Plenty of people still use their local public libraries. It’s a nonthreatening, nondiscriminatory environment for people who want to learn and be entertained for free. Libraries provide books to many people who couldn’t afford to access them in any digital format or purchase paperbacks at Barnes & Noble. Most libraries carry a lot more than hardback and paperback books. The headquarters branch of the Spartanburg County Public Library, a place where I spent countless hours this summer, has a wide selection of audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, magazines and newspapers available for checkout. I prefer my local library’s DVD collection to Redbox. I mean, where else can you check out “The Red Shoes,” “Rushmore” (side note for readers: “Rushmore” is my favorite movie of all time, and you should definitely watch it if you’ve never seen it) and “Running with Scissors” for the low cardholder price of $0.00 and keep them for a whole week? Sure, it may take a few weeks to get your hands on the new releases, but most of the time I would rather watch something older and quirkier than the latest romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson.
The library has a happy, healthy relationship with Internet databases. A research librarian at your local branch can probably provide you with a code to unlock a treasure trove of information through an Internet database. While we USC students have access to these types of sources now by paying a technology fee, it’s nice to know that you can still use these types of sources long after your student loans are paid off and not have to pay for them. The library is also a nice location to make cheap photocopies and obtain free wireless Internet access.
Libraries are also hubs for cultural enrichment and social interaction. My hometown library hosts several programs each week for children, teens and adults. These programs range from free Zumba and yoga classes to puppet shows to tie-dye T-shirt crafts. It isn’t rare for the library to host authors for lectures and book signings, either. Going to these programs is a great way to make new friends and to learn something new about not only the topic but about people in your community (and maybe even yourself).
Libraries are vital parts of every community, and many people would be unhappy if they ceased to exist, especially this potential future librarian.
