Introduction
Amidst the rise of the digital era, physical libraries are finding themselves on a rapid decline. They are in great flux, and their transformation is largely shaped by the shift from the analog age to the digital age. The amount of information that would previously be worth hours of research at a library is now one click away on a mobile gadget. Speed, convenience, and accessibility are the reasons why people overwhelmingly prefer online search over visiting a local library. Some people are convinced that the glory days of physical libraries are over and they will soon have to reinvent themselves or perish. Others, however, are aware of the hidden gems of library experience and convinced that this cultural institution will live on. This presentation argues that despite digital alternatives, individuals should consider using libraries more as they still fulfill valuable functions that are hard to replace.
Quality Time
For all the advantages of digital devices, we should take their use with a grain of salt. Recent research has shown that excessive use of screen time is intrusive and corrosive to personal relationships (Dennis-Tiwary). A mobile phone that fits in your hand can be a dangerous gadget that controls your attention. It robs you of one of the most fundamental human experiences – being close to other people, looking into their eyes, catching their emotional reactions, and hearing their voices. Tomasello writes that the ability to lock eyes for non-verbal communication was instrumentation to human advancement as species (141). Technology might be evolving fast, but humans do not: face-to-face contact is still essential for cooperation, bonding, and even survival.
It would hardly be a generalization to say that almost every person found themselves mindlessly scrolling through their phone when socializing at least once in their life. Perhaps, they wanted to look up useful information but went on social media instead and became captivated by a whirlwind of pictures and posts. Indeed, screen addiction is difficult to tackle because phones do have useful functions. Surprisingly, there is a way to enjoy information search and quality time with friends and family at the same time. Libraries are a perfect place to set out on a journey of exploration together. Books provide plenty of topics to strike a compelling conversation, which is a refreshing alternative to sitting next to each other, each person glued to their phone. Moreover, libraries are often aesthetically pleasing, especially if they have a rich history grounded in great architecture traditions. There are not many pastimes as fulfilling as receiving food for thought and enjoying companionship while surrounded by beautiful views.
More Than Books
Even though the very idea of a library revolves around collecting and managing books and other written sources, in actuality, libraries are so much more than just books. A well-maintained library with professional staff and sufficient resources is essentially the cultural hub of its neighborhood or even the entire town. Such libraries organize events, offer courses on a variety of subjects, and host hobby hubs. It is not uncommon for a library to host a foreign language or creative writing club. Community resources on more specialized subjects such as programming are also often to be found at a local library. It might also be a suitable place for professional networking, finding like-minded individuals, and exchanging experiences and ideas. On top of that, modern-day librarians take on the roles of event managers and organize celebrations and all kinds of festivities on special occasions. In other words, libraries are free, vital spaces where people learn and socialize. Anyone can find an event or an extracurricular activity to their liking and enjoy both the entertaining and educational value.
Building a Healthier Community
While the previous arguments mostly concerned personal benefits from using a library, now, I would like to address how doing so can positively affect the lives of other people. Living in our safe bubble, we often forget about marginalized communities that might not be enjoying the same access to mobile gadgets and the Internet. Aside from that, digital illiteracy is a serious barrier for as many as 16% of citizens of the United States (Mamedowa et al. 8). Worldwide statistics are even more pessimistic: it appears that roughly every fourth person on Earth cannot fulfill the simplest of tasks on their phone or personal computer.
To us, digital natives and those who grew up with phones, tablets, and laptops, it might not even occur how frustrating a simple Google search might be for a lonely senior citizen. We do not even think about a refugee from a poverty-stricken country who only learns the ropes of a new language and struggles immensely. For them, a local library might be the only place where they can educate themselves and receive free professional support pertaining to their learning goals.
However, the benefits do not end there: in fact, libraries can help minorities and otherwise disadvantaged communities become healthier, which in turn, improves their quality of life. Today, there is no doubt that health outcomes are closely tied to a person’s socioeconomic status. This logic is easy to follow: if you have money, resources, and connections, you can afford regular screenings, detect disease in its early days, and receive the necessary treatment. Information plays an important role in managing one’s health. It is helpful to have general health literacy to be able to look out for signs and symptoms as well as prevent common diseases through a healthy lifestyle.
Unfortunately, it is not always the case for the underprivileged. Health Happens in Libraries reports that it is often the libraries where people receive information about health. According to recent statistics, 42% of queries at physical libraries are health-related. Some libraries offer not only to help with research but also to offer free or cheap fitness courses (Health Happens in Libraries). You can easily imagine how much happiness a free-of-charge sport class can bring to a person for whom a gym membership is an unattainable luxury. By supporting a local library, we can achieve two goals at once. Firstly, we can make libraries more visible, resourceful, and eligible for state grants and subsidies. Secondly, by popularizing libraries, we can make sure that information reaches vulnerable people who may benefit from library visits. A tight-knit, educated, and healthy community is key to a safe and prosperous neighborhood.
Conclusion
Libraries are a social, economic, and cultural institution that now finds themselves at a crossroads. The digital age sets its own rules, and libraries have to respond to the challenge or face oblivion. In a difficult time like this, it is important to remind ourselves of the many benefits that libraries offer and that go well beyond book collection and management. While mobile gadgets allow for a quick search, they also pose an emotional threat to the integrity of personal relationships. Spending time together at a library is a healthy alternative: it allows friends and family to explore various books and discuss compelling topics. Secondly, it would not be an exaggeration to say that libraries are urban cultural hubs: they host clubs, organize courses, and manage events. Last but not least, libraries play an important role in community building by supporting the vulnerable and underprivileged through professional support and free-of-charge educational and fitness opportunities.
Works Cited
Dennis-Tiwary, Tracy. “Screens Are Lifesavers Right Now, but They’re Still Relationship Wreckers.” Fast Company. 2020. Web.
Health Happens at Libraries. Library Heros Make Health Happen, 2016. Web.
Mamedowa, Saida, et al. A Description of U.S. Adults Who Are Not Digitally Literate. 2020. Web.
Tomasello, Michael. Becoming human: A theory of ontogeny. Belknap Press, 2019.