Gen Z reflects on cherished library memories
In an exploration of the enduring appeal of libraries, Kimaya Singh asked seven individuals from Generation Z to share their best childhood memories about reading in these beloved spaces. Their responses paint a vivid picture of discovery, comfort, and a lifelong love for books fostered within library walls.
02 Jul 2025 | 732 Views | By Kimaya Singh
Navya Sridhar, a BSc Biology student at APU, fondly recalled her school library, where the librarian's permission to borrow books from higher standard shelves fueled her passion for reading new things.
Arnav Kuppachi, a music and music production student at Whistling Woods, described his school library in Hyderabad as "massive," with three floors and an extensive collection. He humorously recounted the competition for popular books like "100 facts about vampires."
Siddharth Nair, an alumnus at APU, shared a serene memory of reading Tolkien's Lord of the Rings by a window and named Blossoms in Bengaluru as his favourite spot to read a book.
Jahnavi Krishna, an Ashoka second year student, found a sense of belonging in the Sahyadri school library, where running her hand over the books she had read and re-read felt like being at home.
Taru Shahi, a BA design student at MSU Baroda, shared a unique memory of sitting with the librarian in the restricted section of her junior school library, devouring ocean and space encyclopedias, and also named the Sahyadri school library as her favourite.
Anshuman Das, a literature and cultural studies student at Flame University, remembered falling in love with the "Hardy Boys" in his catholic school library as a sixth grader. He described the library at Sahyadri School KFI in Pune as his most favourite, where he interacted with a delightful curation of books and learned about authors like Isaac Asimov and Jon McCregor.
Kaasni Khalil, a BA History student at APU, shared a core memory of "raiding" the children's section of a library at a publishing house (Pratham) where her mother worked, highlighting it as her favorite library.
Anadya Mittal, an alumna at Sahyadri School, expressed her love for observing what others are reading and the process of reading blurbs before choosing a book. She particularly cherished discovering and reading children's books with exquisite illustrations and minimal text, which she might not have encountered otherwise.
Collectively, these reflections from Gen Z underscore the role libraries play in shaping young minds, fostering a love for reading, and creating cherished childhood memories that last a lifetime.