Between 1990 and 2014, visits to public libraries grew by a whopping
181%. For context, the population of the United States increased by 28%
during that period. Why have so many more people been using their
libraries in the last two decades? Here’s what I think…
Librarians Are More Involved in Communities
In the distant past, the library building was the center of a librarian’s professional world. Now, librarians regularly expand the library’s reach by presenting at
community meetings, staffing booths at events, and just generally
applying their skills in creative ways to helping their community.
Responsive, Unique, and High-Quality Program Offerings
Libraries have hosted programs such as book clubs, film screenings, storytimes, and arts & crafts for years. Today’s libraries have raised the bar with their program offerings in the past
few decades to respond to patron needs. Workshops and training on starting a business, basic job skills, and STEM programs for kids, “Community Reads” events and literary festivals are just a few new options available.
Embrace of a User-Centered Approach to Technology
Possibly the biggest reason that library visits have grown so
drastically in the last two decades is that libraries have become the
go-to places for computer classes, help with devices like tablets and
e-readers, and access to free ebooks and audiobooks.
Libraries succeed at technology not by upgrading their computers every
year, but by helping their patrons access the information they need,
whether it is at the library or at home using the skills they learned at
the library.
