Discover 13 Reasons to Love Your Local Library | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

13 Reasons To Love Your Local Library

Community, culture and books: what could be better?

102

In This Article:

This past week, April 7-13, was National Library Week, a week set aside each year to celebrate libraries and all they do for us! Libraries are a foundation piece of our society and our culture in so many ways that we often take for granted. It's so often that the need for libraries is challenged. People claim that because books are rapidly going digital, we don't need libraries anymore. But libraries are, and have always been, so much more than books. So, in honor of National library Week, here are 13 reasons to celebrate libraries!

They provide enriching experiences for children of all ages.

I grew up in libraries, through every stage of life that I went through. My local library always offered an array of programs for me to enjoy, no matter how old I was. Whether it was Mommy and Me playtime when I was a toddler, story time when I was a preschooler, crafts when I was a child, or pizza parties and game nights when I was in middle and high-school, there was always something fun to do at my local library. Libraries provide programs that educate and enrich everyone, completely free of charge. There's not many places that you can find something like that these days.

They provide lots of opportunities for family fun.

Looking for something fun to do with the whole family? Chances are you'll find something at your local library. Most libraries provide an array of programs: movie-nights, magic shows, game nights...and they're all great for families to enjoy together. Even without these programs, what could be nicer than heading to the library as a family and picking out books together?

They're great when you need a quiet place to study.

woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couchPhoto by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

One thing I've learned as I've gotten older is that it's hard to get work done when there's a ruckus happening around you. Going to college and living in a loud dorm room, I've taken to writing papers in my school library, and I've found it's quite peaceful. Libraries are a totally open and completely quiet space for you to get any work done away from the noises of the world. Of course, you could always work at a coffee shop...but at a library you can work for hours without purchasing anything.

There's so much to do there, rainy days are never an issue

Rainy days happen, and when it's the weekend or a school vacation, parents and everyone are always looking for things to do. Movie theaters and the mall are always an option, but chances are there's a library right close to home that you can visit. And with the programs that I mentioned above, there's always something to do at a library when you can't go outside...including reading a book!

You'll always have a place to get online.

Sometimes the internet cuts out at home. Sometimes, you can't afford the internet. And sometimes, the internet is working fine at home, but you want to work outside of the house. In the digital age, nearly everything we do needs the internet to get done. Guess what? At a library, there's free, accessible internet. In the world today, freedom of internet access is basically the same thing as freedom of information, and libraries allow us to have it.

There are lots of rewarding volunteer opportunities.

If you've been in high school, you know that often you're in programs and classes that require volunteer hours, and you also know that they're not always easy to come by. Libraries are a great place to volunteer! My local library ran a volunteer program for teens every summer, allowing us to assist at programs and help children with their summer reading. No matter what age you are, libraries are a great place to find volunteer work if you're looking for it.

Librarians

You can't make a list of great things about libraries without mentioning librarians. Whether it's a stereotypical sweet old lady who smiles at you or a bubbly kid home from college for the summer, librarians are there to make the whole institution that's so great run smoothly. With all there is to do at a library, they're like superheroes! Librarians make you smile running the programs you participate in, smiling at you as you check out your books, or helping you find your next perfect read.

They fill up summers with endless fun!

woman sitting on brown branch while reading bookPhoto by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

I've always associated libraries with summer time. In the summer there's always more time to head to the library once or twice a week and pick out a new set of books. When I was in high school, summers meant spending my days volunteering at the library and then going to a teen program at night. I'd go to pick out books at the start of each month, and my Dad would inevitably groan as I took forever to find the perfect selections. Libraries are so active during the Summer, and there's even more to do than there is most of the time! Summer days can get boring, and libraries are there to help fill the gaps.

They provide a center of community.

three men laughing while looking in the laptop inside roomPhoto by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

I've said it multiple times here: libraries are community centers. With all the programs they offer, it's a great place to meet new people from your town! Chances are you'll have similar interests as well. Libraries bring us together, and all through the love of literature.

There's so much more that they offer than books!

If books are not for you, there's still something for you at the library. Sure Libraries are mostly about books, but their real purpose is to serve the community. At libraries, you'll not only find books to borrow but movies, music CDs and even audio books. My library even had puzzles and board games in the children's section!

That being said, there are hundreds of books at your disposal!

If you love books, there's no reason to not love libraries. You're surrounded by every kind of book you could ever imagine or need. Need to read the book that inspired the latest thriller? Find a history book for a term paper? Look through a cookbook to make a quick dinner? You'll find it all at your local library. A whole building filled with books. What could be better?

You can borrow books and bring them home with you at no extra charge

If you live in the community where a library is, you can get a library card there, and if you can get a library card, you can take home stacks of books, all for free! Ever walked into a bookstore and wish you could pluck every book off the shelf and take it home with you? At a library you can. And you don't even have to be afraid to bite off more than you can chew, because if a book is due before you finish it, you can just renew it and get a whole new due date!

It's all free.

Libraries provide an array of services, and they're all government funded. Free books, free movie nights, free classes, free internet. All the greatness that libraries provide, and it's all at your fingertips without spending a cent. Who would ever want to eliminate that?

There are so many more reasons to love libraries; these are just some basic ones. Libraries are essential to our communities. They're not just places to borrow books. They provide education, community and culture. You can't replace that with a Kindle. With National Library Week having just passed us, take some time to head to your local library. Check out an interesting book. Or maybe find a paint night or movie to go to with your friends. The sky's the limit with the magic of libraries.

Report this Content
girl
Pexels

In case you're unaware, "resting bitch face" is the term used to describe when a person's natural, expressionless face makes it look like they are mad at the world. Whether they are walking down the street or simply spacing out thinking about what to eat for dinner, it's very easy for others to assume that this person is either upset or mad at them. Because of this, those of us with Resting Bitch Face (RBF), and especially us women, have all experienced many of the same situations and conversations, including:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

The Stages Of A Crush As Told By The Cast of "Bob's Burgers"

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

108
my heart just pooped its pants
Google

We've all had a crush before. Whether it leads to something or nothing, the process has all been the same. The awkward feelings, the stalking, and the stress of trying to keep this huge secret. The feeling of becoming a total spazz is something that cannot be avoided, and the most spazzy family that can relate to this feeling is the Belcher's.

Keep Reading...Show less
you didnt come this far to only come this far lighted text
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

At the tender age of 18, we are bestowed with the title of “adult.” For 17 years, we live under the rules and guidelines of our parents, school, and government, and to stray from any of those rules or guidelines marks us as a rebel. At 18, though, we must choose which college we want to go to or what career we want. We are allowed and encouraged to vote. We can buy lottery tickets and cigarettes. We can drop out of school, leave our household, and do other "adult" things. At 18, we start down a path of thinking for ourselves, when for the entirety of our lives other institutions have been mandated to think and do for us.

Keep Reading...Show less
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1350
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments