Local Public Library. Local, I Say.

Are public libraries quickly on their way to being obsolete?

 

I sure hope not; that would put a lot of people (and professionals) out of a job.

One of the coolest things about a public library – correct me if I’m wrong – is that you can check stuff out for free. As technology improves and our world becomes more connected with itself, many people consider the library a waste of time. Or, worse yet, they consider it a waste of tax dollars.

Consider this: as libraries grow and change to try to meet the needs of the community, you are going to need to stay connected with your library to find out what improvements it is making for you. Continually. Check in with your library as you would check in with Facebook. What new programs do they have? What new resources do they have? What eBooks do they have? Can you download free [cool] music? Can you stream free movies? Probably. Check it out.

My favorite thing about my library is that it is local. Your local tax dollars go to your local public library to employ local people to serve you – locally. How green is that?

One of my coworkers pointed out to me yesterday that the public library is so local it can potentially become the expert on its community. A public library used to specialize in telling its community about the world; today (where global information is readily available via the internet – on my cell phone) a public library may be able to tell the world about its community.

As a hub for community events and programs the library brings in people from all walks of life: a millionaire might use the same library as someone who lives at the Salvation Army; my grandmother enjoys her library just as much as the Spanish-speaking kid next door. The library promotes integration of class, ethnicity, and generations. The diversity is a bit overwhelming!

Check out your local library. Use the resources at your fingertips! (Music, language programs, and pop culture magazines are just a few of the free online resources my library has.) You will consider yourself so clever once you rediscover its awesomeness.