Introduction
Public libraries have been pillars within communities for over a hundred years. These buildings are meant to house knowledge for all to learn and use. Over time, however, libraries have had to adapt to an ever-changing climate. The types of content the library shares with the public have changed dramatically over the last 60 years. Public libraries grew from just housing books to including DVDs, audiobooks, e-books, and even computers. And there are new technologies being introduced every few years. Libraries have evolved from being storehouses for books to places that facilitate a vast array of information. As needs and communities continue to change, so will the role of libraries.
Now, libraries face new reasons to adapt. The current political climate in the United States of America is forcing hundreds of thousands of people to go without adequate health services, housing, and nutritious food options. The deficit of these resources and needs within communities will require supplemental support. Libraries are ideally suited as community hubs to assist in fulfilling an array of community needs (Pressreader Team, 2024). Some libraries are already implementing new programs to address these issues. It may not be long before most libraries across this country develop to include more community service programs at their locations. The future of the public library will become more encompassing as federal and state laws restrict people’s access to various resources. Future public libraries are going to provide more services that will transform them into community service centers rather than just beacons for lifelong learning.
What is the Public Library
To begin, the public library needs to be defined. Kathleen de la Pena and Jenny Bossaler define the public library as “an institution founded in a belief in universal education and opportunity” (2018, p. XVII). In other words, the public library is a physical space with materials aimed towards learning and growth. These libraries are governed by the city, county, or municipality. Libraries in small, rural towns might only have one building. More than likely, that building is going to be attached to or near other government buildings for centralized access. In larger cities, like San Antonio, TX, the library has several locations or branches to provide access to people across the area. Public libraries provide people with books, digital content, makers kits, creative programming, and more.
Public libraries also collaborate with one another. Sometimes libraries join together to create a consortium. A consortium is a group of libraries that agree to share resources amongst each other and allow their patrons to enjoy the benefits of all the libraries. Consortia allow libraries to engage in large-scale collection development which reduces spending. Each library fills in the gap of the collection until the collection is complete. Some libraries collaborate outside of consortia through the inter-library loan system (ILL). ILLs allow patrons to request materials that a library does not have in its collection to be shipped from a different library. These spaces are a necessary and educational pillar in most communities.
Why was it created
Public libraries were first introduced in the 1850s after the establishment of public schooling. Both public schools and public libraries were established to provide educational opportunities to underserved and poor communities. They were created to encourage lifelong learning among adults. With time, they grew to include people of all ages. This meant public libraries expanded their selections for children and young adults. Most public libraries now have an extensive youth literature area. Some libraries have dedicated children’s areas that have toys, play mats, and other activities for children to enjoy. Also, libraries will often acquire video game equipment for their tween and teenage patrons to enjoy. Despite the name, public libraries have not always been open to the public.
Segregation and inaccessible buildings kept large portions of the population out of the library. During the Civil Rights Movement (a.k.a. The Freedom Movement), Black and Brown activists were also fighting for their rights in public libraries. Activists hosted sit-ins and protested outside of segregated libraries. In 2018, the American Library Association (ALA) passed a historic resolution that effectively apologized to Black people for the segregation of public libraries (Eberhart, 2018). Due to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, disabled people across the country have legal precedent to advocate for accessible buildings. Libraries have had to make changes to ensure that their building(s), programs, signage, and materials are accessible for all (Jaeger & Bertot, 2015). As times change, libraries are becoming more inclusive and accessible to people of all walks of life. Public libraries continue to serve the underserved today by providing free programs and materials for people to use.
How does it serve the public now
Public libraries of today serve the public through their many programs, book clubs, and learning opportunities. Story times are generally highly attended programs at public libraries. This is a chance for parents and guardians to sit with their little ones as they read books, listen to music, and sometimes dance. Libraries also often host book clubs where community members get together and discuss the book(s) for that period. Similarly, public libraries often host a summer reading challenge to engage people’s minds during a generally idle time. There are also technological programs that teach people, both young and old, how to use different software and be safe online. Many libraries host programs so that older people in their communities can have a place to socialize and move around. Some libraries offer classes to learn languages, coding, and other useful skills.
