Have you ever been in a library at closing time? You’re lost somewhere deep in the stacks, deep in thought, having picked a book off the shelf, opened it in the middle and started reading.
A polite (this is a library) voice overhead says, “Attention patrons. The library is closing in 15 minutes. 15 minutes. Please make your way to Circulation with any items to be checked out.”
What if that voice said, instead, “Attention patrons. The library is closing in 15 minutes. Forever. Please put down all items and leave the building.”
When I wrote, recently, about the future of public libraries in an era of consumerism, competition and e-books, I was for the most part musing philosophically. Prompted by a library clerk’s question, I wondered whether today’s citizens would invent libraries if they didn’t already exist.
As often happens when one writes about something, I have learned a lot by simply putting my observations out there. Readers and followers on Twitter started sending me updates on the fates of libraries across North America. The picture is not pretty.
Charlotte NC: four branches closed due to cutbacks
Victoria BC: Sunday hours eliminated at most branches
Las Vegas NV: 200 library jobs cut, hours reduced, purchasing cut
Quincy MA: 9% budget cut and branches closed Fridays
Lexington KY: 10 library jobs cut
I could go on, and on.
There are many argumen
ts that can be made for the important role that public libraries play in our communities, but I will limit myself to one. Without fail, every time I am in a library, I see a parent with one or two or more kids in tow, up at the circulation desk, with a small mountain of those thin and colourful books that kids love.
I think of those kids, of how kids dive into those books, engage in creative play with fictional characters, and I fear for a future without libraries. The connection between early reading habits and literacy is proven.
And if we let our libraries go, we are settling for significantly reduced literacy in future generations. That is not wise, folks. Not wise.
Where was it, in the past generation, that we let go of the concept that we all pitched in (through taxes) to fund public institutions like libraries and schools, because they make our society stronger?
We are now so fixated on making individuals stronger that we have largely abandoned our commitment to the greater good. Why are schools now having to do massive fundraising campaigns to pay for books and supplies? But I better stop before I get going on schools.
What can you and I do about libraries? Call up your local, provincial, state and federal politicians. Tell them you want to pay more taxes. For libraries. Tell them to stand up for public good.
And that, for now, is my library rant. I wonder if the circulation desk is still open?
Photo Credits
“Library Closed” Bigoteetoe @ Flickr.com. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
“Empty Library” courtesy of Bookchase
“Lilly reads her first book” Digismile @ Flickr.com
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OMG, this absolutely grabbed my gut and twisted it until I couldn’t breathe!! God I hope not. We CANNOT live without libraries!!!!!
Hi Mary, yes it’s a scary trend. We seem to put so much faith in the private sector these days that we forget what wonderful public institutions our parents and grandparents created.