Poland's FIRST Library in a Metro Station

Good news for book lovers as Poland scripts history! Warsaw scripts history as its first-ever underground library offers over 16,000 books for readers to borrow.

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[Image: Adam Borkowski on Unsplash]

Circling back to Warsaw's underground library, known as "Metroteka", this is the first of its kind launched in September 2025 at one of the metro stations. On the first day, almost 400 books were tagged for borrowing. A self-service system has been enabled through scanners to simplify the borrowing and returning of books by librar members.

[Image: Adam Borkowski on Unsplash]

While Warsaw witnesses a surge in readers who opt for the Metro library, several Metro stations across Delhi-NCR have already established bookstores, where readers can purchases books to read before they board the Metro.

Across India's bustling cities, the Metro ushers in a much needed respite— a hugely comfortable, convenient and affordable way to travel. The journey becomes more fulfilling when you add a few books to the daily commute and make it a personal retreat. Instead of being glued to WhatsApp messages or Facebook notifications, reading a book is a more personally engaging experience.

Books and libraries are transformative ecosystems which we need today more than ever before. Redefining public spaces by initiating underground Metro libraries is a bold way to move forward. Poland's initiative is a commendable one as it paves the way for transforming people's way of thinking while they are travelling.

More innovations are sweeping across libraries across the globe. For intance, AR is being used in University libaries to enrich the experience. In the US, the National Library of Medicine enabled the AR use for interactive elements pertaining to medical history whereas Netherlands-based Deft University of Technology Library showcased AR for simplifying user navigation. Visitors could follow virtual cues using AR glasses or smartphones for an engaging experience.

An exciting world of opportunities can bring more fun to the reading experience.

Here's to many more libraries and bookstores for book lovers to bid adieu to boredom and look forward to a delightful read while on the move!

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