From Manuscripts to Digital Archives: Evolution of Mananchira Library as a Cultural Hub

Abstract

The evolution of public libraries as a cultural hub reflects a tremendous change from the pattern of information storage to the disposition of communal intellectual exploration within the digital space. The space that libraries provide supports and prompts learning, interaction, and involvement in a cultural context. As a space where values and social networks are nurtured, the Kozhikode Public Library plays a significant role in strengthening civil society by fostering shared values and community-centered learning. The growing digital landscape has introduced both opportunities and challenges, compelling libraries to transition from traditional models to digitized, accessible platforms. Situating the library within the broader intellectual and socio-cultural history of the region, the study traces its origins in a manuscript-based knowledge system that preserved literary, historical, and religious texts, and analyzes the gradual institutionalization of reading practices and public access to knowledge. The paper explores how the library functioned as a crucial space for scholarly engagement, civic discourse, and the dissemination of modern ideas during different historical phases, particularly in the context of colonial modernity and postcolonial cultural development.