Libraries Changing with the Advancement of the Future

 By Tara O'Brien

  Changes in Libraries   

Libraries are not just quiet places filled with books anymore.  

“Libraries have changed a lot even in the last 20 years,” said Heather O’Leary, a collection development librarian.  

O’Leary, who has worked at The MacPhaidin Library for 12 years, said libraries are essential but keep on changing.   

“They are increasingly becoming community centers, places where people can learn about recent technologies and access credible information sources, find entertainment, and connect with others,” O’Leary said.  

           O’Leary said the movement towards digital resources such as eBooks and streaming video is the biggest change for libraries. The pandemic accelerated this trend because online resources were often the only way of getting content to people during lockdown.   

The State of Americas’ Libraries of 2022 reported that 95 percent of Americans, ages 16 and older, agreed that the materials and resources available at public libraries play a key role in giving everyone a chance to succeed.  

Many people, particularly students, do not realize how much libraries offer them and some never even think to step foot into one.   

Rory Cayer, a college student at Holy Cross, said she would never think to use a library if she was not in school.   

“Being at school is the only reason I go to a library; I feel the most productive in there and can get the most work done. If I were a student who lived at home or not a student, I would not go to a library,” Cayer said.  

To stay relevant in the future, librarians said they must keep up with the times. Many people now have computers, printers, and resources and do not need to rely on libraries.   

Amanda Flahive is a college student who finds libraries a place that she rarely goes to.  

“For me, I do my best work in my own space, I feel the most comfortable however, I could use the librarian's help more on finding information and drafting better essays. In high school, I never realized how much my school’s library offered. I need to take advantage of my college’s library,” Flahive said.   

There are so many websites and sources online it is hard to find truth and credibility. 

“With so much information floating around the internet but just because some person posted something online does not make it true," O’Leary said. “Libraries provide a way to make sense of all that swirling information and help users find sources that are credible and relevant by teaching users how to distinguish between fact and fiction,” O’Leary said.   

Eighty one percent of people surveyed say that public libraries provide many services people would have a challenging time finding elsewhere, reported The State of Americas’ Libraries of 2022.  

Librarians are trained to guide people to the right information. They know which information is reliable. They use their knowledge to help others get accurate information.  

“Libraries need to do a better job marketing themselves as vital sources of information resources and literacy,” O’Leary said.  

Libraries are a suitable place for communities to have a gathering place for the public. It offers a place and services. Libraries are for everyone, O’Leary said   

“Public libraries provide everything from story time for babies and caregivers to information sessions about social security and technology tips for seniors” O’Leary said.  

Libraries have changed.  

“They are no longer just quiet buildings with lots of books,” O’Leary said.  

Those changes have helped transform the traditional look of what libraries are.  

“Libraries can provide everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, ability, or any other factor,” O’Leary said.  

Studies have found libraries are important for child development. It is a place for them to explore, roam around and be introduced to learning and books. It is a place for them to gain confidence by picking out a book and playing.   

Caitlyn Moore, a children's librarian at Westwood Public Library stresses the importance of children being involved at their local libraries.   

“I would say children are still a big part of our libraries. The excitement of getting their very first library card is still a thing, looking through all the books, the act of taking the book home and back is all still alive. However, the number of children has decreased,” Moore said.  

The Westwood Public Library is a newly renovated building, offering hands on activities for children, reading areas and iPads. The biggest change Moore said was the modern technology that is brought into the libraries.