An Indepth Look Into A Geek's Soul

ReadingBetween the Lines

            The plight of modern libraries is one that has been seenin many different industries over the years. As the world becomes more technologically influenced, the public librarysystems are threatening to slip out of the minds of the average American intooblivion.  This is something the averagecitizen cannot allow to happen.  However,unless there is a swift change in policies, but monetary and societal, publiclibraries nationwide are likely to fail and disappear.

            On an individual level, each public library system has adire need to change their role in society though the use of various policiesthat must be enacted on a local level. This entails reaching out to the community in a way that technologynever could.  This could easily be donethrough the use of book clubs, community events, and a public awarenesscampaign.  What it really comes down tois giving the public exactly what it wants. If the public is looking for a large selection of the newest movies,then the libraries should offer more movies. If the public would like to have more access to the newest JamesPatterson book, then libraries should buy more copies of it to meet thedemand.  The library should even offermore computers for the public to access if that is what they demand, which isincreasingly likely in this rapidly changing world.   However, that is far from the only way tokeep the public libraries from failing.

            Monetary policies are another strong factor that willplay into averting the crisis of the failing public libraries.  Over the last several years, spending onpublic services, such as libraries, has fallen to record lows (Oder).  This has resulted in library districts inmost states to have to cut back key services (Burke).  These services include hours of operation,availability of research materials, having the newest releases of all thedifferent kinds of mediums, as well as the cutting of library staff andpersonnel.  This is a trickledown effectas well.  Once there are fewer librariansto staff the libraries, there are fewer staff members to head things such asbook clubs and other publicity functions. This in turn will draw fewer people into the library, reducing the needof the library.  The government will seethe use of libraries has gone down, so they cut funding to it again.  The cycle continues until there is no libraryleft, but by that time there is also no one left who cares that the library isgone.  This is just an extreme scenariothat could potentially happen, but in some places this very event has occurred(Oder).

            Not all libraries will fall into this death spiral,however.  Some have already effectivelymade the changes and are thriving in the present world.  For instance, the Traverse City PublicLibrary is a thriving hub of the city. Library patrons have not only continued going to there, but haveactually increased their use of the library (Burke).  The library has adapted to the needs andwants of the local citizens, and is thriving as such.  In comparison there is the library system ofCharles County, Maryland.  In the pastfew years it has grown too big for it to function the way it should.  As recently as last year, it was set to breakground for a forth library.  Now,however, that library is not going to be built. Instead, they are going to close down all the libraries on Sundays tosave money.  Their budget has been soseverely slashed that they do not have money to buy movies until the nextfiscal year (Olson).

            The two libraries mentioned above are at opposite endswhen it comes to this crisis.  On onehand, the Traverse City library is flourishing even amidst the tough economictimes we are facing while the Charles County libraries are slowly dying.  This would not be a problem if more librarieswere succeeding.  Instead, more and morelibraries are slowly going the way of the Charles County system, simply becauseof the changes that society is going though. They are either not able to or not willing to keep up with thesechanges, and as such are failing.  Inorder for libraries to survive, they must act more like the Traverse Area one,or they will cease to exist as we know them today.

            Indeed, this crisis is surely one that not only can beavoided, but also must be avoided.  Whenit comes down to it, changes in policies could very well save this belovedpublic institution.  On a local level,each library system needs to enact changes in policies that will put it more inthe limelight in their individual communities. On a larger scale, the different levels of government must do theirparts to help the libraries stay afloat economically, especially in these toughtimes.  With these changes, there is achance we can not only prevent the public libraries of the nation from going onthe endangered species list, but also help them thrive like never before.

Peace Out