Tourism is no longer limited to forts, palaces, museums and monuments. Around the world, travellers are increasingly seeking experiences that connect them with knowledge, culture, history and local identity. In this changing landscape, “Library Tourism” is emerging as an innovative concept with the potential to transform public libraries into vibrant cultural and intellectual destinations. A library is traditionally viewed as a quiet place where people come to read books, newspapers and magazines or access information. But the modern public library can be much more than that. It can simultaneously function as a library, cultural centre, literary forum, heritage space, digital knowledge hub and tourism destination. Library tourism may be understood as travelling to libraries and participating in their activities to experience books, literature, heritage, architecture, cultural collections, intellectual programmes and community engagement. Its purpose is not to commercialise libraries, but to expand their visibility, encourage public participation, strengthen cultural awareness and promote knowledge. India’s Untapped Library Tourism Potential India possesses an enormous public-library network and a rich literary and documentary heritage. According to information cited in the article, 46,746 public libraries were recorded across states and Union Territories as of December 2025. Yet, most of these institutions remain largely absent from mainstream tourism maps. This represents a significant opportunity waiting to be explored. Indian libraries preserve a remarkable range of resources—including rare books, ancient manuscripts, historical newspapers, regional literature, government publications, local-history documents, photographs, literary archives, folk literature, maps and digital resources. These collections represent not merely information, but the collective memory and cultural identity of generations. If forts and palaces can become destinations for heritage tourism, libraries can similarly become destinations for knowledge, literary and cultural tourism. India’s library ecosystem also has an impressive knowledge base. The article highlights extensive school-library collections, thousands of public libraries, the National e-Library, books available in numerous Indian languages and English, and a manuscript heritage exceeding five million manuscripts. These resources provide a strong foundation for developing library tourism as a meaningful cultural initiative. Libraries as Living Heritage Spaces India already has several libraries with enormous potential to become landmarks on a library-tourism circuit. Among them are the National Library of India in Kolkata, Connemara Public Library in Chennai, Delhi Public Library, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in Patna, Saraswati Mahal Library in Thanjavur, Raza Library in Rampur, State Central Library in Thiruvananthapuram, State Central Library in Mumbai, Krishnadas Shama Goa State Central Library in Panaji and the Government Divisional Public Library in Kota. Each represents a different dimension of India’s intellectual and cultural heritage—from rare manuscripts and historic documents to architecture, regional literature and community-based library services. The Government Divisional Public Library, Kota, in particular, can be envisioned not merely through its present ranking, but as a future-oriented model public library with the potential to become a national literary and knowledge hub. The IFLA–UNESCO Vision International organisations can play an important role in shaping this emerging concept. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) can provide professional and policy direction for library tourism. Its Public Libraries Section promotes innovation, development and the exchange of experiences among public libraries worldwide. The article proposes that international recognition, guidelines or awards could eventually encourage libraries that successfully combine architecture, culture, local heritage, digital innovation, community participation and tourism. UNESCO can also contribute significantly because library tourism intersects with cultural heritage, education, literacy, inclusion, multilingualism, preservation and sustainable development. The IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 2022 presents public libraries as important centres for education, culture, information, inclusion, community participation and heritage preservation. This opens the possibility of developing concepts such as a “Library Heritage Tourism” programme or an “Indian Literary and Library Heritage Circuit” with appropriate institutional collaboration. From Visitors to Participants The real strength of library tourism lies in creating an experience rather than simply attracting visitors. Drawing inspiration from community-oriented library practices, tourists should not remain passive observers. They can become visitors, participants, readers, contributors and library ambassadors. Imagine a literature enthusiast visiting Kota and doing more than simply viewing a library building. The visitor could interact with an author, participate in a poetry session, explore regional literature, experience rare collections and contribute to a digital literary archive. This is the essence of experience-based library tourism. Government and Institutional Collaboration Library tourism cannot succeed through the efforts of library departments alone. It requires a coordinated ecosystem involving the Language and Library Department, Tourism Department, local administration, universities, literary organisations, public libraries, international library bodies, UNESCO and civil society. Since public libraries are primarily a state subject in India, state governments can consider incorporating “Library Heritage and Literary Tourism” into their tourism and cultural policies. Kota: From Education City to Knowledge and Literary City This vision becomes particularly relevant for Kota. Kota is already nationally recognised as a city of education and knowledge. Students, teachers, parents and education professionals from across India visit the city. This existing identity can be complemented by a new cultural identity: “Kota – The City of Knowledge and Literature.” The Government Divisional Public Library, Kota, can become a platform where authors, poets, researchers, librarians, educators, journalists, translators and young readers regularly meet, exchange ideas and create new knowledge. A Proposed Kota Literary & Library Tourism Hub A permanent “Kota Literary & Library Tourism Hub” could be established at the Government Divisional Public Library, Kota. The proposed hub could include: National Authors’ Meet Kota Literary Festival “Meet the Author” monthly sessions Literary residencies and creative workshops Librarian–Author Dialogues Innovation showcases by libraries from across India Literary Walks Literary Heritage Gallery Indian Literary Figures Gallery Digital Literary Archive Such initiatives can turn the library into a year-round destination for readers, writers, researchers, students and cultural tourists. Measuring Success Beyond Visitor Numbers The success of library tourism should not be measured merely by the number of tourists. A broader set of indicators can include literary visitors, participating students, invited authors, programmes conducted, new library memberships, growth in book circulation, digital-resource usage, literary collections received, media coverage, institutional partnerships, research collaborations and national and international participation. Such measurable indicators can transform library tourism from an attractive slogan into a structured and outcome-oriented library-development programme. A New Future for Public Libraries Library tourism offers India an opportunity to redefine the role of its public libraries. Libraries should not be perceived merely as quiet buildings filled with books. They can become living cultural institutions—places where people read, think, discuss, create, discover history and connect with society. For Rajasthan, the Government Divisional Public Library, Kota, could serve as an effective pilot model for this transformation. The larger vision is compelling: From Reading Place to Literary Destination. From Public Library to National Knowledge Hub. The future identity of the Government Divisional Public Library, Kota, could be envisioned as a National Hub for Library, Literature and Knowledge Tourism. The true power of library tourism lies in changing the way we see a library—not simply as a place to visit, but as a place where knowledge, literature and culture can be experienced. This version is suitable for a newspaper feature, magazine article, website publication, or institutional publication. I can also make it more journalistic and punchy with an 8-word headline, sub-headline, SEO title, keywords and social-media captions.