I began teaching in the elementary grades in 1971. Sixth grade. Thirty-three students. 23 boys, 10 girls. We were allowed to go to the library once a week. No computers, no Internet, no movies to check out.
Books. No magazines at that time.
My job was to help my students find books they wanted to read. It was easy for the girls. A challenge for the boys, who thought reading was a girl thing.
Ten years later, I taught 4th grade in a Central Texas school. Fourteen students. Library the same as the previous decade.
So, I provided opportunities for learning in my classroom. Pictures, bulletin boards, books to read about featured topics, and learning centers on reading, writing, social studies, English, and Math.
I was classified then as a Whole Language Constructivist. That meant I surrounded my students with opportunities to learn. Without computers or the Internet. No smart phones. Same old library.
A writer friend of mine on Medium—Michael Rhodes—published an article comparing libraries of the past and how libraries have kept up with technology since computers and the Internet entered classrooms.
Michael gave me permission to share this article with you.
Are Public Libraries a Dinosaur and Relic of the Past?
This dinosaur thought they were, but could I be wrong?
By Michael Rhodes
November 10, 2023
I had two thoughts when I heard that a twelve-million-dollar library was under construction in our small town.
The first thing this seventy-year-old dinosaur thought was — aren’t public libraries a relic of the past?
With the Internet, YouTube, Audible Books, and Kindle, does anyone use the library anymore?
I have not stepped foot in a public library in at least twenty years.
As I type these words, I’m unsure if I should be embarrassed by this fact or proud of it.
You be the judge.
But I’m not alone.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) published data in July 2019, which shows a steady decline in physical library visits of about 3% each year for the past seven years. PublishersWeekly
As expected, the decline increased during COVID-19, although our library was only closed briefly.
Things are much worse in the UK and Australia.
Yes, much worse. In the U.K., that same 3–4% decline, more in some cases, has been going on for more than 25 years. And because virtually no action has ever been taken to reverse it, the use of public libraries in the U.K. is now 70% less than in 2000. PublishersWeekly
I said in my opening paragraph there were two things I thought about.
The second thing was spending $12 million dollars for a new library at a time when attendance was declining.
I thought to myself — why not take that money and ensure all the residents have access to the internet, that children have computers, build community centers, replace the arts and crafts removed from schools, provide music programs, add before and after school programs, and access to dance and theater programs for school-age children.
Then I entered our local library and discovered they are doing all these things and more.
Let me tell you, I was very surprised by today’s libraries.
It’s not what I remember.
They were often in historic old buildings, having dark wood paneling, dark and dreary inside with few windows.
The librarians were stern — constantly putting their finger to their mouth, followed by “Shush” directed at me or my friends.
Mostly me, if I’m telling the truth.
I don’t remember them as friendly places where anyone smiled. My comparison would be closer to church and sitting in old wood straight-back chairs or long benches that reminded me of church pews.
When I visited my local library, I was greeted by smiling people eager to help who were dressed in bright, cheerful clothing.
Children were laughing in one corner during “Story Time,” pre-teens were learning about musical instruments in a classroom, and the place was alive with conversations and parents reading to children “out loud,” no less.
I commented to the librarian; I always thought libraries were quiet places.
She said, “We welcome the sound of giggles!”
Mrs. Stern would be appalled at this commotion.
It was bright, open, and full of sunlight.
Overstuffed chairs and sofas replaced the hard, straight-back chairs. Ergonomic furniture and modern computers are available.
Free Wi-Fi, free Audio Books through “Libby,” Movies, Music, free language courses, and free smiles.
The bank of small wood drawers that housed the Card Catalog are gone.
You search for books on computers. I searched for a book titled “Library,” but my library didn’t have that book.
But get this.
There are 33 library branches in San Diego County, so I reserved the book from a branch that had it. The book will be delivered to my library, and I will get an email when it arrives.
You can print and copy cheaply and even use a 3-D printer for just .15 cents per gram. I assume this is a gram of whatever a 3-D printer uses.
But on Wednesdays, you have free “Creative Writing Classes,” I may join them.
There is a knitting club, gardening classes on Tuesdays, pre-school story time on Thursdays, a Chess Club, a Pre-teen book club, and so on.
Perhaps Andrew Carnegie said it best, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.”
Perhaps I’m the dinosaur, not the library. I now have a library card, my first in twenty years.
Some interesting facts about libraries. Source ALA
In the U.S., there are more libraries than Starbucks.
The Library of Congress is the largest Library in the world, with 167 million items.
Digital media items have increased in Public Libraries by 50% since 2014.
The oldest library in the world was in Mosul, Iraq. Established by the King of the Assyrians between 668 and 631 BCE.
What are your thoughts? Are the libraries where you live dinosaurs, or are they making the necessary paradigm shift to stay relevant today?
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Thanks, Michael! Wow!
What do you think about today’s libraries? Let me know in the comments.
Hugs and Happiness!
Linda
I am very grateful for the existence of libraries, not only as a source of information and entertainment but also as a past and possibly future source of employment.