How Modern Library Programs Meet Modern Needs

Libraries are all too often oversimplified as book repositories that occasionally hold special events and act as voting stations. This could not be further from the truth, as they offer a wide range of services and support for their communities beyond lending out books and meeting rooms.

The following are examples of library programs that went beyond typical expectations and demonstrated how flexible libraries can be when it comes to providing for their patrons and communities. 

Rutherford County, Tennessee 

Scam calls have infested our phone lines and clogged our voicemail for decades. While most people born in the information age have become familiar with this situation and how to identify a scam, it is often seniors who are targeted by malicious actors.

Two public libraries in Tennessee recently ran programs to educate older adults on scam calls and personal data privacy. Patrons of the Limbaugh and Smyrna public libraries attended these classes on March 10 and 17, respectively. These events are a great example of the importance of digital literacy and how libraries can help develop relevant skills. 

Sign the pledge to vote for libraries!

Mesa County, Colorado 

Moving from screen thumbs to green thumbs, a Colorado branch recently restocked its seed library for the upcoming season. The Mesa County Libraries demonstrated how these institutions can teach a wide range of life skills.

Seeds of fruits, herbs, vegetables, and flowers are available to patrons with a limit of three packets per month. Community members can also learn more about gardening and meal planning during visits or by engaging with related resources provided by the library.

While these concepts are not typically associated with libraries, this kind of program is actually fairly common among public library branches. It makes sense once you consider how libraries are spaces meant to educate and support their communities. Through materials and discussion, patrons learn how to grow their own food and can then use the library’s seed collection and gardening resources to start their own home gardens. 

Take action today to support libraries!

Lufkin, Texas 

Down in Texas, local librarians helped people prepare for a different kind of season: tax season. The Kurth Memorial Library partnered with the AARP and IRS to help patrons manage and file their taxes. The program was primarily intended for low-income individuals and senior citizens, but provided support to anyone who needed it.

It’s no secret how stressful and confusing tax forms, payments, and interactions can be, so having professional assistance in a controlled environment, free of cost, was greatly beneficial to those who needed it. The library also hosted financial literacy courses throughout February to provide further assistance and education. 

In the face of anti-library propaganda, protest, and even legislation, it is more important now than ever to recognize just how integral these organizations are to their local communities. The dedicated workers of these branches put in great time and effort to improve their neighborhoods and the patrons who occupy them. Chances are, your local library offers programs or services you’ve never even noticed. Keep up to date with your nearby branch by visiting in person or on their website. 

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