There has been lots of discussion lately about the role of public libraries in the 21st century and I have re-tweeted quite a few of these discussions (which you will find in the twitter feed on the right).
It is, and has always been, true that people can buy resources on their own rather than go to the public library. In fact, access to these resources, for people who can afford them, has never been easier.
Those of us who can afford this richness in stimulating content available through Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, tend to forget that it can get quite expensive when you add up your ipad, laptop, Rogers account, along with payments for music, books and videos.
One of the founding principles of public libraries is that everyone in a community should have the same access to ideas, culture, information and the same opportunities for personal growth which result from this access. Why?
Because a literate population is decidedly healthier, more community-minded, informed, engaged and employable.
Aside from access to resources, is the role of the library as a physical space open and welcoming to all that nurtures individuality, inclusion and social cohesion, civic identity and pride, democracy and citizenship.
The library isn’t simply a social service in a bricks and mortar shell: it has a wide social impact that can’t possibly be accounted for within the confines of a city budget. Libraries promote and represent everything that’s good for and about a city, if not a country.
Libraries are quite simply --- A Treasured Public Good which we erode at our own peril.
8 comments:
I agree with your comments. I am going to be visiting jk/sk classes to let them know how valuable we are.
Cathy,
I couldn't agree more with your commentary, but would like to add to it further. Librarianship is one of the oldest professions known to civilized societies. There was always the need for a group of people to collect and curate the cultural information of a society. The keyword here is "information". For far too long, libraries became synonymous with books. This is now starting to change with many library schools dropping the "library" moniker entirely and just going with the word "information". This is (and was always) our primary role: to be the providers of information regardless of format. Libraries are not just about books any longer and we're not just brick and mortar shops either. As more and more information is made available in virtual spaces (a.k.a. The Internet), our real spaces can be transformed into flexible, community spaces whereby people can come to exchange freely their thoughts and opinions. I believe this is where libraries need to be in the coming years to compete for the time and attention of people.
Well said, Cathy! Whenever people ask me what's going to happen to libraries with the surge in ebooks. I always say that libraries are and have always been more than just about their physical collections. (And we have ebooks too!)
I love what Kayhan wrote! He pretty much summed up Librarianship succinctly.
I enjoy observing the library in action. From newborns to seniors, the needs are diverse and the creative ways the staff find to meet those needs are awesome.
I couldn't agree with Cathy more on this topic; public libraries are vital to everyone in the community. Libraries are a place where people who cannot afford the luxuries of purchasing an Ipod, e-reader, or a book to come in and borrow these items free of charge.
I very much agree with this comment. Very few other places in our society see the range of people that libraries do- all ages and lifestyles. It isn't about the collections - its about the connections.
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