Are libraries still important? Of course. Are they important in the same way they were 40 years ago? No, not exactly.
Your parents may have told you the old wives’ tale of going to the library to write their school essays and projects (and how they had to cross the Northern sea to get to school).
Today, we open our laptops and can either purchase the reading material we need or search on the infinite web for articles and publications.
It’s not a stretch to say that public libraries have been on the decline in the past decade. It’s evident that they are not as prevalent in our communities as they once were. Are libraries on their way out?
The Rebranding of Libraries
At the core, the purpose of a public library is to lend books to the customer that will then be returned in a few weeks. A concept that feels a bit foreign in the age of mass influencing and overconsumption.
The problem with this is that the principle of borrowing and returning physical books is not as heavily practiced anymore. It may appear as though people don’t make use of their libraries anymore, which is just not the truth. We just don’t have to walk through the actual door to get the books we want anymore.
In 2009, 98% of library resources were found in the actual library, compared to only 45% in 2019. Libraries recognized the decrease in physical copy usage and converted part of their catalog to audiobooks and digital versions.
So, how does one participate with their local library? Well you can always get a library card and go grab a physical book. However, that’s not the common practice anymore.
A great platform for readers looking to read or listen to books without buying a book is Libby. Libby was created in 2017 as a way to borrow and enjoy books digitally. All you have to do is get a public library card, link it to your account and start placing holds on e-books or audiobooks. For kindle users and audio listeners, this is an inexpensive option.
Here to Stay
Why should we even try to hold on to libraries though? Well, there’s always a want to hold on to old ways that feel nostalgic. Although there are growing options in bookstores, libraries still have something to offer the community. They offer an inexpensive and sustainable way to keep up with reading.
In 2024, there are an overwhelming number of platforms for people to share their interests, including reading. With the rise of TikTok came the rise of BookTok, a book community online to share recommendations and tips. It’s reported that “BookTok also increased the number of books that the platform’s users read annually by 58%,” which is always good news. So not only are libraries not dead, but reading as a whole lives on.
Libraries may have died once, but they are resurrected now. With some adaptation, our public libraries are still standing.
The post Libraries: We All Know Them, Do We Still Love Them? first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.