NEP 2020 envisions education as a means to develop constitutional values, ethical reasoning, social responsibility, cultural awareness and active citizenship. School libraries occupy a unique position as democratic learning spaces that provide equitable access to information, encourage critical inquiry, and promote meaningful engagement with society.
By enabling learners to explore diverse perspectives and evaluate reliable sources, libraries foster critical thinking, empathy and respect for diversity, and promote media and information literacy. They advance constitutional values, preserve cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge, and act as agents of inclusive development contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).