Libraries as Social Hubs

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Libraries have served as gathering places for individuals since their inception.  The concept of bringing people together to a central location, one filled with original written thoughts and ideas, creates an ideal location to foster social interaction.  It is stated that "If you go back far enough, to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, "libraries never were about books...They were sites of legal debates and community space..." (Librarians, 2021).  Libraries have progressed to buildings where individuals can go to study in solitude, but they are also areas where parents can bring children for puppet shows and social interaction, teens can discuss the latest graphic novel, or older generations can get support for learning new technology.  Libraries bring people together to discuss and learn from each other.  The age of social media we are in is not truly social, as gathering in a public setting would be.  It is thought that "Social media, as usually practiced, is rarely an exchange of views" (Howley, 2018).  Rather, social media has become a one-way street that people express their views, right or wrong, and generally there is no exchange from others to dispute or encourage one's beliefs.  While some may feel libraries have had their heyday and are no longer relevant, it seems that with information coming to us from every direction makes this a perfect time to support and utilize these foundational gathering spots.

Works Cited

Howley, B. (2018). Libraries as values-driven participatory culture hubs. Information Today, 35(5), 15–16.

Librarians Lead the Way: They helped guide their institutions into the socially distant era. Now what? (2021). The Chronicle of Higher Education, 67(18), 46+. https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A663389767/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=39edc0a0


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