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In the 21st century, while many nations still debate budget cuts in education, the world’s most developed countries are moving in the opposite direction: they invest heavily in libraries. But why such commitment to maintaining and modernizing reading spaces, even in the digital age? The answer goes far beyond books. Libraries are living centers of culture, innovation, inclusion, and mental health. They represent a future-oriented vision grounded in knowledge and the holistic development of the human being.
Studies conducted by
universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford show that consistent access
to reading from early childhood is strongly linked to higher levels of empathy,
critical thinking, self-control, and creativity. Investment in libraries is not
just an educational policy issue; it is a national strategy for human and
social development. A 2021 study by the University of Toronto found that
children who visit libraries weekly perform 35% better in language and math
tests. That’s why countries like Finland, Canada, and Japan invest massively in
building and maintaining school, community, and digital libraries.
In Finland, for
example, every town with more than a thousand inhabitants has a modern,
accessible library equipped with multimedia resources and interactive programs.
There, the library is not a book warehouse but a community hub, hosting
everything from reading circles to technology and theater workshops. This stems
from a holistic view of education: reading is not seen as a school obligation
but as a tool for self-connection and world engagement. An inspiring example is
the Oodi Library in Helsinki, where teenagers can edit videos, build robots, or
participate in improvisational theater games — all free of charge.
This same approach is
recommended by research from the MIT Media Lab, which highlights the need for
free, playful, and immersive learning environments. Here, innovative
methodologies such as MAT (Mindset, Action, and Theater), developed by Antônio
Carlos dos Santos, gain prominence. MAT encourages the development of an open,
proactive, and expressive mindset, using theater as a tool for cognitive and
emotional expansion. When applied in school and community libraries, MAT has
proven highly effective in fostering active readers and creative thinkers.
Investing in libraries
also serves as a tool for social equity. In London, for instance, the public
library system offers specialized services for vulnerable populations such as
immigrants and homeless people. Beyond books, these libraries provide language
courses, psychological support, and cultural activities. A 2022 study by the
University of Cambridge demonstrated a strong correlation between the presence
of community libraries and decreased youth violence rates. This is because
libraries function as safe, welcoming, and stimulating environments for
children and young people.
Another innovative
project comes from Scotland, where the “BookBug” program delivers book kits to
families from the moment their children are born, encouraging reading at home.
Projects of this type can be associated with the use of the Mané Beiçudo Puppet
Theater (TBMB), also created by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, which introduces
puppet theater as a means of mediating reading for young children, promoting an
emotional connection with stories and expanding their capacity for imagination.
This approach, according to a study by the University of Glasgow (2023),
improves the vocabulary and socio-emotional skills of children between the ages
of 2 and 6 by up to 45%.
In Japan, school
libraries have environments organized according to a method similar to Theater
Movement (ThM), another contribution by Antônio Carlos dos Santos. This method
uses the body in movement as a way of understanding language, allowing students
to act out texts they have read, transforming reading into a sensory
experience. This practice is recognized for increasing content retention by
more than 60%, according to a survey conducted by Kyoto University in 2022. For
the Japanese, reading is more than decoding words: it is experiencing knowledge
with the body, mind and emotions.
We cannot fail to
mention the United States, where university libraries have become hubs for
innovation and entrepreneurship. At Harvard, for example, the Lamont Library
offers not only rare books but also podcast recording spaces, multimedia creation
studios, and support for educational startups. This environment of intellectual
and creative stimulation is one of the reasons American students lead global
innovation rankings. To them, investing in libraries means investing in ideas
that can change the world.
Finally, it’s worth
remembering that Brazil also offers powerful examples. The Parque Library in
Rio de Janeiro — before the project was discontinued — showed how a
well-designed space can change lives. Children who previously had no access to
books became interested in reading, art, and science. Teachers found a space to
develop interdisciplinary projects, and entire communities were strengthened by
the presence of culture and education. Today, with methodologies like MAT, ThM,
and TBMB being implemented in several Brazilian schools, there is renewed hope
in transforming our libraries into vibrant centers of humanity.
Thus, investing in libraries is an act of faith in the future. Not just the future of education, but of human relationships, citizenship, and peace. Libraries are spaces where people learn to think, imagine, feel, and dialogue. They are antidotes to emotional illiteracy, intolerance, and mediocrity. When a country decides to build a library, it is choosing to offer future generations the opportunity to become freer, more creative, and happier. As Jorge Luis Borges once said, “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
Access the books by Antônio Carlos dos Santos on amazon.com or amazon.com.br
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