Local Libraries - Blog Posts
Meishu, Leider, Ledare
Today, many in the US celebrate a world of chocolate, candies and fantasy. While books tells us the stories of ourselves, our community, those we don’t know and those we will never meet the public spaces we can enjoy these stories, explore and grow. But while many of these stories are true and these public spaces not all in libraries, many of the libraries would be empty if existing at all if not for...authors.
November 1st is National Author Day, Gracia!
The Common folk, Contribute to their Community
Australia has approximately 25.2 million people but because of the size that equates to only approximately 3 people every square kilometer (8 people every sq.mile). Similar population countries are Taiwan with 23.7 million (671 people every square kilometer) and North Korea with 25.6 (213 people every square kilometer). Countries with a similar people per mile are Iceland (3 people every square kilometer) and Canada (4 people every square kilometer). (1) Because it is so spread out, Australia has had to make some adjustments to how they hand local libraries.
Increased use of university libraries, high priority of public libraries supported by local state and government endeavors are only combined with school libraries when the community or local communities are not large enough for individual need. Ensuring all residents have at least one local library of access. Similar to the Netherlands, there are also specialized libraries that focus on art, feminism, Indigenous people, Lesbian and Gay history and legislative history and procedure. What is most telling about the importance, care and thought of those in Australia is the introduction page about how Australian’s public libraries and the Australian Public Library alliance meets” at least 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals” that do not focus on just environmental book policies
The Alliance itself is also a note to the goals of the country as it was only formed about ten years ago, July 2009, to work towards creating a national goal and concentration on resident’s free, equal and diverse access to information
(1) https://www.worldometers.info/
(2) https://www.alia.org.au/node/184/public-libraries
Krijasto
It should not be any surprise that a majority of the Happiest report countries in the world, also have the highest reported intellect, education and success. One such country, Finland, is consistently praised for various reasons. It has great access to nature (including the Northern Lights) and a clean environment, there is a real sense of community as it is not uncommon for people who have lost their wallet to have it returned and high parental leave for all parents; and there is a great freedom to express oneself as seen with the creativity that has pushed design boundaries, created mobile games and metal music.
While not the only foundation of these achievements, another instrument of this success is the love Finland has for their books and public libraries. Noted as the country that takes out/borrows the most libraries in the world these libraries truly are epicenters of the community where new and established residents may learn, explore, think, question and grow
(1) https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2019/WHR19.pdf
(2) https://www.visitfinland.com/article/greatest-things-about-finland/
(3) https://www.buzzfeed.com/frankmartela/12-surprising-things-in-which-finland-is-the-best-fvkn
(4) https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/15/why-finlands-cities-are-havens-for-library-lovers-oodi-helsinki
St. Catherine’s Monastery
While not always the most exciting, important or useful; there is something to be said about being “first”. Believed to have been opened around 560 CE, St. Catherine’s Monastery in South Sinai, Egypt is believed to be the oldest, continually operated library in the world.
There is also an older, and probably still not the oldest or first, the Al-Qarawiyyin opened first in approximately 860 CE has had to be closed and access restricted due to structural damage.But it is still beautiful, as is St. Catherine’s, and rich of history to share just by walking around
(1) https://matadornetwork.com/trips/15-super-unique-libraries-around-the-world-pics/
(2)
(3) https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-oldest-library-al-qarawiyyin/index.html
Vereniging Openbare Bibiotheken en meer
Outside of Amsterdamn, the Netherlands are a wonderful place to live. As one person writes, there is a lot of diversity creating a space of different languages and environments, but while there is a separation between true locals as those who don’t fully integrate (i.e. Learn Dutch) there is still an openness and friendly culture. Even while striving for the achieved academic, educational and intellectual excellence, there is also a note that it is not forced (1).
Focused on overall growth, personal acceptance and diversity the School 7 library in Den Helder won the International Federation of Library Assocation’s best library...in the world (2)
But there is still more. Throughout the country there are various specialized libraries (libraries focused on new immigrants, feminism, Jewish and African cultures) and a focus by the VOB (their library assocation Vereniging Openbare Bibiotheken) that encourage residents to ask for help with legal and business needs, how you can use the resources for advocacy and how proud they are that approxiamtely 50% of their users are under the age of 18 (3)
(1) https://wanderwisdom.com/travel-destinations/Pros-and-cons-about-living-in-Holland-from-an-Americans-perspective
(2) https://www.frameweb.com/news/school-7-library-netherlands-van-veen-mars
(3)http://www.debibliotheken.nl/
Access, Access, Access
Today is the last day of the original “Libby app” free book club reading of “After The Flood” by Kassandra Montag ends. Along with the freedom, increased access, and connection this personal book club brought there are also many advantages provided by libraries who have set up electronic lending of books.
