Written by Isabelle Daniels
Libraries are still relevant today because they provide a place for education, a place for community, and a non-judgemental space for relaxation and assembling. For many people libraries are archaic and irrelevant, but as society has changed libraries have been able to keep up faster than even some governments. A building full of books may not seem like much at face value, but when taking a deeper look you can find their growing usefulness to communities. Libraries are able to offer a place of learning for all types of education, from tech literacy to access to books for people without it. They are also a community pillar, connecting people and allowing them to express themselves freely and without room for judgment.
Libraries participate in the education of both children and adults by providing free reading materials and technology to their patrons. Because libraries are publicly funded their resources are available to all regardless of ability to pay. This helps to equalize educational opportunities by minimizing income disparity. In many places all around the world educational disparity is a problem even more than in the US. Libraries have been found to help level the playing field for school kids who experience this: “Similarly, Kids on the Tab in Kibera, Kenya, worked through libraries to complement the schooling of children from poor areas, contributing to much improved exam results, which in turn open up new possibilities”( “Leaving No Child Behind”). As seen in Kenya and many other countries who have created similar programs, libraries have been able to aid children who do not have access to as good an education as others and allow them to have the same opportunities as their more fortunate peers.
Over the summer it is common for many kids to forget the skills they had learned during the school year. Libraries have aimed to help with this by creating summer reading programs that encourage students to continue reading over this lengthy school break so as not to lose ground in their reading skills while away from school. These programs that spur children to keep reading over the summer were originally introduced as far back as the 1890s, and their main purpose has remained the same: to entourage children “to read during their summer vacation, use the library and develop the habit of reading” (Benefits). Modern summer literacy program are no longer limited to simply encouraging children to read books. Nowadays, many libraries have programs for the whole family to enjoy, experiential learning, and increased access to technology in addition to ongoing summer reading programs.
In a day and age where technology is progressing faster than ever, it is important for people to be able to keep up with it. Libraries have been able to offer a hand in providing some technical education to those who need it. In places such as the Boston Public Library a range of technology courses are available such as typing classes, internet safety, and courses that teach the basics of computers. In addition to this, many libraries have programs to aid in creating resumes for adults seeking a new job. At the core libraries are about education, and in the modern day we can see this education extending beyond just books. Libraries have done an amazing job adapting to the changing landscape of education and they are able to continue helping people both in school and out with their education. “The survey found that nearly all (97.5%) public libraries offer free wireless Internet access. Technology training is offered in nearly all (98.0%) public libraries, and nearly all offer education and learning programs (99.5%) and summer reading programs (98.4%). Almost 80% of libraries offer programs that aid patrons with job applications, interview skills, and résumé development” (Taglang, 2015).
Perhaps even greater than the role public libraries play in assisting with education, is the role they play in bringing their communities together by providing a free and non-judgemental gathering space, public meeting space, and as an organizer of various clubs and enjoyable activities. In many areas, people don’t have access to an indoor area where they can relax for free without the expectation of a purchase. Here libraries have been seen “as a kind of social hub or ‘third space’, one of those valuable and increasingly rare spaces that belong to the community where anyone can hang out for free” (Sherman, 2018). For people who only have access to places such as their home and work or school, it’s important for their mental health to have a third space where they can relax. For people who may not have the money to afford many other commercial places, a library is that free place.
As our society has become increasingly separated, with fewer public gatherings than ever before as people move away from the traditional community gathering opportunities of church and social clubs, libraries have remained a place for community outreach. Through a variety of interesting programs libraries are able to connect the community and help people of all ages find others that share their interest. “The range of programming at public libraries runs the gamut, including veterans sharing their stories with children, gardeners receiving tips and even seeds, teens enjoying a Battle of the Bands contest and citizenship and ESL classes for new Americans” (Young et al., 2015). Library programs also help people explore new interests and ideas, nurturing creativity and exploration, or even allow them the space to explore ideas and orientations that may not be considered acceptable in the homes or other areas of some communities..
Many teenagers do not feel as though they have a safe space for them to exist due to their sexual orientation. Libraries in many communities have become a safe place for LBGTQ+ people to be able to exist without worrying. “Today, more than ever, students need a welcoming and adaptable library space which is, at times, a refuge from the everyday pressures they face” (The Library – a Safe Space for Everyone, n.d.). For people who may live in an unwelcoming area, a library can become a safe haven to them.
Along the same lines, in today's political and social climate in some areas, schools have banned certain books from their libraries, denying their students information, ideas, and perspectives that some in their communities find offensive, regardless of the opinions of others. Libraries are a neutral space, able to enjoy the ability to buy any books they feel are fit. Due to this, public libraries have become a place where students can have access to information which might be integral to their emotional and intellectual development. Many libraries, such as the New York Public Library, go as far as advertising their collection of books banned in many places, proudly putting up banners stating “Read Banned Books!” (Read Banned Books With The New York Public Library, n.d.) and providing digital copies to anyone anywhere free of charge.
With a constantly changing political, technological, and social landscape, it is easy to look at the traditional concept of libraries and declare them useless, but upon further examination one can see the ever evolving cadre of benefits they offer, such as the ability to learn things you may not be able to learn anywhere else, and a space to meet people with similar interests as yourself or to just hang out and read without needing to buy a $6 coffee.
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References
Benefits - Summer Reading Programs - LibGuides at American Library Association. (2019, May 16). ALA LibGuides. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://libguides.ala.org/summer-reading/benefits
Leaving No Child Behind: The Importance of Investing in Library Services « Library Policy and Advocacy Blog. (2021, November 20). IFLA Blogs. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://blogs.ifla.org/lpa/2021/11/20/leaving-no-child-behind-the-importance-of-investing-in-library-services/
The library – a safe space for everyone. (n.d.). Accessit Library. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://accessitlibrary.com/project/library-safe-for-everyone/
Read Banned Books with The New York Public Library. (n.d.). The New York Public Library. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/banned-books
Sherman, J. (2018, September 10). Libraries as Community Spaces: an Academic and a Personal Perspective. Book Riot. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://bookriot.com/libraries-as-community-spaces-an-academic-and-a-personal-perspective/
Taglang, K. (2015, April 17). Literacy and Access Roles Help Libraries Remain Vital Community Anchors. Benton Foundation. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://www.benton.org/blog/literacy-and-access-roles-help-libraries-remain-vital-community-anchors
Young, C., Kepnes, C., & Goldberg, J. (2015, April 13). How Libraries Are Transforming Into Community Anchors. HuffPost. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/library-community-anchors_b_7057388
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