Libraries as Social Hubs

Lauree Padgett states in their article The Social Library : “considering that libraries used to (and sometimes still do) have a reputation for being places for quiet contemplation, solitary study, and hushed voices, the word “social” seems like an odd adjective to use when describing them, yet more and more are becoming social hubs.” This statement couldn’t be more than true and Padgett hit the nail on the head. Not only is the library a place where you can borrow and use resources, but it’s also becoming a place where a community can gather, socialize, and share common interests. Many libraries have weekly activities, programs, classes, book clubs, etc. This gives libraries a great opportunity to engage with a community and pinpoint specific interests and needs based on the local demographic, as well as gets more people into the library. “When library staff embed themselves in the community, everyone benefits” (Hinze).

Here is a video of Shamichael Hallman discussing the steps Memphis Library is taking to becoming a social hub to reconnect with the community. He makes some great points about the importance of connecting with a community.

                                            https://youtu.be/JI2CLgq3LLk

 I live in a heavily Hispanic community and my local library has had events in the past that highlights Hispanic culture in art and food. My local library also has weekly story time and craft day for children. This program has been around for as long as I can remember. I remember attending as a young child and now my family takes my niece and nephew to the same program. I’ve also seen libraries taking steps to engage with teenagers and young adults. We have a coloring club for teenagers at my library and I’ve seen young adult book clubs forming. It’s very important to reach out to the youth. They are the next generation of library users. This generation of youth is powerful and they are going to do tremendous things for the future of libraries.

“Libraries are not only a vital barometer of community prosperity, but the conversations they can spark through programming and social media will redefine participatory culture.” – Brendan Howley

References

PADGETT, LAUREE. “The Social Library.” Information Today, vol. 34, no. 10, Dec. 2017, p. 23. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=126810320&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Hinze, Shana. “Librarians as Community Ambassadors.” Young Adult Library Services, vol. 15, no. 1, Fall 2016, pp. 27–30. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=118843606&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

HOWLEY, BRENDAN. “Libraries as Values-Driven Participatory Culture Hubs.” Information Today, vol. 35, no. 5, June 2018, pp. 15–16. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=130182780&site=ehost-live&scope=site. 

Libraries as Social Hubs

Since their inception, libraries have been ever-evolving social hubs. They serve as gathering places, elevating life in the communities they serve by fostering involvement and interconnectedness. Libraries act as social hubs not only due to the programs they offer, but simply because of their existence as a welcoming space. Public libraries are producers of trust and social capital because "they offer universal access to information services, treat all patrons equally, and provide a meeting place available to everyone" (Varheim, 259).

Locally, through the San Diego Public Library system, the "Do Your Homework at the Library" program is one way San Diego libraries serve as a social hub for connecting the community. Through this program, volunteers can help students, K-8, with their homework. Students can gather and work together with tutors to learn and get access to digital resources and other school materials they may need. These sorts of programs absolutely help to reinforce libraries as social hubs for learning and community engagement.

New Vision for San Diego Public Libraries -- The City of San Diego

Works Cited: 

Vårheim, Andreas. “Trust in Libraries and Trust in Most People: Social Capital Creation in the Public Library.” The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy, vol. 84, no. 3, 2014, pp. 258–277. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/676487. Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.

"Social Role of the Library." Social Role of the Library: Libraries Matter, http://www.ala.org/tools/research/librariesmatter/category/social-role-library. Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.

Libraries as Social Hubs

In an ever-polarized and distracted world fraught with fake news and propaganda, the library strives to be the great community equalizer. In the article “Libraries as Values-Driven Participatory Culture Hubs”, published in Information Today in June 2018, Brendan Howley argues that “libraries matter because they’re the cornerstone and touchstone of shared stories – they embody and set free the culture in which we live” (Howley, 15). They encourage conversations and participation in community, and while social media can spark those conversations, the library facilitates that participation.

Howley lists six aspects that libraries facilitate, making them “critical community resources”. These are:

• Diversity of voice
• Social equity
• Transparency and social accountability
• Access to the building blocks of an open society
• Access to trusted repositories of community data
• Access to business intelligence for centers of small business and entrepreneurship (15)

In the TedX Talk video “Public Libraries: The Next Level”, Brampton Library’s CEO discusses how libraries are assisting patrons in creating their own content, as individuals and groups, further connecting them with their communities. She also explains how kids come to the library for their most popular program, LegoMania, and learn to engage in cooperation, which helps them move on to the next level of programming, LegoRobotics. This program, and several other STEM programs, help kids gain engineering and planning skills that will help them move to the next level as community members.



It is clear that beyond just being a place to get books or a space where the community can convene, libraries serve a much larger community, social, and educational purpose. This can be seen not only at the public library, but academic libraries as well. Study spaces encourage students to gather and exchange information. Library events encourage students to explore the library and feel part of the academic community. Students convene at the library for academics, often resulting in social connections and plans.

What changes have you seen in your library regarding its function as a social hub? Please comment!

Additional resources about this topic are cited below.


Works Cited

Harris, Ryan, et al. “Creating Shared Campus Experiences: The Library as Culture Club.” Journal of the Medical Library Association, vol. 101, no. 4, Oct. 2013, pp. 254–256. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3163/1536-5050.101.4.005.

Hinze, Shana. “Librarians as Community Ambassadors.” Young Adult Library Services, vol. 15, no. 1, Fall 2016, pp. 27–30. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=118843606&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Howley, Brendan. “Libraries as Values-Driven Participatory Culture Hubs.” Information Today, vol. 35, no. 5, June 2018, pp. 15–16. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=130182780&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Padgett, Lauree. “The Social Library.” Information Today, vol. 34, no. 10, Dec. 2017, p. 23. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=126810320&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

“Public Libraries: The Next Level.” YouTube, TedX, 2 Oct. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frOurFNzFE0.

Libraries as Social Hubs

Libraries have a special place in the lives of caregivers, especially stay at home parents. As long as I have been one, we have utilized the library. From story times, to movie nights, special presentations and learning about specific topics. Parents need the library for socialization. One thing I didn’t anticipate when we started going regularly was the community I would gain. Parenthood can be an isolating time. Visiting the library and being greeted with a friendly smile or even a nod of recognition at what a handful kids can be can really boost a parent’s morale. Add to that being inclusive of all communities like having a drag queen story time, hours dedicated to teen parents or goat story time and we can all find our community to lean on. By providing a variety of programming, libraries ensure parents come back. This in turn helps to facilitate a lifetime love of libraries and learning in their children. Recurring programs give parents a safe place for a weekly social time with other adults, sometimes the only other adult interaction you will have that day. These integral library programs provide a place to feel connected to other adults, guaranteeing they will come back for the social interaction and all the benefits to their children’s social, emotional and intellectual growth.

Works Cited:

Malloy, Karen, and Marlin Day. “Not Your Typical Library Program: Goat Storytime.” Florida Libraries, vol. 59, no. 1, Spring 2016, pp. 29–31. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=117822497&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Prendergast, Tess, et al. “Reaching Out to Parents.” Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, vol. 17, no. 1, Spring 2019, pp. 38–39. EBSCOhost, doi:10.5860/cal.17.1.38.

Staino, Rocco. “Storytime Gets Fabulous.” School Library Journal, vol. 63, no. 7, July 2017, p. 14. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=124220840&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Hickey, Grainne, et al. “A Universal Early Parenting Education Intervention in Community-Based Primary Care Settings: Development and Installation Challenges.” Education Sciences, vol. 8, Jan. 2018. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1201078&site=ehost-live&scope=site.