For the most part, the people who work in public libraries do so for what should be considered noble reasons. They sure aren't doing it to get rich and the glory, well, let's just say we take what little comes our way with as much grace as we can muster. I'm telling you this not because I want the violins to come out, but because I want you to understand that when people say things like "Who needs public libraries when we have Amazon?" or "I do all my research on the internet," or "It must be nice to sit around reading all day," library workers tend to take it personally. Libraries, in our opinion, embody some of the bedrock ideals on which this nation was founded, and those, you might agree, seem to be in shorter and shorter supply every day. Below are some reasons we, on this Library Workers Day, believe public libraries are worth fighting for.
If We Didn't Have Them, We'd Need to Invent Them
If you were starting a country from scratch—one committed to fairness, democracy, education and the radical idea that people should have a fighting chance no matter where they were born or how much money their parents had—you, through trial and error, might eventually come up with something like the modern public library: a place where anyone, from any background, can walk in and access knowledge, information, technology, job seeker resources, early literacy and school-readiness programs, a safe place to sit quietly, and a chance for genuine human connection.
A Place of Possibilities
Let’s be real—public libraries are a little subversive and, in this day and age, a little miraculous. They are one of the last indoor spaces in America where no one is going to try to sell you something. You don’t need a membership, a subscription, or a credit card. You belong because you bothered to walk through the doors or visit the website. Your ability to pay does not determine your access to anything we offer; we don't have "premium plus" plans or "platinum level" memberships. In a world where access to knowledge and resources increasingly depends on one's ability to pay, public libraries remain stubbornly, admirably open to all. And Americans, across the political spectrum, love them for it.
Public libraries don’t just provide books, story times and free tax prep; they provide opportunities to everyone, but especially to those who are denied them in most other venues. That is precisely why public libraries are more crucial now than ever before.
ALA's State of America's Libraries: A Snapshot of 2024
Where Misinformation Goes to Die
In an era where misinformation spreads faster and wider than ever in history, libraries are our best defense against the tide of deception. Librarians spend their days ensuring people get accurate, reliable information. They teach media literacy, help people navigate the ever-growing digital landscape, and, in a world of algorithm-driven echo chambers, provide a neutral ground for research, dialogue, and discovery.
Democracy relies on an informed public. By making knowledge free and accessible, libraries are an insurance policy against ignorance—the most dangerous threat to a functioning democracy.
Libraries as the Ultimate Equalizers
Education, career advancement, personal enrichment—all of these require resources. And resources cost money. But libraries level the playing field. If you can’t afford Wi-Fi at home, your library has you covered. If you need help writing a resume, applying for a job, or studying for an exam, your library is there. If you want to expose your child to reading but can’t fill your shelves with books, the library is your personal, cost-free bookstore.
Equity is not about giving everyone the same thing; it’s about ensuring everyone has access to what they need. And public libraries are one of the few institutions left in America that take this principle seriously.
The Last Bastion of Community
The modern world can be isolating. Fewer communal spaces exist where people can gather without spending money. But libraries remain one of the last places where a diverse cross-section of the community—young, old, wealthy, struggling—comes together. We provide meeting spaces for local organizations, host free programs that bring people together, and serve as a sanctuary for those who might have nowhere else to go.
At a time when so many are feeling the fraying edges of community life, libraries remind us of what it means to belong to something bigger than ourselves. They are not just buildings full of books. They are hubs of connection, conversation, and civic engagement.
The Cost of Losing Libraries
If public libraries disappeared tomorrow, it wouldn’t just mean the loss of books and programs. It would mean the loss of one of the few remaining places where everyone, regardless of background, can access information, seek opportunity, and simply exist without financial barriers.
Forget for a moment all my idealistic rhetoric. On a strictly economic level, cutting library funding does not make sense. Study after study has shown a strong return on investment in public libraries, with communities seeing a significant value for every dollar invested, often exceeding a $5 economic impact for every dollar put into public libraries. The bottom line is that public libraries contribute to economic activity and improved academic performance.
The Future We Choose
Public libraries don’t happen by accident. They exist because people fought for them, believed in them, and understood that a truly just society provides access to knowledge for all, not just for those who can afford it. So, the next time someone questions whether libraries are still necessary, remind them: Libraries are not just about books. They are about access, equity, democracy, and the radical notion that knowledge should not be a luxury. They are one of America’s best ideas and one of its most necessary institutions. And like all great ideas, they need to be defended.
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