From Reading to Succeeding: How Libraries Can Help

Your local library provides ample opportunities for learning, creativity, and socialization.

Let’s face it, life can be tough sometimes. It’s been a rough few years for many post-pandemic Americans, and we haven’t all adjusted to the new normal yet. Spending two years stuck at home has been a major setback for many of us, and we aren’t all certain where to go from here. 

As strange and unlikely as it may seem, you can find help at your local library. From providing opportunities to learn new skills and find your passion to offering a place to reconnect with the community around you, here’s how libraries can help you lead a more satisfying and successful life.

Take action today to support libraries!

Chances to Learn

Libraries offer their patrons countless chances to learn in ways you may not expect. Of course, books are always a great way to learn something new, but today’s libraries are no longer restricted to just books.

Public libraries now supply a wealth of online resources, seminars, workshops, makerspaces for creative endeavors, and more. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, pick up a new hobby, or just want to learn something new and interesting, the library has options for you.

Of course, not all libraries have the same offerings. Perhaps your neighborhood library doesn’t host workshops but has a more fleshed-out makerspace than others. Or it may not have a certain book in stock that you’re looking for, but another library does.

Every library is unique and can contribute to your journey of learning and self-development in different ways. If you want to take advantage of as many resources as possible, don’t limit yourself to your local library; use the whole library system!

Sign the pledge to vote for libraries!

Community Involvement

Quite possibly, the most important thing libraries have to offer—aside from information—is a sense of community. Public libraries are designed to be spaces where community members can come together, discuss issues, form friendships, and grow closer. In an increasingly asocial world, this is more important than ever. 

Many of us have a bad habit of using the internet to replace face-to-face communication, and with third spaces becoming rarer by the day, it’s all too easy to become socially isolated. Libraries, as we’ve mentioned before, are one of the few freely accessible third spaces in modern America, and we must make use of them for our well-being and that of the community.

Fortunately, the hardest part is just getting yourself out of the house. Once you’ve made it to the library, you’ll find one of the most welcoming environments in the world. Librarians and library patrons make every effort to ensure that the library is a safe and accessible place for all people, so no matter what, you’ll be able to find a sense of belonging there.

Your donations help support libraries across the country. 

Building a Support Web

Even more important than the sense of community is the library’s ability to help you find a support web. When we isolate ourselves, we don’t just miss out on communities and friendships—we leave ourselves without anyone to turn to in times of crisis.

When you engage with your library community, you’re guaranteed to find people who’ll have your back when you need it most. Even just having people to talk to will make all the difference when you’re going through tough times.

Forming a support web like this is a huge step in your journey of self-improvement and one you should take as soon as possible. The library’s always open, so all you have to do is enter!

If you’d like to learn more about the ways that public libraries can change your life for the better, feel free to visit our Public Libraries feature page today!

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

#librarymarketers: Enjoy this story? Want to use it for your library newsletter, blog, or social media? This article is published under Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International and is free to edit and use with attribution. Please cite EveryLibrary on medium.com/everylibrary.

This work by EveryLibrary is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0