I recently came across an article published in Forbes magazine in 2018, in which author Panos Mourdoukoutas declared that if Amazon replaced the public library it would save the taxpayers a huge amount of money. He went on to suggest that technology and Starbucks had surpassed what libraries were able to offer at this point.
I would like to argue that Mr. Mourdoukoutas’s vision of the future was wearing serious horse blinders; Libraries are more than a place to check out a book and read. They have evolved into community centers that provide a myriad of educational and social opportunities. They are also among the last free government funded services in America that are truly worth the taxpayer’s money.
Here are just a few of the things the libraries have to offer:
• There are real human beings in the library. They are some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet and they genuinely like to help people. When I was a little girl, the library was my sanctuary. It was a place that I could go when home felt scary or dangerous. It seemed like the librarian was the only person in the world who gave a damn about me. I’ve met a lot of people who feel that way.
• If a library doesn’t have the book that you want, they will put out a search to every other public library in the United States to find your book for you. They find it, you get it, with no hidden fees.
• Many libraries also have a seed library where people can get seeds to plant their own gardens at home. At the same library, you can take out a book to learn how to grow those plants like a pro.
• Don’t have a computer or Wi-Fi at home? Come to the library. They have both. And if you have a computer or device at home but don’t know how to use it, sign up for a tech course for one-on-one help. Does Starbucks do that?
• Programming varies branch-to-branch, so take a look at your local library’s website to see what they have going on. In a two-site search, I found yoga classes, air fryer workshops, charity sewing, farmers markets, and book bingo. If you want a zoology lecture with live reptiles, or if you’ve always wanted to climb on a fire truck, your local library may very likely invite iguanas and rescue vehicles for a visit soon. Libraries give away free school supplies and books. Providence libraries currently have free meal services, and some were even able to give away free water filters last year to qualified community members.
• Libraries are great supporters of the arts. They host visiting artists and musicians to discuss their work and facilitate creative workshops. If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at 3D printing, nearly every library in the state has a printer and will show you how to program your own designs. You can find painting classes, writer’s groups, and digital music streaming. Ask for discounted passes to museums and watch for outdoor summer concert series and indoor folk and jazz.
• Safety is a huge concern to all parents today, so know this – your children are safe at the library. The children’s section is watched over by a youth services specialist who makes certain that no adults enter the area unless they have children with them. If you are a new mother who is going a little bit nuts at home, the library can be a sanctuary. There are play areas for children that carry everything from building blocks to board games. You might find a puppet stage or a makers space that provides free craft materials for children to experiment and build with. You might rediscover your own inner child by playing along with your kids. Do your older children need help with homework? Libraries work in partnership with local colleges to provide tutoring for struggling students. And if you find yourself needing a quiet place to work, Rochambeau library in Providence has study pods that you can sign up for if you crave a veritable cone of silence.
Mr. Mourdoukoutas saw the libraries as mere books lenders and video dispensers, but he was living in a pre-pandemic world. When COVID struck, the libraries were the very first to pivot their programs to serve virtual and housebound citizens. They provided grab-and-go bags with full-sized art materials. They gave out free COVID tests and began in-person outdoor workshops for housebound youth, armed only with hand sanitizer, surgical masks and paper mâché.
So – if you want a good online price for just about any product, or any book, Amazon really is a great place to look. I go there all the time. But can technology ever replace the libraries?
No, Mr. Mourdoukoutas, it cannot. And it never will.