Gotta say, I have loved libraries ever since the first time I set foot in one - the little library in my junior school, way back when.
What amazes me about libraries is how well they've adapted over the decades, providing lots of new services. They are more than book places; they are human spaces.
I suspect people who bear animus towards them haven't been in one for decades.
I’ve been working on a history book, and for so long I was always so frustrated that I only had access to so many sources, without being associated with an institution that paid for hundreds of databases...only to find out, upon finally getting a library card, that I had access to a whole bunch of them as well. This year especially I’ve really found that public libraries, aside from all the resources they offer, are simply an amazing place to hang out with others in your community. Thanks for this piece!
Wonderful post, Mark! Growing up in rural Mississippi, I spent lots of time riding my bike to the local library and consumed books like candy--books that exposed me to a world far larger than my own. Thus began a lifelong love of stories!
For anyone visiting near Calgary, AB I highly recommend a trip to the downtown Calgary Public Library. It's been on my bucket list for years and, as I don't live there anymore, I had to make a special trip to see it. It is a spectacular, award-winning building that nurtures community. There was a large line up of people waiting to get in on a Sunday morning and it quickly got very busy. Wonderful to see!
Thanks for this great article Mark. I love libraries and feel they are an important thread in the fabric of our lives so I appreciate the effort this essay took.
I don't use our library system enough, but our new central library is being built at one of the busiest/largest intersections in our 144-square mile sized town. So our advocacy group is doing a Road Safety Audit around the area to make sure it's safe for future library users. One thing we have noticed was the uptick in people experiencing homelessness along this corridor. We don't want to just document issues but offer possible solutions, so I started to do research on libraries and the unhoused, and I found out that the American Library Association actually has a program/document called "Extending Our Reach: Reducing Homelessness through Library Engagement." https://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/extending-our-reach-reducing-homelessness-through-library-engagement-3 And in reading your piece, I see it's not just an American issue. Anyway, your whole piece was thorough and interesting, thanks for sharing/writing!
Hi Trilety, thanks for sharing that link. My experience is that public libraries sometimes become one of the stops of last resort for people with many different kinds of troubles. I'm aware of several different libraries where people congregrate near libraries after hours to grab free wifi signal. I have also heard rumours of housing-challenged people camping out in vehicles in library parking lots as well.
One precious memory for me is set at a library, the public library in town had Super Smash Bros Brawl tournaments every middle school half day, so when school let out we'd get lunch and walk over to it.
These were based on the actual game using the built in tournament mode, and for a younger crowd, no overly complicated stage selection rule or other competitive community nonsense, and items were on. One time I actually had to negotiate the item list for a compromise between people who wanted them and people who didn't by making a curated item list. Early rounds were four man free for alls.
I actually won one of those, very proud moment for me. And it was a great way to spend the day after school.
Thanks for reminding me how much I enjoyed libraries growing up in the 70s and 80s. Having been to several Universities over the years, I often judge the quality of the school based on the libraries on campus. Unfortunately, in recent years I have had negative experiences in libraries. Homeless people don't use the library as a 'library', but rather as a place to talk loudly, snore, get in out of the cold or heat and use every available outlet to charge their cell phones. In Albuquerque, the main public library was way too close to the homeless shelter and when the shelter closed for cleaning each day, all the people from the shelter would take over the library where they were loud, territorial and not the least bit interested in books. In Phoenix, I had to walk past a row of homeless people camped out in from of the library during triple digit heat. They were allowed to take turns going inside the library to cool off for a while, which usually meant loud snoring and offensive hygiene. One day I hope to open 'Reading Rooms' open to paying members to recreate the silent library experience of the past.
I recommended another writer today to visit local libraries to see if they would let him distribute flyers for his Substack, he is looking for readers, with the added challenge that he is in a non-English speaking country and is writing in English. Libraries are one place where he can start looking! Great article, Mark.
I spent my childhood in our local libraries. I loved them and still do. The central library where I live now used to have a person in the reference section who seemed to know the location of any bit of information you asked about. The library has gone to the opposite extreme of enforcing silence. Sometimes children run around screaming while the people in charge just look on. On the plus side, there's a pretty decent cafe right in the middle of the ground floor and a local history museum and specialist business library on the top floor, plus training courses (I taught a few myself), so much is being done to keep the library alive as a vital hub of the community.
I LOVE libraries. My earliest memories include visiting them and my first paid job (at 13) was shelving books at our local library. Now THAT was a great job - the books I came across during work, some of which were certainly adult in nature, were definitely formative! As an undergraduate/graduate student the university libraries were glorious - there’s nothing like stumbling across new books and idea. And nothing like doing it in a library - in silence, with a massive card catalog to flip through .... Great post! Thanks!
Gotta say, I have loved libraries ever since the first time I set foot in one - the little library in my junior school, way back when.
What amazes me about libraries is how well they've adapted over the decades, providing lots of new services. They are more than book places; they are human spaces.
I suspect people who bear animus towards them haven't been in one for decades.
All this, Shane. All this.
Libraries are okay, she says, getting ready to go work in her library for the day, after which she’ll go pick up holds at her public library.
Oh good, you're familiar with libraries, I was wondering. ;)
Books as our first VR experience: yes!!! Loved learning more about libraries--especially all the stuff happening today!
