Dancing the tango at the Brooklyn Public Library in Sunset Park, Brooklyn,  N.Y. Image via Next Avenue

When Nicola Heath applied for her first library job, she assumed libraries were mainly about lending books. But she quickly realized that the role of public libraries today extends far beyond books. At their heart, libraries are about social equity.

Today's libraries have evolved to meet a wide range of essential human needs. They provide job-seeking support, host inclusive programs for marginalized groups, and help bridge the digital divide by offering free internet access and digital resources. Libraries combat social isolation and promote lifelong learning and literacy. Most importantly, they invite and nurture community.

"Opening up a library to uses other than borrowing books doesn’t diminish it or the role it plays in fostering literacy in society – it enhances communities and guarantees the library’s ongoing relevance in a digital era. 'We try to provide services that meet all the needs of the community around us,' says Sue McKerracher, CEO of the Australian Library and Information Association. 'We’re not going to exclude people who are disadvantaged … far from it, we want to bring them in and help them build their digital skills, because otherwise, where else do they go?'"

"Some wish to rewind the clock to a time when libraries were 'hallowed sanctuaries of silence and solitude.' Yes, libraries can be noisy – but the alternative is the hush of an empty building before it is repurposed into apartments."

Meet me at the library.

ARTICLE: Public Libraries Are Not Just About Books. At Their Heart, They Are About Social Equity