You know when you meet someone new for the first time and as you're making introductory chit-chat, nine times out of ten you'll ask or be asked "what do you do for a living?". I've found whenever asked and I reply, "I work in a library", I get one of two answers. The first is, "Oh, those still exist?" said with a hint of condescension. And, the second is,"So, what do you do?".
This got me thinking, what do I actually do as a library worker? And what is a library, especially now?
I recently attended a virtual conference and I find my mind wandering back to the sessions I attended that put a lot of emphasis on how libraries really shape the communities they are a part of, specifically the individual communities within our towns and cities. After pondering this topic for a while (probably too long), I always come back to the very real notion that so many people still don't use their local public library. Why is that? I found that the answer isn't simple and, quite frankly, that a library, and specifically its purpose, can't be summed up in one simple sentence.
If you look up the word library, you'll get multiple variations of the following sentence: "a building or room containing collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for people to read, borrow, or refer to". This definition is correct, but it's also incorrect. Libraries have been around for literally thousands of years. The first library, where a systematic method of organization was utilized, was for "royal contemplation" for Assyrian ruler Ashurbanipal, located in modern day Iraq in the 7th century. It housed some thirty thousand cuneiform tablets, some of which are still around today, organized by subject. There are even older archives dating back hundreds of year before Ashurbanipal's library. Moving forward a few centuries, you had The Library at Alexandria in Egypt, which held some seven hundred thousand documents, not to be confused with the New Library at Alexandria in Egypt which opened in 2002 and can hold an estimated eight million books. The original Library at Alexandria was so big that it was one of the first library systems to have branches to house the vast collection. Then there was the House of Wisdom, or Bayt al-Ḥikmah, in Baghdad which was another super-library holding over four hundred thousand books. Greece, Rome, China, the Mayans and Aztecs of Central America all had libraries. These buildings held stone tablets, scrolls, and papyrus papers. These buildings were filled with histories, family lineage, information about art, mathematics, war, manufacturing, agriculture, science, medicine, and more.
Photos from right to left: drawing of the Library at Alexandria, Maqamat of al-Hariri illustration of scholars at the History of Wisdom library, tablets recovered from the Ashurbanipal Library.
These early libraries did have a flaw, and it's a pretty big one. They weren't accessible to everyone. Regular people couldn't just walk in, sit down, pick up a scroll and start reading. Libraries were for academics and leaders; these were depositories of information and knowledge and a place to research, learn from the past and create a better way of life going forward. Libraries for many years suffered from the same problem many other institutions suffered from: they were exclusive. If you were a person of colour, a woman, or not an academic, you were not allowed to use the library. As time went on, value was seen in libraries being available to everyone and not just a few, and the library's purpose changed; everyone has the right to access information.
This brief history brings us to now, and back to our starting question. What is a library? Is it a building that holds collections of books and multi-media that you can browse, borrow and access? Yes, but it's so much more than that. Libraries have had a long partnership with education. We offer not only resources, like books, to keep kids reading and interested in reading, but libraries also foster good reading habits; this is life-long learning. We have programs specifically designed for children, to introduce them to books and stories and language, and the power books have as early as possible. That hunger for reading doesn't stop; that's why our library staff at EPL, and in every library really, take time to maintain their collections. Libraries foster good reading and learning habits all through life. Once little ones get older and head off to college or university, they'll spend a lot of time in their college and university libraries.
Photos from left to right: The Toronto Reference Library, Dalhousie University Library, and the Birk's Reading Room at McGill University.
With the introduction to digital books and streaming services, libraries now house digital collections, in a digital way of course. And with so many changes in technology, they are a place many people rely on to get information and help when using all things tech. Digital services are now a central part of libraries as a whole. We are all connected, from the very young to the very old; it seems everyone has a little computer in their pocket now. For years, libraries have offered tech sessions with their patrons to help them learn new skills or answer questions. We teach seniors who are unfamiliar with technology how to be computer-literate. We help people print documents, access government websites, and navigate online resources while doing research. Libraries have Maker Spaces now, where patrons can learn and build, use 3D printers and vinyl cutters. Because of this shift in how we can access information, libraries have their own apps. Essa Public Library does too! Ours is hosted through the County of Simcoe Libraries and can be used on a smart device or tablet. Get it from Google here, and the Apple App store here.
During the pandemic, libraries had to close for in-person visits. We all had to serve our communities virtually for a while. This meant not only hosting a variety of programs through services like ZOOM, but also making YouTube videos to help our patrons use technology and services right on our website, some that they've never used before. We even hosted (and continue to host) Trivia Nights every second Saturday! We presented author talks, and writing workshops for budding authors. We partnered with our local Conservation Authority to learn about maple syrup and nature. Facilitated book clubs online. We had take-home craft and art kits for teens, adults and seniors. Most especially, our Book Bundles were a huge favourite.
I guess it's not "what is a library?"; its actually "what isn't a library?". Library staff are teachers, storytellers, human card catalogues, computer experts, geocachers, program creators, trivia masters, artists, engineers, gardeners, crafters, cooks, friends, and community partners. We are the people who love to learn, to share what we've learned, and help you find value in your library visit. Even if it's a short visit to pick up a hold. These last few years have been a challenge, but the library has got your back!
- Dawn Travers
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