that offer digital collections meet real needs students can study from home, prepare for jobs/exams, and access latest research.
4. Libraries can do more with less money and staff :
Creating and running a large physical library is expensive: space, staff, binding, theft/loss, and maintenance. Digital libraries scale more cheaply in many cases:
A single digital copy can be used by many users (depending on licensing).
Linking to consortium subscriptions, institutional repositories, and open access materials reduces purchase costs.
Automation (OPAC, single sign-on, remote authentication) reduces daily manual work.
Why this matters: budget conscious colleges and public libraries see digital collections as a cost effective way to give more content to more users.
5. More local and national digitisation projects :
Many libraries, universities and governments are digitising old books, theses, reports and local material. NDLI and some university institutional repositories gather this digitised material so it becomes searchable and preserved. Digitisation helps protect rare books and makes local knowledge available nationally.
Why this matters: digitised heritage and research material becomes discoverable, adding unique content to the digital ecosystem.
6. Centralised services and easy integration :
Tools like NDLI, INFLIBNET’s e-ShodhSindhu, institutional repositories (DSpace etc.), and library software (e.g., Koha) can be integrated. This means a library can offer a single search gateway that points to local and national resources, subscription databases, and open repositories. Integration makes the digital experience smooth for the end user.
Why this matters: users do not want to jump between many separate systems. Integrated access makes digital libraries friendlier.
7. State and local government projects expanding access :
Several state governments and local bodies are actively funding digital library projects for schools, courts, community centres and village level outreach. Recent news shows states planning or launching digital library schemes to reach gram panchayats and constituencies. These projects put devices, internet, and curated content closer to users.
Why this matters: decentralised public access means digital libraries are not only in big cities but also being brought to smaller towns and villages.
8. Better availability of e-resources and open access content :
More publishers, researchers and institutions support open access. Preprints, open journals, government reports, and educational videos are broadly available. This steadily increases the amount of free, high-quality material libraries can offer to users without heavy subscription fees. Many academic institutions also deposit theses and faculty papers in institutional repositories for public use.
Why this matters: open access content grows the digital library’s holdings without adding recurring purchase costs.
9. Improved user devices and literacy :
Smartphones, tablets, and increasing digital literacy among students and teachers make it easy to use digital libraries. When users know how to search, download, and cite digital material, the value of a digital library increases for the whole campus or community.
Why this matters: technology alone does not help unless users know how to use it improvements here multiply the benefit of digital collections.
10. Research and teaching needs are changing quickly :
Research needs fast access to the latest journals and datasets. Teaching needs multimedia (videos, slides, simulations). Digital libraries can more quickly add or link to new resources that support modern teaching and research, while physical acquisitions take longer.
Why this matters: speed and currency are big advantages of digital collections in academic workflows.
Challenges and how India is addressing them :
Digital libraries are growing, but some challenges remain. It’s helpful to be aware of them :
- Connectivity gaps – not every village gets reliable high-speed internet yet. Government programs and private network expansion are closing this gap steadily.
- Digital literacy – users need training to search well and evaluate sources. Many institutions run orientation and training programs.
- Copyright and licensing – negotiating licences for e-books and journals is complex consortia help by bulk procurement and shared licensing models.
- Preservation and formats – long-term digital preservation needs planning (formats, backups, DPCs). NDLI and some libraries work on preservation centres.
Addressing these challenges is an ongoing process policy support and local training make a big difference.
What libraries should do now (practical advice) ?
If your college, school, or public library wants to grow its digital services, here are practical steps :
Join consortia or national services (like e-ShodhSindhu / INFLIBNET) where possible to get access to journals and databases.
Register or contribute to NDLI / institutional repositories to share your digitised material and gain visibility.
Start with a small, useful digital collection – course readings, past year question papers, open textbooks, and a few subscribed journals.
Train users – short workshops on OPAC use, searching, evaluating sources, and citation.
Plan for access – provide on campus Wi-Fi or a lending tablet, and consider simple authentication for off-campus access.
Preservation & backup – keep copies, use standard formats, and maintain a content management policy.
Takeaway :
Digital libraries are growing in India because connectivity and smartphone access have expanded, national projects (NDLI, e-ShodhSindhu) provide content, institutions need remote and fast access for teaching and research, and states and libraries are digitising more material. There are still challenges such as connectivity gaps, copyright, and digital literacy, but with government support and institutional planning, digital libraries are becoming a practical, widely used resource across India.