Hi friends! 👋🏻 I recently saw a screenshot of a TikTok telling people to sign up for library cards and then not use them because it makes the numbers look better, but I want to somewhat counter that by sharing some library love, which is always welcome. There are millions of reasons to use libraries, but I managed to round it down to five reasons that I think are pretty solid.
Libraries rely on footfall and the services being used to stay afloat so it’s not enough to just sign up for a card and then not use it!
Before I get into the meat of this post, I just want to say that library workers know that not everyone has access to good libraries and some people don’t have access to them. We are aware of these things, and the unfortunate reality is that library funding depends on how many people use libraries in the first place. If more people use libraries, the better funded we are. Also, I can only comment on how the libraries in my area are run.
1) it’s free
I mean, duh.
2) libraries have more than just books
Books are obviously what make up the vast majority of a library’s stock, but there are plenty of other things available. There are DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, internet access, and some libraries even have board games available to loan.
There are people who come into the library I work in to only ever use the computers and nothing else, and we even have a member who only ever borrows DVDs. You don’t need to be a big reader to use the library because it is much more than that.
Libraries also hold social events like art clubs, readers groups, craft sessions for children, mommy groups, and matinees.
3) you don’t need to leave the house to use the library
These days, most libraries have services that let you access things from home (and if they don’t, they should). Borrowbox and Libby are excellent services for digital audiobooks and eBooks, while Libraries at Home services can deliver physical books and audiobooks to your door. Some libraries also allow you to become a member online so you may never need to go into the library itself unless you need help with your account.
4) libraries are safe spaces
Libraries may not be silent spaces anymore, but we do make sure that it’s a place where people feel comfortable and safe. Librarians are not going to judge you for the books you borrow or what you use the facilities for (as long as they’re not illegal). A library is a place where everyone is welcome and it’s something that it always will be.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that it’s somewhere that your toddlers can run free but a lot of parents don’t realise that. Library workers are not babysitters, your kids are your own responsibility.
5) library books aren’t always old
There’s a misconception that libraries only ever have older books or backlist titles. While that can be true to a certain extent, libraries are constantly getting new releases and preordering books in advance. Whether or not you’ll be able to read those new releases as soon as they come out is not a guarantee however due to the time it takes for staff to receipt and prep new stock, and how fast people read them.
talk to me!
Do you use your library often? What would make you use it more?
