That’s it! I have to ask you: when was the last time you’ve been to the library?
Take your time, think long and hard. Here are the choices:
- within last few weeks
- within last few months
- over a year ago
Which one you had to go with – 1,2 or 3? It seems that nowadays we prefer Google-search and e-book from Amazon over Libraries. Many people thinks that library is the thing of the part and that can’t be further from the truth.
Few years ago I gave it a try and visited local library and I was in shock. So many programs, seminars, presentations, great resources (books but also digital). I’ve got my library card and started to visit this place on regular basis.
Recently I stumble across a PEW research on a state of libraries in the USA.
American libraries are buffeted by cross currents. Citizens believe that libraries are important community institutions and profess interest in libraries offering a range of new program possibilities. Yet, even as the public expresses interest in additional library services, there are signs that the share of Americans visiting libraries has edged downward over the past three years, although it is too soon to know whether or not this is a trend.
Even though we like libraries, we don’t visit them that often. I’m not sure about the rest of the state or the whole country but at my local library there are always many people, in most cases parents with small children (there’s a big “kids corner”).
What my local library offers or at least what I remember:
- free wi-fi: You can bring your own laptop and set up your remote office if you want to
- “kids corner”: all-year and summer programs for kids
- presentations on different topics
- meetings with authors and interesting people
- books (of course) in paper format
- big digital resources (audiobooks, ebooks) that you can get access to via mobile apps
- dvd (it’s like your local Blockbuster)
- music cd (that’s right)
- 40 or more PC computers you can use in case you don’t want to use your own
- workshops on how to use e-book apps on your mobile devices
- and more
And one of my favorite – you can always send a email/form with recommendation of a book/music/dvd and there’s a big chance the library will get it.
Next time, maybe over the weekend, give a library a chance and visit.
