Four Reasons Why Libraries are as Important as Ever ▬ SHP

Four Reasons Why Libraries are as Important as Ever

Library of Congress

SHP: 7.27.2018 by Lauren Della Bella

Libraries are a vibrant, essential part of local communities and places of learning. That’s why, like many across the internet, we couldn’t disagree more with a now-retracted opinion piece that appeared recently on Forbes.com, calling for the removal of publicly funded libraries to be replaced by local Amazon bookstores.

Libraries are community innovation spaces

Most people who think of libraries as outdated relics full of dusty pages, outdated books and a hawkish librarian who prowls the stacks listening for noises above a whisper haven’t actually been in a library in quite some time. In fact, most libraries are a modern, beautiful nexus of knowledge and collaboration in a community.

Libraries are digital hubs

Libraries have wisely used public funds to stay up to date with technology and readership trends. Although print books aren’t exactly going away—at least, not according to sales numbers—those who prefer digital and audio versions of books can still benefit from a membership to the local library.  Libraries recognize that generational needs and differences often influence a preference for whether content is delivered in printed, digital or audio form and they provide all of these options.

Libraries are worth the investment

Taxes and levies are a sensitive subject, and helping a community understand the benefit of public funding for facilities is something we deal with a lot. Despite the arguments, it remains clear that public investments in libraries have a net economic benefit. Depending on the specific state, for every $1 of public revenue collected for libraries, between $4 and $8 in resources are returned to the community.

Because of the economy of scale—and the savings associated with sharing and reusing resources—libraries save community residents money. They help local job markets by training the talent pipeline and they provide access to meeting spaces, technology and other resources for civic groups, clubs and neighborhood organizations.

Libraries are beautiful

As an architecture and design firm, we’re obviously biased here, but the design of libraries are often focal points in cities and towns across America. They reflect the local aesthetic and give every citizen a town treasure of which they can be proud.

Some of the most famous libraries are architectural marvels that awe and inspire the masses. In America, we’re collectively drawn to beaux-arts style of our national Library of Congress—the oldest federal cultural institution in the country and largest library in the world.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 13

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old

(college level entry)