Between 1990 and 2014, visits to public libraries grew by a whopping
181%. For context, the population of the United States increased by 28%
during that period. Why have so many more people been using their
libraries in the last two decades? Here’s what I think…
Librarians Are More Involved in Communities
In the distant past, the library building was the center of a librarian’s professional world. Now, librarians regularly expand the library’s reach by presenting at
community meetings, staffing booths at events, and just generally
applying their skills in creative ways to helping their community.
Responsive, Unique, and High-Quality Program Offerings
Libraries have hosted programs such as book clubs, film screenings, storytimes, and arts & crafts for years. Today’s libraries have raised the bar with their program offerings in the past
few decades to respond to patron needs. Workshops and training on starting a business, basic job skills, and STEM programs for kids, “Community Reads” events and literary festivals are just a few new options available.
Embrace of a User-Centered Approach to Technology
Possibly the biggest reason that library visits have grown so
drastically in the last two decades is that libraries have become the
go-to places for computer classes, help with devices like tablets and
e-readers, and access to free ebooks and audiobooks.
Libraries succeed at technology not by upgrading their computers every
year, but by helping their patrons access the information they need,
whether it is at the library or at home using the skills they learned at
the library.
you know that dumbass Forbes article advocating for Amazon stores to replace public libraries? It was taken down cause the author got dragged so hard by like everyone who has ever entered a library in their life & now Forbes released a statement basically calling the author of the original op-ed “deeply misinformed” lmao
You know, mabes we socialist types should proactively do something to help our local libraries before capitalists find ways of shutting them down for good. Some kind of mass fundraiser or something, I don’t know what. But they seem like the last holdout for people who believe that everyone has a right to resources, no questions asked.
For many people, the library is the one place they can access the internet, which may in turn be the only way they can apply for jobs or get schoolwork done.
Other technology is also available for use at a library, such as a copier or a printer (ours even has a 3D printer open to the public).
The library is a safe place to go if it’s raining or really cold outside.
Children are enabled to read more books than their allowance could ever possibly afford, and for kids from lower-income backgrounds, it might be their only access to books at all.
Lots of libraries provide classes that are needed in their community, whether it’s ESL or literacy or parenting or what have you. Free of charge.
You can even borrow movies or seasons of TV shows instead of springing for Netflix.
And there is no shame whatsoever in visiting one. There is no social stigma attached to the library, it’s for everyone, period.
Any librarians with ideas for how we could help keep them going?
Support the Library Defense Network! They’re a leftist org made up of library workers and they organize communities to prevent public library closures.
DarkestElemental616 