A decline in tangible fun, progressive or unfortunate, a story about the public library

Over the course of the years, there has been the decline of many popular franchises such as Barnes and Noble’s downsizing or completely ceasing to exist like Blockbuster. 

These niche stores that sell books and have sold movies cannot compete with markets like Amazon and Netflix. Similar to the decline of department stores since people no longer have to make trips to the mall for a coffee machine or a toaster oven when they can just order those things and other necessities with the click of a button.

So why have libraries lasted when it seems that every other niche establishment seems to be struggling due to big corporations like Amazon?

A library is a place where people can come together, enjoy a common space, use free Internet, print and learn simultaneously. With the total depletion of third spaces like arcades and slowly but surely malls, libraries have still remained a staple in many neighborhoods. 

For parents, it is a cheap alternative for weekend fun and many libraries host public events like movie showings, after-school and even daycare services. Public libraries are operated under the county or city and they are government funded therefore there will always be a library nearby anywhere in the United States. 

The U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services has cut the funding of various libraries in 37 states since 2011.

“The tools and technology have changed, but libraries have always been innovative in responding to the needs of the community,” says Jim Neal, president of the American Library Association.

Around six in 10 Americans have been reported stating that they rarely or never visit their local library and 32 percent of the data surveyed never, according to American Enterprise Institute. Studies show there are no generational differences as young people are as likely to visit their library just as much as the older generation, there just does not seem to be an urgent need for them nationwide in all demographics. As far as the data goes, results remain pretty unbiased as it does not matter the age, nor a geographic difference too, such as big city livers or people in rural areas. Race, income, distance to and from libraries or household size does not seem to be contributing factors as well, Americans just do not frequent libraries. 

Numbers have dropped, but not significantly, and a study by The Institute for Museum and Library Services’ Public Library Survey data finds that there has been a 28 percent decline in visits per year from 2009 to 2019. 

Jada Saxby, an English major, has checked out about five books throughout her matriculation in university for research purposes. For an English major, she believes this is expected and she also believed it was a low amount. She says there is nothing like holding a tangible book in hand rather than reading a virtual copy online. 

“Books are very easy to access online, but it’s nothing like having the physical copy right there, even to just highlight,” Jada says.

Three out of four students interviewed said that they have never checked out a book at the library as a college student before.

“Even though zero books have been checked out… you can’t get rid of libraries… there is always going to be a library somewhere and technology is expanding so I’m sure they won’t be used as frequently, but you can’t get rid of libraries,” Sanai Reese says.

Decatur Library, a DeKalb County Public Library, librarian Lucy says that many elementary aged students use the library rather than older kids like high schoolers or college students. She, however, does notice a handful of college students as Decatur Public Library has ties with surrounding colleges such as Emory University and Agnes Scott College. 

She has been a librarian for just short of a year and says that the library hosts many public events around the community like live book reads and author talks. Lucy does not believe that libraries will become extinct anytime soon. 

“I don’t really see a decline since technology… even though everything is changing the library seems consistent in being kind of an escape to learn,” she says.

While libraries are not seen as this common space to go to for free internet or computer usage anymore since most households own a computer, WI-FI, and then some, there are still great benefits to the public library that users still take advantage of. Libraries are seen as the heart of the community, but only to the visitors who go as reports show a decline in visitors and an overall uninterest in them nationwide.