Ask yourself the question: When was the last time I went to the library? Your answer was probably not “a couple days ago,” and was probably more in the range of “when I was little” or “I’ve never been to the library outside of a school trip.”
Libraries used to be the only way someone could find information. People spent hours pouring over volumes and stacks of books, even if it only meant finding the answer to a single question. Nowadays, content from hundreds of thousands of libraries are just a few clicks away, and traditional libraries may seem to be a thing of the past. For example, according to the Pew Research Center, just under half of all those ages 16 and older (48%) say they have visited a public library or bookmobile in person in the past year. It’s clear libraries aren’t used as frequently as they once were, but are they in danger of shutting down completely?
On September 4, 2009, CNN said: “The stereotypical library is dying—and it’s taking its shushing ladies, dank smell and endless shelves of books with it.” But I disagree. It’s these things that make a trip to the library so easy to romanticize. Going to the library is a universal, nostalgic experience, and those “seemingly endless shelves,” give one a better appreciation for the world’s innerworkings and the power of knowledge. I grew up just a few short blocks away from my local library; my frequent visits made me a voracious reader, and made me develop a love for the library that a device just couldn’t replace. Recently, I’ve found myself making trips to the library more often, even if it’s just to breathe in the nostalgic smell or pick up a book I wouldn’t have usually read.
Although I love the traditional library, and I could sit in one for hours on end, it’s understandable that not everyone shares my same passion for reading. But it’s easy to forget that libraries were historically the center of a community, and they’ve been offering programs that don’t relate to reading or books for a long time.
There are often large annual festivals, such as last month’s Heartland Book Festival at the Kansas City Public Library’s Central Branch. The festival was put on by both the Kansas City Public Library and the Mid-Continent public library, and it included multiple activities such as acting workshops, art projects, live music performances, shopping, speakers and more. Several libraries also offer unique, regularly scheduled programs such as game nights, movie screenings, yoga, job fairs, author visits, language courses, trivia nights, support groups, story times, tai chi, knitting, socializing with food, etc.
One can also access hundreds of resources through the library, both online and in-person, including newspaper subscriptions, standardized test prep, research databases and printing. The best part? All of this is entirely free with the possession of a library card.
The library is a grossly undervalued resource, but I think it is in no danger of shutting down completely. The library still has the potential to serve as a vital component in many people’s lives, it’s just a matter of who is willing to make a little extra effort to get off their phone and connect with people in the real world (and enjoy the benefits of their tax dollars). So, I encourage you to find your local library, spend some time there, get to know it. I ensure you it will change your life for the better.
