In these crazy times we are living in, libraries have never been more actively relevant today. With layoffs and stocks going haywire, many people are looking to downsize and find ways to save money. Fortunately, there are places such as a library that are a beacon of light, a place of gathering to empathize, to celebrate, and to bring people together. That was the story of Storm Reyes, who grew up in a Native American community impoverished, but thanks to a library bookmobile, her love of reading and imagination carried her over to become a librarian herself (Papova, 2016). Undoubtedly, stories like Storm Reyes show that libraries can help save lives.
In the state I live in (California), there are many occasions where you don’t know if the big one will hit. As of late, there might be small, subtle earthquakes or a wildfire spark that can trigger into a big event due to climate change. In Folsom Public Library, it became a refuge for many displaced citizens who needed to charge their devices or needed wi-fi to get access to the internet (Cyr, 2019). Something that I remembered strikingly that was similar to Folsom Public Library was when East Palo Alto library did giveaways from their PG&E blackout kit when I was only 5 months into my librarian aide job. Inside the kit had a bunch of perishable food and also accessories like a flashlight and insulated blanket when patrons needed something to see in the dark or cover when it was cold. Similar to that timeframe, another story that was crazy too was a mother of 3 children who suffered a seizure in the middle of a tech tutor session. This was when I was taking my 15 minute break. Before the break, everything was normal, but I did not know how dire the situation was until I came back from my break, realizing first aid was being administered and 911 came. She was a frequent patron and from what I know has recovered. I know East Palo Alto has done work providing CPR training courses (I haven’t done my part because of scheduling) in case something dire happens. It was my first time encountering a situation very serious and seeing emergency personnel up close, but again, libraries have resources such as a first aid kit, an oxygen tank, and a fire extinguisher when something serious is going on.
Finally, one story that really stood out that I wanted to share was about a year ago, I recalled a patron who left a note to the library staff; thanking them for having a library in East Palo Alto because her husband passed away. The library was a place for her to cope with grief because it allowed her to give her the resources needed as well as being around with other like-minded patrons that gave her meaning. Serving the community and making a difference through librarianship has been a unique perspective coming from a design background. Overall, what I really appreciate is the experience of helping people through duress and within the power of stories, is providing a place for comfort and resources to get your footing back. That’s something I want to do as I transition to a new career, whether that is librarianship, handling dynamic relationships, or something close to it. To close, Dr. Michael Stephens once said, “Libraries can push back against fear with the power of free information and a space that no matter who you are, you are welcome.” (Paxaman, 2019).
References
12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country. (n.d). American Library Association. Retrieved March 27, 2027 from https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/libraries/articles/12-ways-libraries-are-good-country
Cyr, C (2019, November 06). Public Libraries Generate Social Capital that can Save Lives. OCLC. Retrieved March 27, 2027 from https://blog.oclc.org/next/public-libraries-generate-social-capital-that-can-save-lives/#:~:text=When%20disaster%20strikes%2C%20libraries%20are,have%20a%20place%20to%20go.
Paxaman, M. (n.d). Challenged But Not Dying, The Public Libraries Are More Relevant Than Ever. Jutland Station. Retrieved March 27, 2027 from https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dd3t7to32e7ky5mqduns6/Challenged-but-not-dying-the-public-libraries-are-more-relevant-than-ever-Jutland-Station.pdf?rlkey=6bppru4ffp80pakifb0mh2wo2&e=1&dl=0
Popova, M. (2016, October 06). How Libraries Save Lives. The Marginalian. Retrieved March 27, 2027 from https://www.themarginalian.org/2016/10/06/libraries-storycorps-bookmobile/
@hunchocaaado thank you for sharing these examples of the stories you have encountered in your work. Thanks for the reminder about that quote from the article. That one seems even more timely right now.
Hi Tyrone! Your post is such a refreshing insight into the numerous people who libraries show support for. Since beginning an MLIS, I’ve come to learn the importance that “one-size-fits-all” libraries are just not realistic, in the sense that not all users have the same information-seeking behaviors or information needs. It’s crucial for libraries to consider the different kinds of people who will walk through our doors to use our services. Libraries across the U.S. account for numerous communities and their needs, such as the East Palo Alto Library giving out PG&E blackout kits to their users living in earthquake-prone or wildfire-prone areas. This instance, of course, is just one of the various steps that libraries can take to support their communities. Your stories are a wonderful insight into the work librarians do, as well as what we get back in return for helping our users. Great post!