Everyone should have a library card
Libraries are one of the multiple federally funded institutions that Donald J. Trump and his cabinet are targeting. Libraries all over the nation are facing very real, serious threats that could come at the price of libraries becoming obsolete. Libraries are facing book challenges, censorship, and misinformation from conservative political groups, legislators, and right-wing activists. Libraries do more than provide books to the public, they provide millions of patrons with free access to educational and historical resources.
Libraries and library workers are under attack, but this is not the first time this has occurred. Libraries go through radical changes to better serve their patrons, which is shown in their ability to adapt their spaces to fit the needs of their patrons. Libraries have developed bigger study areas, coffee shops, and meeting spaces— and now provide more services for patrons than seemingly ever.
The unfortunate truth is that libraries have always been contested by those who hold higher authority in our society. Libraries have continued to serve as systems of power despite being cornered and criticized by powerful leaders who find their information systems to threaten/harm the general public to varying degrees.
Libraries provide a plethora of services that many patrons are unaware of. Libraries are full of more than just books; they also include CDs, DVDs, GPS units, video games, audiobooks, and other forms of physical and digital media. For example, the Monroe County Library System offers fishing rods, umbrellas, crafting kits, STEM kits, seed kits, sewing machines, instruments, and so much more. The preconception that libraries offer ‘outdated’ items to their patrons is an injustice to how much thought and care goes into purchasing and distributing these items by the staff.
If you are someone who prefers ebooks and audiobooks over physical media, then libraries are the right place for you to be! Libraries have continued to adapt to the digital age as it continues to grow, and they have not forgotten about their patrons, who prefer to read through their phones, laptops, or iPads.
It is extremely rare for libraries not to have digital platforms like Hoopla, Kanopy, Libby, and other electronic resources. Hoopla offers a variety of media their patrons can borrow, including ebooks, audiobooks, comics, television shows, movies, music, and more. Libby offers ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and magazines. Patrons can even read books through Libby on their Kindle devices. Kanopy is a streaming platform for public and academic libraries. They offer independent films, indie films, documentaries, and more educational videos. All of these services are free as long as you have a library card, whether it be Geneseo Public Library or your hometown library.
To make matters even better, you can sign up for libraries that are outside your county, state, and, sometimes, out of the country. For platforms like Libby, having a variety of library cards is very convenient, as it opens patrons to more ebooks and audiobooks that may not be available at their home library. Be sure to take advantage of digital library cards.
If you have borrowed a book and decided it wasn’t the right one for you, returning it helps your library. But this mostly works for physical media. Digital media is very tricky as libraries purchase licenses for ebooks
I am no stranger to the aisles in Barnes and Noble. Like any other bookworm, I love to purchase fresh, new books. But as students, we should not always be expected to break the bank on luxuries we cannot quite afford for the pleasure of reading in our spare time. Sure, purchasing a new book at B&N may make you feel brand new —we all do it! But, it is okay to borrow books. If anything, it should be normalized.
If you aren’t confident that you’ll reach your nearest library and want a book to call your own, I strongly suggest supporting your locally owned-bookstores! They deserve and need just as much love as big stores like B&N. It keeps locally owned businesses in business as they serve a much smaller community. Local bookstores support new and upcoming authors, ensure diversity of literature is being celebrated, and their profits are more likely to benefit community members as opposed to large corporations.
If you are someone who is interested in supporting a local bookstore here in Geneseo, I would highly recommend Sundance Books, located at 106 Main St. Geneseo, NY. They are a lovely and welcoming bookstore that offers a variety of books from all kinds of genres. Go show your support by giving a book a new home!