The Importance of Libraries by Tony Bandy

Awash in technology and social communications, there are many today who argue against the library as an antiquated thought from another time and place. Politically, libraries are seen as an easy target for cuts, non-essential to a functioning city, town or state—after all, it’s only the library. Yet nothing could be farther from the truth…

The library has many roles to play in today’s society and remains an important part to all of us, no matter our stage in life. To children, it’s a magical place, of learning and reading as well as talking and having fun. It’s a place for summer programs, for after school knowledge, for growing up and getting older.

To the patron out of work, the library is a lifeline to a bright future of hope, with programs for training, re-training and something as simple as learning how to write a resume. On a personal level, it’s a librarian helping them day after day to rebuild a career gone astray.

For the busy mom, or the manager on lunch break, the library is a place of momentary rest, of meeting others and finding that latest best seller to take home. For the DIY’er, it’s a place to learn how to build a patio or keep the yard in shape. Yes, a library is many things to all of us, but most of all, a library is important, essential to our society today.

Libraries also are meeting the criticism of those who would argue that technology has made them obsolete. Morphing into the local information hubs for many of our communities, the library is a place to stay connected with ever-increasing amounts of data, both digital and analog in nature. Computer training, eBooks, databases and managing to find the kernel of knowledge in the ever-increasing flood of data, our libraries are essential to our community. But a library is more than a building and more than an organization. It’s the people inside of it, the librarians and other staff, making the difference and offering level of services unheard of in today’s fast paced society. Teaching, listening, finding–these describe best the people working in your local library.

Beyond just a job, they’re adept, tough and coming to grips with the challenges faced by libraries today, walking the tightrope and balancing between the continuous budget cuts and those that would argue against the relevancy of the library. Yes, at the heart of libraries, people like you and me still remain committed to the ideals of knowledge and service to all.

That’s me, I’m your librarian.

Don’t take the easy way out and give in to the current thinking! Support your library—support yourself.

About Tony Bandy
A professional librarian with 14 plus years of experience, Tony currently consults with libraries through his company, Library Knowledge, helping them to achieve their organizational goals through training and leading-edge information technology.  Besides computers, he is a published freelance author for TeleRead, Internet Genealogy and other magazines/blogs. Learn more about Tony at http://www.libraryknowledge.com.