First, the access greatly increases. There is approximately one library for every 173,224 people in Japan, 15,932 people in the UK, 12,011 people in Switzerland, 58,178 people in Canada, 6,875 people in Norway, 2,799 people in the United States, for every approximate 600,000 people in China, 29,500 people in the Netherlands and 15,100 people in Australia. Some of the discrepancies can be understood as some countries have institutions similar but not considered traditional public libraries. For other countries, (UK and Japan) people are close enough to each other where for the most part a smaller number of libraries doesn’t necessarily mean less access as it does for other countries (China, the US). Countries with public libraries that aren’t able to be as spread out may increase the access to residents through downloading and while a good portion of these areas may also have issues with internet access mobile libraries or programs that can take back the books once the due date occurs will give residents opportunities they otherwise didn’t have.
Second, it should not come as a shock to many that have been in school that the books students are required to have for school are massive, cumbersome and have been somewhat linked to posture and other spine difficulties. Electronic books, even strictly for entertainment or so you can take many when going on a trip because traditional books would add too much weight to your luggage allow you more freedom and access by taking away both a physical and space-related con.
Finally, a great instance with electronic books (depending on the library), is that it’s right there! You don’t have to wait to get home, get in the car or the bus, get your card, travel to the library or have to wait a few days to get the book. You can get it right when you’re in the mood to read it (I believe, that is how it should be set up—I go traditional)
Parts Unknown
Libraries are not just about books and education; sometimes a connection doesn’t come from a written word or common experience but the opening up of one’s experiences and becoming vulnerable. Libraries have all different mediums for these connections and sometimes the break in the sentence, flutter in the eye you experience directly adds to the depth of the spoken word that cannot be expressed by their writing. Diversity in writing, community and stories includes diversity of media.
Ugh; Anthony Bourdain’s Buenos Aires episode. I hope you can hear us all now, you did so much more than just shove food in your mouth.
Highlighting the significance of how the food is prepared to the culture and history and individual--it’s why the show wasn’t called something generically--food “Unknown”, but parts unknown.
Parts of diets we don’t know of, parts of the world we don’t know of, parts of ourselves we don’t know of.
Thank you, I miss you--> I’ve been missing you
Worldly, with, Wonder
A lot of the public support of libraries is that they are places of great connection, education and comfort that will improve the community. I praise libraries that host book clubs, political discussions, gardening events, work to get children to read; but other times my trek has to do with only myself to find peace in isolation.
Feeling overwhelmed, lost or uncertain, books and the library can be a peaceful place to rest, decompress and wait to come back to the world. In addition to being a community resource, libraries are one of the few places where quiet peacefulness is put as a higher priority than usual; children may be in a separate area and aren’t criticized for being too loud but gently reminded. Here, where you may easily allow yourself to detach from notifications and screens, you can let your brain recharge and breathe peacefully, letting the stories of others wash over and take you away
Practicality with Poise and Purpose
Libraries are becoming one of the only true public spaces in community, and not all communities have them. As we become more developed and cramped for space, parks are dwindling and most other places to explore and learn also cost money: museums, gallerys, etc. Libraries are also unique as they not only provide education access to books, movies, or night classes sometimes they also are public spaces that hold discussions and talks where those who are not as connected to the community or have a unique or newly peaked interest can explore and connect.
Growing up in a wealthier neighborhood, my local library expanded to introduce scientific talks with epidemiologists, chemists, pharmaceutical companies where these guest lectures would visit and speak, but then give us the ability to ask questions, and have discussion among ourselves. Overtime, similar topics brought similar people together and you got to meet those in your community that you became more attached to that you otherwise wouldn’t have known. Similar to more common library activities such as Mahjong, these events allowed that connectivity in diverse groups, with diverse ages and unique topics. It is important to remember that libraries as public spaces are not just for education or history knowledge, but future growth and exploration, discussion, a diverse community engagement and equality.