“If we can find pretty much everything online, why do we still need libraries?”
This is a question that has crossed the minds of many people. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, about 52% of Americans say people don’t need public libraries as much as they used to because they can now find information on their own.
This isn’t a random thought. The question makes sense, especially in our growing age of technology. It is true that we can access an enormous amount of information online.
Just the other day, I was reading a book on my computer through a PDF. Increasingly, more people are listening to audiobooks on Spotify, purchasing books online and shopping at bookstores.
However, contrary to what many believe, libraries aren’t becoming obsolete, they are instead adapting. While books will always be at the heart of what libraries provide, they have expanded to meet the changing needs of their communities.
One of the most important reasons libraries are essential to our communities is the wide range of resources they make accessible to everyone. Many residents face a lack of resources, and libraries help bridge those gaps.
The number of programs offered by local libraries shows just how much they have evolved. In August alone, the Gilroy Library is offering applications for its Teen Advisory Board, volunteer opportunities for high school students, one-on-one technology assistance, free snacks for kids, ESL classes, sewing classes, Zumba and more.
The Morgan Hill Library is offering teen-led passion projects, a kids LEGO club, Tai Chi for adults, vegetable garden planning, sensory time, bouquet making, toddler story time and more.
These programs serve residents of different ages and interests, showing that libraries can be places where people don’t just find information, but also learn new skills, connect with others and become involved in their communities.
They give people opportunities to learn, grow and explore interests they may not otherwise have the chance to pursue.
Libraries also play an important role in education. For students, they can provide a quiet place to study. Sometimes, simply changing your environment can help you refocus and approach your work with a fresh mindset.
In addition to a quiet environment, libraries increase access to research materials and opportunities to explore interests outside of the classroom. Whether someone is researching a school project, learning a new skill or simply reading about a subject they enjoy, libraries provide a place for all of these things.
Another important part of what they offer is the opportunity for people to come together. Their programs create opportunities for residents of different ages and backgrounds to connect and participate in activities together.
A library can host a children’s story time in the morning, a class for adults in the afternoon and a teen program later that day. These activities create connections between people and help make the library an active part of the community.
The internet has most definitely altered the way we find information, but it has not removed the need for these incredible places that help people access and use that information. In fact, as more parts of our lives move online, having a place where people can learn, access resources and meet new people is becoming more important than ever.
Libraries have evolved alongside technology rather than being replaced by it.
They may look different than they did decades ago, and certainly different from the earliest ones created thousands of years ago, but their importance has not disappeared. They continue to provide books and information while creating opportunities for education, connection and community involvement. In a time when so much of our lives take place behind a screen, the amount of screen time the average person experiences can be concerning—mine included.
Having a place where people can put their screens down, come together and access resources freely is something worth preserving.
Dymphna (DJ) William is a senior at Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy, pursuing an associate’s degree in Political Science, Social Science and Spanish at Gavilan College. She serves as an intern for City Councilmember Zach Hilton, Vice Chair for Region IV of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges and as President of the Morgan Hill Youth Action Council, where she leads initiatives focused on youth engagement.
