I love libraries. Long before the thought of being a librarian ever popped into my head, I was an avid library patron. As a child I borrowed heaps of nature videos from my local library, humming along to the National Geographic and NOVA theme songs, and I still rely on the library to provide the entertainment I need to survive my long commutes.
When I made the decision to become a librarian I started looking at libraries in a new way. I began to think about where they were located in a community, how they were designed and used, what collections they held and what programs they offered. Whenever I visited a new place I made a point to find as many local libraries as I could, and to see what I could learn from the ways different communities design and interact with their libraries.
So far I’ve been able to visit and photograph public and university libraries in my home province of British Columbia, the states of Alaska and Washington, New Zealand, and Japan. I’ve visited sleek, ultra-modern structures in massive Japanese cities, tiny, one-room independently-run community libraries in small coast B.C. towns, and everything in between. I’ve seen rural libraries that are only open once or twice a week, and university libraries that serve students seven days a week. I’ve seen collections that spanned several stories, and those that could fit in several bookshelves.
I particularly enjoy visiting libraries in small communities – I’ve always been drawn to community librarianship, where librarians have to be masters of all trades, and can become integral members of their communities. These libraries truly are the “living rooms” of their communities – places where people come not only to get information or entertainment materials, but to connect with their neighbors and socialize in a warm and welcoming space.
The very premise of a library is remarkable if you stop to think about it. Libraries exist solely to improve the lives of the people in their communities That’s it. Libraries exist to make people’s lives better by providing them with information and entertainment. Libraries don’t exist to make money, which is an incredibly powerful notion in this modern world we live in.
No matter where in the world I travel, one thing remains the same – libraries are an important part of their communities, and exist only to serve. They might look different, they might have different collections, rules, or requirements, but in the end, they are all dedicated to getting the right materials and information into the right hands.
So, a thank you to all the libraries around the world that are fighting the good fight, and working every day to make the world a bit better by providing people with information, entertainment, and a home away from home. Whether you’re in a big city or a small town, close to home or around the world, odds are you’ll find a library somewhere near you, filled with people who want to help, which is a truly comforting thought.