Skip to main content

Libraries as Social Hubs (brianna curran)

San Diego Central Library


All over the world, libraries have become a social hub for their local demographics. Public, academic, and private libraries all offer a space for patron’s to connect, learn, and express themselves.  A study done through Michigan State University reported findings that suggest that “non-classroom settings function as social hubs, help make intellectual and creative work visible to the larger learning community, and provide access to important resources''. This study also states that non-classroom settings help facilitate community formation and identity. Public libraries offer a variety of events to the local community. The events offered will vary depending on the library. The San Marcos branch of the San Diego Public Library offers baby story time, crafting for ages 9-14, art & culture crafting, free English classes for adults, family story time, crochet and knitting club, toddler time, Japanese story time, bilingual story time, chess club, and more. These are all free resources for the community to socialize and connect with each other. In addition to in-person socialization opportunities, libraries offer internet and computer use for their patrons. With a library card, a patron can access these for free. With free access to technology and the internet,  a person can connect with others via email or social media networks. As long as the patron follows the library's internet and computer policies, they have the world at their fingertips!


Works cited

EBSCO and Library plus and Ezproxy Authentication – IT Services - University of Derby, itservicecentre.derby.ac.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360002171640-EBSCO-and-Library-Plus-and-Ezproxy-authentication. Accessed 16 May 2024. 

“Events.” San Diego County Library, sdcl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?locations=32&_gl=1%2A17pj5r%2A_ga%2AMTMyNjY5ODY4OC4xNzE1NzkxODcx%2A_ga_G99DMMNG39%2AMTcxNTc5MTg3MS4xLjAuMTcxNTc5MTg3MS4wLjAuMA..%5C. Accessed 16 May 2024. 


Comments

Popular Post

The Demise of School Libraries

 Christina Erb                                                                                                                      The Demise of School Libraries and how it effects low-income students.    Are schools shutting down their libraries? If so, why? Could it be because during the pandemic schools learned they could function without them? That maybe the library isn't as important to students as they were once thought to be? Has the funding been cut so much, that there is no room in the budget for a functioning library and staff?      In 2019, there were 20% fewer school librarians tha...

Libraries and Student Success (brianna curran)

  Libraries have always played a huge role for student success. They provide a multitude of resources for students, free internet and technology access, quiet places to study, tutoring, and more. Libraries contribute to student success in terms of helping students progress in their knowledge and persistence as university students. Lisa Massengale, Pattie Piotrowski,  and Devin Savage published a study that Identifies and Articulates Library Connections to Student Success. Their findings report “the library fills a unique role for students and provides a trusted network of people, spaces, and resources that help set the stage for students to succeed in terms of persistence and providing a sense of community. The role of the libraries may be that of facilitators of a scholarly community. qualitative research revealed four themes from the students in terms of how libraries help them succeed: space, people, place, and resources and service”.  Works Cited EBSCO and Library plu...