Libraries are more than their programs, of course. Public libraries also offer all kinds of literature for public consumption. Oftentimes, public libraries will collaborate with local school districts to ensure that required reading materials are available in the library. A wide variety of titles should be readily available through the library. Some libraries also offer makers kits which are interactive kits with games, books, and other materials to teach people a new skill or idea. These kits are perfect for kinesthetic learners and hands-on individuals because it teaches them in a hands-on fashion. Libraries also often have computer areas, so people can use a public computer. Some libraries also circulate laptops that patrons can either use in the library and/or take home. In the age of the internet, it is extremely important for people to have access to the internet. Most schools and jobs require people to be able to use and/or own a computer. Public libraries offer a plethora of learning materials and programming to uplift the patrons that need it.
Despite the benefits that libraries offer to communities, they have come under increased pressure by groups that want to censor the material that is offered. Book banning, censorship, and targeted attacks on public librarians are at an all-time high in the U.S. People complain that Critical Race Theory, which is a legal theory taught in universities, and LGBTQ+ stories are harming people. Public libraries have received bomb and active shooter threats from people who want certain materials or individuals to be censored. The rise of inflammatory language and behavior against librarians due to including diverse and inclusive materials has been egregious. Libraries have found it to be increasingly difficult to provide the much needed support to its patrons and communities because some groups have sought to harass or bully librarians (Woodcock, 2022). Not only are the roles of libraries changing, but they are also facing increased challenges by those seeking to minimize the positive contributions that libraries make in the lives of those in various communities.
Why do things need to change
Public libraries serve as anchors in their communities. In many cases, librarians develop programs and expand collections to bridge a gap in the community. In other words, without a library, the community would not be as stable or balanced. Libraries provide people with new knowledge, activities, and social interactions. Libraries are community-centered places where the public has a direct say in what they see and do. Patrons can suggest that certain programs be created or specific books be added to the collection. In order to best serve the public, librarians needs to be privy to the wants of their community. Public libraries are meant to be adaptive and malleable to change as their community’s needs change. For instance, if there is not a place for people to grow food, then a library may become a source for food needs by developing a community garden.
In August of 2024, Governor Greg Abbott passed an executive order requiring all Texas hospitals to keep records of illegal immigrant patients. This order has received incredible backlash. A doctor at Texas Children’s Hospital made a post on social media saying that patients did not need to disclose their immigration status, and Governor Abbott threatened to stop funding to the hospital (Grunau, 2024). This kind of tracking makes people feel unsafe. Furthermore, the overturning of Roe v. Wade has left people across the nation unsure as to how they are going to get access to needed medical care. Right now, people are concerned due to the government’s restrictions on who can receive medical treatments.
As of writing this paper, 9 people have died from the listeria outbreak (Kekatos, 2024). Listeria is a bacterial parasite that thrives in mammals. This deadly bacteria found its way into a Boar’s Head Deli facility in Virginia and spread from there. The facility had 69 recorded instances of noncompliance in one year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated this facility after dozens of people had become sick (Kekatos, 2024). These recorded infractions did nothing to hinder this company’s ability to distribute contaminated meat across the country. It has been a year since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches due to high levels of lead. Dozens of children became sick due to lead poisoning. The facilities that produced the lead-laced cinnamon had likely been shipped into the U.S. from Ecuador (Chappell, 2024). It is the responsibility of the FDA to check foods shipped into the U.S. and the facilities that they hail from to prevent things like this. Unfortunately, these are just two cases out of many more that the FDA and USDA fail to regulate and check the foods available to people.
People across the country are unable to live in their homes and pay for essentials. Housing prices continue to rise as the cost of living also increases. Jennifer Ludden writes, “Even among those working full time, a third of all renters were still cost-burdened” (NPR, 2024). The federal minimum wage was last raised to $7.25 in 2009. According to a CBS news report, if the federal minimum wage grew with the cost of living, then it would be $26 (Picchi, 2021). Although many companies are increasing their minimum pay, there is not legal decree to ensure that people can be paid a livable wage.
Furthermore, an uptick in natural disasters have left people stranded, unable to call their loved ones, and starving. Sanibel Public Library reopened shortly after Hurricane Milton hit Florida. In their statement to the public they encouraged people to visit the library for free WiFi, to get out of the heat, and to connect with community members (Sanibel Public Library, 2024). The San Diego Public Library has back up generators in case of a power outage. They also added community rooms to every branch to act as a place of refuge for people trying to escape heat waves in the summer (Sisson, 2024). Both of these libraries had to adapt due to these severe natural disasters. Now, these major societal failures might seem like to much for a library to bear, but public libraries are constantly changing to fit the roles needed by the public.