Thanks Jillian!
I’ve been working on a history book, and for so long I was always so frustrated that I only had access to so many sources, without being associated with an institution that paid for hundreds of databases...only to find out, upon finally getting a library card, that I had access to a whole bunch of them as well. This year especially I’ve really found that public libraries, aside from all the resources they offer, are simply an amazing place to hang out with others in your community. Thanks for this piece!
I love this story, Sam, thanks for sharing!
Wonderful post, Mark! Growing up in rural Mississippi, I spent lots of time riding my bike to the local library and consumed books like candy--books that exposed me to a world far larger than my own. Thus began a lifelong love of stories!
Wonderful!
Great post, Mark. Although I'd like to point out that the shusher in the reference room at my hometown library was a man in a cardigan.
Fair enough, stereotypes. :)
For anyone visiting near Calgary, AB I highly recommend a trip to the downtown Calgary Public Library. It's been on my bucket list for years and, as I don't live there anymore, I had to make a special trip to see it. It is a spectacular, award-winning building that nurtures community. There was a large line up of people waiting to get in on a Sunday morning and it quickly got very busy. Wonderful to see!
Thanks for this great article Mark. I love libraries and feel they are an important thread in the fabric of our lives so I appreciate the effort this essay took.
Library tourism!
Can you imagine a trip that involves going from library to library! Especially with a lot of time to hang out. That would be amazing.
If you’re on Instagram there’s an account there called 1000 libraries that shows images of libraries from all over the world, it’s wonderful.
I don't use our library system enough, but our new central library is being built at one of the busiest/largest intersections in our 144-square mile sized town. So our advocacy group is doing a Road Safety Audit around the area to make sure it's safe for future library users. One thing we have noticed was the uptick in people experiencing homelessness along this corridor. We don't want to just document issues but offer possible solutions, so I started to do research on libraries and the unhoused, and I found out that the American Library Association actually has a program/document called "Extending Our Reach: Reducing Homelessness through Library Engagement." https://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/extending-our-reach-reducing-homelessness-through-library-engagement-3 And in reading your piece, I see it's not just an American issue. Anyway, your whole piece was thorough and interesting, thanks for sharing/writing!
Hi Trilety, thanks for sharing that link. My experience is that public libraries sometimes become one of the stops of last resort for people with many different kinds of troubles. I'm aware of several different libraries where people congregrate near libraries after hours to grab free wifi signal. I have also heard rumours of housing-challenged people camping out in vehicles in library parking lots as well.
One precious memory for me is set at a library, the public library in town had Super Smash Bros Brawl tournaments every middle school half day, so when school let out we'd get lunch and walk over to it.
These were based on the actual game using the built in tournament mode, and for a younger crowd, no overly complicated stage selection rule or other competitive community nonsense, and items were on. One time I actually had to negotiate the item list for a compromise between people who wanted them and people who didn't by making a curated item list. Early rounds were four man free for alls.
I actually won one of those, very proud moment for me. And it was a great way to spend the day after school.
This post was an enormous undertaking. Thanx so much for all this work.
I am an archivist by trade but technically my MLS says that I’m a librarian. These are my people!
Thanks for reminding me how much I enjoyed libraries growing up in the 70s and 80s. Having been to several Universities over the years, I often judge the quality of the school based on the libraries on campus. Unfortunately, in recent years I have had negative experiences in libraries. Homeless people don't use the library as a 'library', but rather as a place to talk loudly, snore, get in out of the cold or heat and use every available outlet to charge their cell phones. In Albuquerque, the main public library was way too close to the homeless shelter and when the shelter closed for cleaning each day, all the people from the shelter would take over the library where they were loud, territorial and not the least bit interested in books. In Phoenix, I had to walk past a row of homeless people camped out in from of the library during triple digit heat. They were allowed to take turns going inside the library to cool off for a while, which usually meant loud snoring and offensive hygiene. One day I hope to open 'Reading Rooms' open to paying members to recreate the silent library experience of the past.
Headed to my local library today in fact to donate some books. One of my favorite life endeavors.
I recommended another writer today to visit local libraries to see if they would let him distribute flyers for his Substack, he is looking for readers, with the added challenge that he is in a non-English speaking country and is writing in English. Libraries are one place where he can start looking! Great article, Mark.
Thanks!
as a gen z I actually use books to escape the internet 😭 I can't take this AI thing anymore lets just move into libraries and never leave
I spent my childhood in our local libraries. I loved them and still do. The central library where I live now used to have a person in the reference section who seemed to know the location of any bit of information you asked about. The library has gone to the opposite extreme of enforcing silence. Sometimes children run around screaming while the people in charge just look on. On the plus side, there's a pretty decent cafe right in the middle of the ground floor and a local history museum and specialist business library on the top floor, plus training courses (I taught a few myself), so much is being done to keep the library alive as a vital hub of the community.
I LOVE libraries. My earliest memories include visiting them and my first paid job (at 13) was shelving books at our local library. Now THAT was a great job - the books I came across during work, some of which were certainly adult in nature, were definitely formative! As an undergraduate/graduate student the university libraries were glorious - there’s nothing like stumbling across new books and idea. And nothing like doing it in a library - in silence, with a massive card catalog to flip through .... Great post! Thanks!