I was 22 when I walked into the Parson’s branch of the Columbus Public Library to host a teen support program. A cool blast of wind brushed the hairs off my forehead while my eyes adjusted to the light. The space was open, a friendly librarian smiling to my right. Brightly colored walls pulled my gaze from one room to the next, each hosting a group of people.
I hitched the canvas tote bag higher on my shoulder; it was filled with worksheets, rubber bracelets, and crayons. The librarian directed me to the teen space and I began to organize my materials, listening to the wash of excited chatter behind me.
The students had walked over from the nearby high school, where they’d just had a level three lockdown because someone brought a firearm into the school. Talking among themselves, they swapped stories of the harrowing events of the afternoon. I felt their stress dissipating as the safety and familiarity of the library blanketed them. The librarians brought snacks over and the students settled in for our activity.
In that hour I witnessed a function of the library we don’t always name: a safe meeting space where people feel welcome.
As I write this I am sitting in the Westerville Public Library. Downstairs, I can hear children and parents talking, the intermittent beep of the checkout kiosk. Upstairs in the Adult Services Section, an older gentleman receives help on his resume while a young professional types rapidly on one of the library’s computers. An individual who appears homeless is reading a book while raindrops patter quietly on the windows.
I’m reminded of the recent visit by my parents where we all stared around in wonder at the Westerville Library’s 3D-Printer. Their innovation lab has professional printing, computers, videography equipment, a podcasting studio, and staff members willing and ready to help you use it all.
Ohio’s libraries are exceptional. Rob Moore, Principal for Scioto Analysis, recently wrote an op-ed for the Ohio Capital Journal about how often Ohioans visit their libraries: 3.41 times a year on average — second highest among all states across the country.
Ohio’s libraries offer career support, ASL and literacy classes, and a safe space to exist for free. When you don’t have any money to buy a cup of coffee or a movie ticket, it becomes very clear very fast that most public spaces in America were built to engage with people who can pay. Libraries offer one of the only places that individuals can pass time without having to purchase something.
In addition to being a safe third space, libraries offer support to individuals navigating complex government programs. A report by the Brookings Institution finds that in “many communities, librarians are also ad hoc social workers and navigators.” Librarians help citizens understand the complexities of the American healthcare system, file their taxes, and obtain housing support.
San Francisco was one of the first library systems to hire social workers to support their librarians. This combination of training and expertise supports the roughly 15% of library patrons who are homeless.
The Hartford public library of Connecticut offers “The American Place,” a support program for New Americans trying to acclimate to their new home. They offer legal support, career services, language assistance, and computer training.
The Chicago Public Library System offers the “Library of Things” which are nontraditional items for patrons to check out. From cornhole to a projector to a tortilla press, the library offers free and accessible ways for patrons to try new technologies without having to put their own money down.
The NIH estimates that there are 17,000 public libraries nationwide hosting four million visits each day. Part of what makes libraries a valuable third space is the neutrality and accessibility of their locations.
Libraries cannot offer these services without funding. In their version of the budget bill, the Ohio House originally proposed a $100 Million cut to the state’s libraries compared to Governor DeWine’s original budget, but protests made legislators walk the cut back to $90 Million. It’s worth noting that $600 Million has been appropriated for a new Cleveland Browns Stadium.
In addition to reductions in their funding, libraries are also facing legislation that could reduce their ability to provide services. The American Library Association hosts a legislation tracker on their website. According to them, the “most concerning are bills that would remove longstanding legal protections that shielded libraries and library workers from criminal prosecution for providing access to books and online resources…"
As libraries face budget cuts and possible censorship from state governments, they continue to provide key social services to community members.
I’ll leave you with this. If services like these seem like they can be valuable to you, I created this digital map to help you find your local library in the state of Ohio. Go take a visit: you might find something you like.