Topic #1 Libraries as Social Hubs

Topic #1 Libraries as Social Hubs

When I saw this topic as something to discuss about in a blog post, it occurred to me that I hadn’t thought about how important libraries were to the community and various groups of people. In truth for as long as I can remember, I’ve always found the library haven when I wanted to find books or other materials that I didn’t have at home or in a bookstore.

Here is a quote worth thinking about from one of the articles I discovered through Academic Search Complete in the Palomar Community College library database. It is one of five I searched in my quest for more interesting information on this topic.

“There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.” Andrew Carnegie (Senville, 2009)

Libraries have evolved from simply being brick and mortar buildings that housed collections of books, magazines, and other easily obtainable resources. They’ve become a place where people of all ages gather to discuss books they have a common interest in, they join group programs that range from knitting to yoga to movie screenings (depending on which club is using what community room.) The big rooms are rented out for a fee for merchants to display items they wish to promote and give people opportunities how to maximize their lifestyles or make healthy changes in addition to what they’re doing.

Sometimes concerts are held and people can gather to listen to live music. There are many reasons why the library has become a social hub. It is often the key location for people to gain access to technology that is the only place to come for it. The needs ranging from career search or simply to browse are many (Senville, 2009) and therefore, some people are finding ways to incorporate libraries into downtown infrastructure so that they’re attracting traffic from shopping areas as well. (Goodman, J. 2015)

References

Senville, W. (2009). PUBLIC LIBRARIES: THE HUB OF OUR COMMUNITIES. Aplis, 22(3), 97-103.

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References

Goodman, J. (2015). Library, community campus, learning hub: the community educational development challenge. Australian Library Journal, 64(3), 217-223. doi:10.1080/00049670.2015.1041218

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