As fault lines in the US deepen every day around class, race, political party, gender, and education, libraries are quietly providing the social glue that society seems to lack. Most have reading programs and career resources. Some have media production studios and maker spaces. Millions use libraries for internet access, and to work. They are a first stop for immigrants, a place for parents to introduce their kids to reading—an essential gateway to learning—and where the the socially isolated go for human contact. They welcome the poor and the homeless. Some librarians and staff administer have even been trained to administer naloxene to those who have overdosed on opioids.
Eric Klinenberg, a sociologist and author, argued recently in the New York Times that libraries may be key to restoring civil society. “Libraries are an example of what I call “social infrastructure”: the physical spaces and organizations that shape the way people interact,” he wrote.
Pew Research Data shows people trust their libraries. In a 2016 survey, almost two-thirds of 1,601 respondents (66%) said the closing of their local public library would have a major impact on their community. In addition, 69% said that libraries contribute “a lot” to their communities in providing a safe place for people to hang out or spend time, while 58% say libraries are good at opening up educational opportunities for people of all ages.
As Klinenberg writes: “Libraries don’t just provide free access to books and other cultural materials, they also offer things like companionship for older adults, de facto child care for busy parents, language instruction for immigrants and welcoming public spaces for the poor, the homeless and young people.”
To read more of Jenny Anderson's article, visit: https://qz.com/1401665/can-lib...y=00Qi000001ceuWdEAI
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