With the rise of technological and internet resources, people wonder what the future libraries have in today's world. The thing is, libraries are the best at "keeping up with the times." In fact, libraries are advancing with the rise of technology, making them relevant and important in today's world. Here are a few things you should know about the libraries in this country.
1. You're more likely to find a public library than a McDonald's in the United States.
According to the American Library Association, there are over 16,500 public libraries in the United States by 2012, including branch buildings. This beats out the number of McDonald's restaurants there are in this country by nearly 2,000. The next time you're in the mood for a Big Mac, why not try going to your nearest public library and take out your favorite chef's cookbook to make your own tasty meal?
Oh, and keep in mind that if we were to account for all the libraries in the United States, including public, academic, K12, Armed Forces, government and special libraries, we would be looking at a whopping 119,487 buildings.
2. Public libraries can help you search for and find a job.
Your public library is a space that can help patrons navigate online job databases and provide resources for civil service exams, as well as offer the tools to create a resume. Communities place their trust in public libraries, and that means providing resources that will better the well-being of the people within those communities. When times are tough, libraries are there to help. When in doubt, don't go right ahead and spend your time and money with a career coach. Instead, make an appointment with a librarian first and see what they can offer you.
3. Libraries offer the one thing millennials search for on a daily basis - Wi-Fi.
That's right. Sometimes, the internet in your house is just too slow. Plus, no one wants to waste data on their cell phone at the risk of overage charges. So, why not take a ride to your local library and use their computers, or better yet, their Wi-Fi? As of 2015, 98 percent of public libraries nationwide provide free access to Wi-Fi, making their efforts in digital inclusion incredibly outstanding.
4. Public libraries provide a space for community gathering.
Have you ever seen a class taking place at the library? What about a group of students working together on homework? Or an arts-related event? What about story time for children? When you think about it, libraries do more than allow people to check out materials for leisurely or academic purposes with a plastic card. Libraries allow people to gather, socialize, learn and work together, making the building itself a collaborative space.
5. Librarians are better at finding, collecting and interpreting information than your daily Google searches.
It's a librarian's job to help you find information. It's easy to go to Google and type a few keywords in, but a librarian can help you sort through that information and decide what sources will work best for your research. Think about this: How easy is it to type in "World War II" into an online search engine? It's pretty easy right? But you're going to get 309.000,000 results, (I'm serious. Go try it!) and you're probably going to pick the first five results to read, right? A librarian can help you learn more sophisticated search processes, giving you the tools to discover information way beyond what the first five Google results will give you.
Go to your library. It is there for a reason.
