Reflection: Hyperlinked Communities

My last post discussed the inaccessibility of local library resources for working adults (and their children). Building on that theme, let us discuss the lack of activities for adults.

I have lost track of the number of times that programming for kids and teens have come up in this program. For humans with a lifespan of nearly 80 years, the library – it would seem – is only interested for the first 17. Kids and teens who are already in a space entirely dedicated to their education for 8 hours a day, who have enrichment and extra-curricular activity options pouring out of their ears, who already have school libraries (and eventually University libraries), also have the public library.

These are the activities in the library in my town this month (and every month – the calendar does not change):

• Baby Lapsit
• Toddler Time
• Preschool Storytime
• Read to a Dog
• Book Club (at 3:00 P.M. on a weekday)

I am not arguing with the benefits of all of these programs. However, what does that say to everyone else?

“The library is not for you.”

Think of all the content that has been billed as “teen” activities. Slap that label on everything interesting, and what does that tell the adults:

“Go away. This is not for you either.”

Do we think adults are too busy to attend programming?
Too rich to need free activities?
Too tired after work to leave the house?

The people attending pub quiz nights, paint nights, movie theatres, and karaoke bars would beg to differ.

Things I Want to Do at The Library:

• Quiz Night
• Film Screenings followed by moderated discussions
• Book Clubs followed by moderated discussions
• Content Creation Labs (TikToks/podcasts/3D prints)
• Open Mic Nights / Poetry Readings / Musical Performances
• Board/Video Games (teach others to play)
• D&D (beginners through advanced)
• Bingo
• Astronomy lessons on the roof
• Card Games (learn hearts & whist like Jane Austen characters)
• Writing workshops followed by TED/Moth-style showcases
• Cooking demonstrations / classes (hot plates and Instant Pots!)
• Cake decorating
• Eating Healthy / Walking / Running Groups
• Beginning dance classes
• Paint Night (byo canvas – we supply the paints!)
• Digital photography & photoshop classes
• Language Practice Nights for Mango/Bluebird/Duolingo users
• Art Exhibits
• Library After Dark (like Cal Academy of Sciences Nightlife)

The point is that adults are busy, yes, but they still like to hang out with their friends or attempt to make new ones. Sitting in a bar screaming over the music is only fun if you don’t have anything to say.

Imagine, instead, a full slate of community-led, community-run programming where there is literally something going on all evening every evening. Got a free evening? Show up and join the fun.

Women show off their Paint Night creations

As Pewhairangi states, “The principal currency today is no longer information, products, or services; it is human attention.” If we want to combat the epidemic of lonliness, then it would behoove us to find the socially isolated people — people who live alone, work from home, whose only connections are colleagues on a Zoom/Teams call. If one in eight people are experiencing such high psychological distress that they’re at risk of premature death (Greenwood), then how can we help them find a community of their own? Why don’t we ask them what they would like to do, not just at the library but anywhere? We might be surprised at the kinds of things that people do not do because they cannot afford it — or afford the constant supply of food and beverages required to stay at a table there — but would like to get out from behind their screens and interact with the world (Schmidt).

Maybe it’s time that everything at the library isn’t just for kids, nor just for readers (Stephens). If we wish to keep those children coming back to the library after they graduate from high school, then we need to have something for them to do when they get there.