What do you think of when you think of libraries? Yes, public libraries. Dusty, old, quiet places full of crumbling books and women with tiny glasses who shush you. Also, there are computers.
Hopefully this isn’t your view of public libraries, but some people really do think of them this way — as obsolete institutions that cling on not for their usefulness, but because we have grown too accustomed to having them around. Like the stacks of unmemorable school papers from childhood, we keep in the attic (or “The Simpsons”), we’d feel bad if we got rid of them.
This is absolutely wrong, and the easiest way to prove it is by visiting a public library. When you walk in, you’ll see all kinds of activity. You’ll see children’s programs, because children need to be taught proper literacy at a young age, and school is often not enough. You’ll see community events, like food and clothing drives. In fact, the Tifton-Tift County Public Library has begun serving soups and breads (in a specific area—don’t bring food into the library, I’m warning you) for free on Mondays. You might see technology classes, bingo nights, teen game nights, book clubs—you get the idea.
If you keep looking, you’ll find even more. Children and adults who learned to love reading because the library gave them access to books. Teenagers who found friendship among walls of manga. Older folks laughing over the tumbling of bingo balls. People studying in the nonfiction section, wanting reliable information, a quiet spot to study, or both.
You’ll probably hear the click-clacking of computer keyboards. Remember that many people need internet and printer access for employment, legal, housing and medical purposes. Not everyone has access to a computer, Wi-Fi and a printer at home. We do not live in a fair world, but libraries
make it just a little bit fairer.
And yes, there are books. There are books physically at your local library, as well as throughout the PINES system, that can be transported to your local library for you to check out. There are e-books accessible with your library card through Hoopla and Libby. There are audiobooks that make reading accessible for those with tight schedules or visual impairments. Reading is vital, and it is for everyone. It teaches us empathy, bravery and creativity. It helps us understand the world around us. Thoughtful reading is an act of resistance against a world that wants you susceptible and ignorant. Reading is a superpower.
And your local library? It offers all of that and more: community, charity, literacy, technology, internet access and a way of both coping with the world and learning how to make it better. New books, new movies and TV shows (no subscription required), video games that don’t have a $60 used price tag, volumes of your favorite manga and more. What did Arthur say? “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card.” You couldn’t come up with a better slogan than that.
Supporting your local library is one of the biggest acts of community service you can commit–supporting a local place with reliable information, access to a computer, Wi-Fi, and printers is vital to the health of any community. The Tifton Public Library is located at 245 Love Ave; Tifton GA. Be sure to stop by next time you get the chance!