Big, small, hole-in-the-wall, city size or otherwise, libraries have always been as influential and important a social institution as any other. Public libraries, school libraries and every other type in between all function to serve vast and diverse populations of people with vast and diverse catalogs of needs. Service, impartial and open access to material, resources, activities, information, and community, and connection to one another on a fundamental human basis serve as the foundation for what libraries everywhere and of every type represent: a safe space wherein any and all people are welcome and granted equal access, opportunity, and stewardship.

Libraries serve as a crucial neutral space in a society wherein nearly everything else around us is contingent on prerequisites, allegiance to particular identities, and formation to inflexible structures and expectations. From a theological or perhaps more ethereal perspective, libraries can even be seen as a response to the need for human beings to be provided for and connected on a level that is solely human, as an acknowledgement of the basic humanity and right to dignity that we all share. 

And, of course, they are also a haven for books, materials, and services of all types for all types. No where else in the world can you find a children’s book about talking french fries in the same location as a movie investigating the deep socio-economic underpinnings of the 2008 financial crisis in the same location as a plant seed library in the same location as an adult caretakers’ meeting in the same location as the list goes on infinitely. 

Anne Yetzer-Jones, Adult Services Librarian at the Waynesboro Public Library, says that, “I see libraries as a third place. A third place is a space for a community that is not work, and it is not home. A third place is a space that usually doesn’t require money to enter. Libraries are more than the books they store in between use…. It’s a place where you can meet another community member with no expectation of purchasing something or even checking out anything. It’s a place to gather, a (hopefully if we’ve done our jobs correctly and well) safe space for children and teens to gather after school, a place where a parent or caregiver can bring their children to programs or even have a different place to explore. It’s a place where the elderly can come in on days where it’s too hot or too cold or too wet, and have a space to read and be safe. It’s a welcome place for homeless to have a safe space. It’s a place that the jobless can come in and find employment. The library is a community place where one can find the resources to further their lives in whatever way they want; whether that be learning English, or learning how to get a GED or prepare for a test like the SATs, the LSATs, or a GRE. The library also serves as a space where those without internet or computers at home can close the digital divide, and gain computer literacy skills. Although they are very important, libraries are more than just the books they hold.” 

David Plunkett, Library Director of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, suggests that (per the JMRL’s mission statement and values), “JMRL fosters personal growth and life-long learning for all by connecting people with ideas, information, and each other,” and that, “Our goal is to deliver exceptional service and honor our place at the center of the communities we support. We believe public libraries play a critical role in fostering a democratic society, and we embrace our responsibility to amplify a full spectrum of voices. We advocate for intellectual freedom and make your privacy a priority…. We provide education and experiences to community members at every stage of life. We want our libraries to be comfortable, inviting, accessible spaces where you can work and play. We create opportunities for people to connect, exchange ideas, and discover community resources. Our libraries are inclusive spaces for people of all backgrounds, where everyone is welcomed and respected. We promote kindness and believe in service to the community.”

Marci Frederick and library staff at EMU’s Sadie Hartzler Library suggest that, “Libraries started out as places where people could use materials (mostly books) that were too expensive for them to own. Libraries still fulfill this function; we provide access to journal articles, books, media (streaming and physical) that would cost the average user hundreds of dollars if they needed to be purchased.  We defend the right to read or watch or listen to what you wish. We support our schools and public libraries in their efforts to serve all of their clients and to fight censorship by one group at the expense of others. Those who control information control the narratives we organize ourselves by as societies. We lament the destruction of information as a tool of war. We do our best to provide an environment that is welcoming and open for student use, both in the spaces that we offer and in the services we provide. We are open more hours than any other department on campus. There is so much information out there that it helps to have guides as you hack through the thicket. We aim to serve the EMU community by providing those guide services.”