Saturday, April 15, 2017

Beyond the Walls of the Library

Bookmobiles, Little Libraries, and More

Librarians amaze me. I think it's their universal and relentless passion for connecting people with resources that astounds me. And when people don't go to them, they find ways to take their passions outside of the walls of the library.

Bookmobiles have always interested me. As Witteveen's article shows, bookmobiles are still relevant and needed in areas where access to technology and books is limited. ABOS board member Michael Swendrowski indicates that, in fact, they can be "part of the solution when a community is struggling economically." Visiting daycare centers (even those at Google and Microsoft offices) as well as schools where the library was being renovated are other instances chronicled in the article where bookmobiles have found a place. The New York Public Library also made its way into correctional facilities. They even offer a video visitation service.

When my husband heard about these little libraries popping up, he suggested that we create one of our own. We were always loaning out our boys' books when friends shared they struggled with finding books their kids enjoyed. Metro Denver has more than 500 of them and was just honored with a City of Distinction award by the national organization, Little Free Library.

American Libraries' article on embedded librarians documents yet another way librarians are making themselves indispensable. James LaRue is the library director for Douglas County Libraries in Colorado. He believes:
Librarians have the power to change lives and build community-but to do this, we have to leave our desks, leave our buildings, and show the community what a powerful tool we are. LaRue firmly believes that the library's most powerful asset is its professional staff. He wants librarians interacting with the community, answering their questions, informing their discussions, and helping them-as partners-achieve their goals. These opportunities will not find us; we have to seek them.
With this vision, librarians were then embedded in local organizations such as schools, city councils, and economic development councils. They attended meetings, offered research assistance, connected the organization with the library's resources, all the while becoming more informed in the community's needs.






1 comment:

  1. Julie, I'm always excited when I hear about or discover in my rambling little libraries. We have them here in Portland communities. I remember the treasured book mobile of my youth. Not in some schools where kids don't get into the library regularly, librarians will bring books to kids in the cafeteria, in the locker bays, corridors and even classrooms. They do this with a book cart and an ipad checkout device. We have ways of perpetuating the the little library!

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