Can Public Libraries adapt
The major question is: can public libraries actually adapt and fulfill the role of several community centers? The answer is a little complicated. Each public library is different. In fact, some libraries may never change due to budget constraints or adequate services available in the community. But for the public libraries that are seeing and hearing the panic from their patrons, they will have to thoroughly reevaluate how their library is run and set up. Public libraries can partner with local food pantries to provide warm meals to people and teach people how to cook with a limited budget. They can establish a relationship with location medical facilities and professionals about where to get care if you are uninsured, how to find coupons for medication, and how to keep one’s body healthy. Public libraries cannot (and should not) operate without help from the community.
How is the library adapting
Public libraries of today are already implementing new services to bridge the gap for people. Numerous libraries across the country offer cookbooks and cooking classes for their patrons. At the Mansfield Public Library, there are cooking classes every month based on a different spice. They also have a plant sharing program where patrons can pick up a plant clipping or donate a plant. Occasionally, the edible plants are featured in the cooking class. For instance, the Free Library of Philadelphia opened their Culinary Learning Center in 2014 to promote culinary literacy (Kramarz, 2020). Smaller libraries have even bought induction stove tops for their patrons to use in the library and at home (Furbee, 2024). Libraries offering these classes and resources tremendously help people who would not have access to these things otherwise.
Libraries are not new to connecting patrons with medical professionals. Milwaukee Public Library hosted the Aurora Health Care Mobile Medical Clinic to let patrons ask questions about their health and get their blood pressure checked (Shastri, 2024). These mobile clinics drive around the country answering people’s questions about how to take care of themselves and their loved ones. Importantly, this free program enabled people with little money or no insurance to see a clinician without the stress of payment. As people like Dr. Oz advocate for the end of Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare, an act that would affect over 3.4 million people, libraries must do the work to ensure that people have access to healthcare (Durkee, 2024).
To address the unhoused population, libraries have created rest areas, job search classes, daycare areas, and food pantries. Due to rising cost of living combined with a slow increase in wages, people are being priced out of their homes. Libraries will have to be prepared to work with homeless people. Author Ryan Dowd wrote a book detailing how librarians and managers should address and accommodate unhoused people. He encourages libraries to have simple, written rules, compassion, and legal knowledge when dealing with housed and unhoused people (Dowd, 2018). It is important to always keep in mind that homeless people are people. People deserving of care, respect, and compassion. Public libraries are doing their best to ensure that all people receive adequate care through these services.
The future of Public Libraries
Public libraries of the future are going to likely look radically different from today. Libraries have already adapted to include space for computers and other technology. Libraries are going to have to revamp their buildings to include space for medical work’s equipment, culinary utensils and equipment, and rest areas. Libraries can either extend or create a kitchen to host food drives and/or cooking demonstrations. If there is a natural disaster, then well-equipped libraries can be people’s saving grace. Public libraries should have back up generators and a safe place to store dry foods and water in case of an emergency. To accommodate medical professionals, libraries would need program rooms with adequate seating. There are also medical professionals who travel across the country, so libraries could host them in the parking lot. Libraries with a sizable unhoused population could create single person areas where people can rest or work quietly. Libraries will have to apply for grants or ask for donations to cover the cost of the renovations and additions.
Beyond the physical changes to the library, the marketing and pr around the library is also going to change. Libraries need to put themselves out there and proudly share what they have to offer to the public. Unfortunately, libraries are generally underfunded and do not always have a dedicated social media person. Thus, those libraries are going to have to utilize public relations tactics to spread the message. There has been an uptick in younger people advocating for more funding for public libraries due to the resources and materials that it provides. Libraries can still market themselves as a beacon of knowledge, but they are also safe places. Libraries are meant to be inclusive and accessible to welcome people in and show them that they have a place where they belong. As libraries expand to encompass more types of services beyond loaning literature, the public conversation around public libraries will change.
