Libraries as Social Hubs
By Jennifer Miranda
When people think of libraries, they associate it as a place to obtain books. However, with the ever changing times there
are a lot more than books at a library.
A library of today is a social hub that offers ways to connect with
others in the community. It also
provides educational tools with reliable resources to obtain knowledge. Libraries offer programs to serve their
demographic location for pleasure and potential employment opportunities. Examples of what you may find in a social hub
library are programs for adults such as book clubs, movie night, cooking classes,
or helping with technology. For youth they
may offer read aloud programs for young children, chess, or Legos. There are usually computers accessible in
adult and youth areas of the library.
There is free Wi-Fi access and many libraries’ Wi-Fi can be accessed in
their parking lots.
Social hub library’s do not expect their patrons
to be quiet because of the activities offered. They want people to engage with others,
especially when they are participating in interactive programs. Libraries continue
to evolve, which includes promoting an energetic environment and the inclusion
of community social events. In The
Washington Post, article “Go ahead, make some noise: Libraries should be loud”
it discusses that libraries are more comparable to a community hub and that the
new normal is socializing amongst the patrons.
The article states that libraries are offering story time for toddlers
because studies have shown that cognitive learning occurs much earlier than
initially thought. This event is a time
when a caregiver and child can interact with others in the group (MacPherson).
