Hello, and Happy National Library Week!

There’s a common misconception that libraries are becoming outdated in our increasingly digital age. But I want to set the record straight: 

The truth is that libraries are constantly expanding, reorganizing, and weeding their collections while likewise updating their services so as to remain relevant. Moreover, their resources (including those materials targeted by book bans and similar initiatives) are valued by many members of their communities.

These institutions provide so many resources even beyond the books and movies on their shelves. I’d always been peripherally aware of this, but it wasn’t until I started working at a library in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio that the full power of its combined resources registered with me.

As Barack Obama said in his open thank-you letter to America’s librarians in July 2023, “[I]t’s not just about books. You also provide spaces where people can come together, share ideas, participate in community programs, and access essential civic and educational resources. Together, you help people become informed and active citizens, capable of making this country what they want it to be.”

Below I’ve listed several benefits that libraries provide for their communities, with specific references to West Virginia library assets. If you think of any important points I haven’t included in this list, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom.

Informational resources

Libraries link people to the appropriate resources to meet their needs. This might mean showing you to in-library reference materials on a particular topic. But this also includes providing information and referral services for legal matters, food assistance, housing assistance, and other personal needs.

In fact, Cabell County Public Library–for which the matter of funding will be on the county’s primary ballot next month–recently made the news for its decades-old Information and Referral Services Department, which has helped many a community member thanks to its extensive database construction and work with community partners. 

See what resources are available through your local library, or explore WVInfoDepot.org to access a variety of information.

Materials for entertainment

As most of you know, folks can register for a library card to receive free access to books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and more. There are numerous e-resources available to library cardholders too, if you prefer to read, watch, or listen to content through your personal technological device. Plus, some libraries even have games you can check out, from board games to video games.

Tech access and assistance

When your wifi's down at home, head to your local library and get connected through either your own device or a library device. There you can also access cheap printing services and one-on-one tech assistance. Additionally, some libraries offer basic technology workshops such as introduction to use of Microsoft applications.

Job help 

Libraries are growing with the times and today link their customers to numerous digital resources. West Virginia residents can access online resume-building tutorials, job search platforms, career ebooks, and more by scrolling through WVInfoDepot’s Career and Test Prep page. 

For in-person help, ask whether your library hosts any job skills courses. Additionally, staff can show you to bookshelves covering relevant career areas or refer you to external job assistance resources. 

School help

A new program called TutorWV, available through partnership with Tutor.com, provides support for learners of all ages.

Likewise, WVInfoDepot provides numerous resources for students, from the aforementioned Career and Test Prep page to the Homework Help page, where students can access several databases for research projects. Younger children can enjoy the benefits of the website’s Resources for Children, such as talking books that assist with reading comprehension and math skills.

And in-person help is always available too! Talk to your local library staff to learn how Youth Services workers are engaging with young learners. 

Language learning resources

Library patrons can browse world language materials or join a conversation table to improve their language skills. 

Some libraries, such as those in Lincoln County, host adult literacy classes on a regular basis. Cabell County Public Library’s Main Branch is home to the Tri-State Literacy Council, which provides one-on-one English tutoring for adults. The branch also offers a Spanish speaking group and a kids’ Japanese class (ages 8-13). 

Note that Braille, large print, and audio materials can be made available for West Virginia library users who are unable to utilize traditional print materials.

Programming

Libraries everywhere host innovative programs to engage with customers across all walks of life. Arts and crafts, board game clubs, movie nights, musical performances, and summer reading programs are just a few of the activities that may be listed on your library’s calendar. 

This 2023 article on Morgantown’s summer reading program highlights how libraries are here for us all year long, providing vital programs and services.

Community gathering space

The library is a great space to go when you want to be around people. You can interact with new friends, reserve a meeting room for your organization, or simply enjoy browsing the collection knowing that you are not, in fact, an island.

Libraries often host programs to promote socialization. Moreover, the library is a great place for your child to meet other people of their age. Those parents who gave birth just before or during the COVID isolation period are especially likely to recognize the library as a vital space for children’s’ socialization in the years before schooling.

When you don’t know where else to go, there’s always the library– serving not only as a temperature-controlled space in which to pass the time between errands but also as a provider of information, materials, and programs to help you make the most of your life. It’s a quiet space for study, prayer, or meditation. It’s a social space for your kids. It’s a critical resource for community health and flourishing. Show it some love during this National Library Week and beyond.