Kitaab Ghar
Street Library Initiative | New Delhi
Kitaab Ghar is a community-driven street library initiative I founded to make reading more accessible in marginalised neighbourhoods of Delhi.
It is intentionally community-driven and built on a trust-based model. The libraries are open and shared, without monitoring or restrictions, based on the belief that access does not need to be controlled to be valued. In a context where scarcity often shapes how resources are guarded, this felt important to hold on to, allowing books to circulate freely and relationships to grow around shared responsibility.
Kitaab Ghar is a street library initiative I started with my friend and co-worker — Shikhar Sheel, to make reading for pleasure more accessible. It grew out of noticing how rarely children in many communities are given the time or space to read simply because they enjoy it. It places books in public, everyday spaces, inviting curiosity and slowing things down, so reading feels ordinary and shared rather than instructional.
What Kitaab Ghar Does
Sets up open, street-side libraries in neighbourhoods with limited access to books
Focuses on reading for pleasure rather than curriculum or assessment
Encourages browsing, shared reading, and quiet time with books
Is designed to be simple, low-cost, and community-friendly
The first Kitaab Ghar has been built and is ready to be placed in the community. The project is currently in its early stages, with a focus on learning from the first library before expanding further.
Over time, I hope Kitaab Ghar can grow into many such spaces, shaped by the people who use them.
View our Project Plan here.