How Do Public Libraries Support Their Patrons through Natural Disasters?

The library can provide a much-needed refuge during crisis.

Though many people think of libraries simply as a place to check out books, the reality is that they play a much more significant role in the lives of their patrons and the community as a whole. This becomes especially apparent in times of crisis like natural disasters, in which libraries are often one of the first organizations to step up and help the community get back on its feet. Let’s look at how exactly they do this and how we, as a community, can support our libraries so that they can support us in turn.

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Providing a Social Network

When a natural disaster strikes a community, its members often feel scattered and isolated. Libraries provide a safe haven where these people can go to gather with others who were affected and offer each other support, keeping the community as a whole connected.

Running Donation Drives

As nexuses of their respective communities, libraries often host donation drives in times of crisis, allowing those who fared better during the disaster to get those who fared worse back on their feet. As libraries help to inspire a sense of community, they’re the perfect place to start when revitalizing that community.

Providing Shelter

During and after a severe natural disaster, many people may find themselves without a roof over their heads. In response to this, libraries often open their doors, converting parts of their buildings into temporary shelters for the displaced. Though libraries are unable to repair the homes that have been damaged or completely destroyed, they can provide a chance for those affected to gather their thoughts and move forward.

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How Can We Help?

So, how can we support our libraries in more peaceful times? One of the simplest ways to do so is to keep paying your library visits. If people continue to visit libraries, those libraries will be able to secure more funding and do more for the community as a result.

However, you can also help your local libraries with your vote as an American citizen. Between book bans and funding debates, libraries often find themselves at risk of losing the unique role they play in the community. As a result, groups like EveryLibrary are always looking for ways to provide information and resources for voters like you, allowing you to do your part to protect and take care of our public libraries. If you’d like to learn more, you can visit our site 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