Despite rumors of extinction, public libraries are still going strong. According to the most recent report from the Canadian Urban Libraries Council, library usage across the country is up 45 % over the past decade, from 16.6 to 24.1 transactions on average.
These results show that libraries still have an important role to play in the digital age in spite of what the naysayers say. In fact, we believe that libraries are more important now than ever. Here are 5 reasons why we think libraries rock.
1) They’re free!
This is the number one reason why we think libraries rock! They offer just about anything from books, dvds, magazines, ebooks, and wi-fi all for free! Where else can you get an awesome deal like that?
2) Libraries build community.
Libraries offer more than just free books and services. They are also community hubs. They bring people together and they connect them to worlds outisde their communities.
3) Libraries are fun for kids.
Libraries are a great and fun space for children to gather, explore, imagine and interact with each other. Many libraries often host story times, arts and crafts workshops and educational sessions for kids. Libraries also offer much needed after school activities such as free tutoring, homework help programs, and summer programs which are all essential for childhood development.
4) Libraries help revitalize neighbourhoods.
Libraries can go a long way in revitalizing neighbourhoods and helping reach underserved communities. The Library connected to Library District for example, is sure to breathe life and bring vitality to the Fort York and Bathurst area.
5) Libraries make a significant contribution to the architectural landscape of cities.
From ancient Rome to ancient Egypt, libraries have left their mark on cities. Some our favourite modern libraries include the Seattle Public Library, the Stuttgart City Library and the Vancouver Public Library.
So there you have it folks. We can go on and on about our love of libraries but these are just some of the reasons why we think they rock. Now it’s your turn, we’d love to hear why you think libraries rock!