Conclusion
In short, the future of public libraries is complicated and hopeful. It is complicated because libraries must get through many hurdles for these large-scale changes to be realized. There are many libraries within communities that would benefit from these changes, but budget constraints and backlash might prevent things. The future of public libraries is also hopeful because implementing these services is necessary care for underserved and often overlooked people in almost every community. With the age of the internet, libraries shifted to providing people with free working computers and electronic resources for those who could not afford such luxuries. Now, they must shift again. Public libraries must adapt, as they have always done, to the ever-changing environment.
Public libraries were created for a noble cause, but sometimes they struggle with fulfilling that goal. Public libraries were initially created to provide some people with lifelong learning. As time progresses, they become a bit more inclusive. Sometimes public libraries become too wrapped up in aesthetics and engagement numbers and forget that they are there to serve the public’s needs. The libraries mentioned above are doing things to better serve their communities. Hopefully, more libraries will join suit. It is unfortunate that this country’s greed continues to negatively impact so many. Thankfully, public libraries are in many ways antithesis to that greedy mindset. Librarians are meant to give the best service possible to people for free. By implementing nutrition services, programs for unhoused people, and healthcare for all who need it, public libraries of the future will be a beacon of light for people.
References
Dowd, R. (2018, Jun. 1). The librarian’s guide to homelessness: Advice for managers and leaders. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/06/01/librarians-guide-homelessness/.
Kramarz, N. (2020, Jan. 2). Cooking at the library. Public Libraries Online. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2020/01/cooking-at-the-library/.
Furbee, B. (2024, Jan. 2). Hot topic: Patrons check out induction cooktops. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2024/01/02/hot-topic/.
Shastri, D. (2024, Nov. 29). Libraries are offering free health and wellness classes across the US. ABC. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/libraries-offering-free-health-wellness-classes-us-116323439.
Pressreader Team. (2024, Dec. 9). The ongoing evolution of public libraries as community hubs. Pressreader. https://blog.pressreader.com/libraries-institutions/the-ongoing-evolution-of-public-libraries-as-community-hubs.
Durkee, A. (2024, Nov. 20). Dr. Oz could lead Medicare and Medicaid—Here’s how Trump may change the programs. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/11/20/dr-oz-could-lead-medicare-and-medicaid-heres-how-trump-may-change-the-programs/.
Grunua, S. (2024, Dec. 2). Texas Children’s Hospital comments on Abbott’s funding threat over new immigration status question. Texas Public Radio. https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2024-12-02/texas-childrens-hospital-comments-on-abbotts-funding-threat-over-new-immigration-status-question.
Kekatos, M. (2024, Aug. 30). What to know about the listeria outbreak that has left 57 sick, 9 dead. ABC. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/listeria-outbreak-left-57-sick-9-dead/story?id=113276874.
Chappell, B. (2024, Oct. 25). Lead in cinnamon: Where do things stand, 1 year after a scary recall? NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/10/24/nx-s1-5119336/cinnamon-lead-fda-recall-what-we-know.
Ludden, J. (2024, Jan. 25). Housing is now unaffordable for a record half of all U.S. renters, study finds. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/01/25/1225957874/housing-unaffordable-for-record-half-all-u-s-renters-study-finds.
Picchi, S. (2021, Sep. 7). Minimum wage would be $26 an hour if it had grown in line with productivity. CBS. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minimum-wage-26-dollars-economy-productivity/.
Sanibel Public Library. (2024, Oct. 13). After Hurricane Milton. Sanlib. https://sanlib.org/2024/10/14/after-hurricane-milton/.
Eberhart, G. (2015, Jun. 25). Desegregating Public Libraries: The untold stories of civil rights heroes in the Jim Crow South. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/desegregating-public-libraries/.
Sisson, P. (2024, Oct.). How public libraries are becoming community hubs in the midst of disasters. MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-public-libraries-are-becoming-community-hubs-in-the-midst-of-disasters/ar-AA1s9mTY.
Jaeger, P & Bertot, J. (2015, Oct. 5). The ADA and Inclusion in Libraries: Libraries have been and continue to be the champions for access. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/ada-inclusion-in-libraries/.
Woodcock, C. (2022, Sep. 27). Libraries across the US are receiving violent threats. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/libraries-across-the-us-are-receiving-violent-threats/.
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