It wasn't until recently that I began seeing the library as a way to socialize. Sure, I spent hours with my friends at the local public library when I was young, but it was always under the guise of working on a paper. We didn't ‘hang out’ at the library outside of those times. I've always been aware that libraries have a multitude of children’s programs, but I never really knew about the adult ones until I was doing research for my Library Tech classes. Did you know that some libraries offer yoga, cooking lessons, and concerts?!?! I was floored when I found this out. What a great way to get out and meet new people with similar interests and also on a limited budget!
In addition to this, having web access does a large part in making libraries a social hub. People use the computers to access email and social networking sites, stay connected to friends, do business, find jobs, and the list goes on and on. I found a great report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project that discusses the library's strengths, guiding principles, innovation ideas, and also about the things that need to change (http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/part-5-the-present-and-future-of-libraries/).
The information comes from a list of questions that they asked an online panel of library staff members. One of the comments really caught my attention: "We’re placing too much emphasis on being a place to ‘hang out’ rather than meeting the needs of our patrons. Our administration turns a deaf ear to our pleas for the materials and education our patrons ask us for (more books, classes, etc.) and instead are fixated on e-books and coffee machines." I think this demonstrates the struggle that libraries go through to stay relevant in today's society and remain a social hub. I think that it's important to make the library a place that people DO want to hang out in but without losing sight of the overall mission. Sometimes this can be a fine line, and some libraries obviously struggle with it more than others.
Another comment that stood out to me was this: “Libraries should be the social hub of the community and to do that the customers have to be able to use cell phones in the library, congregate around computers, sit and visit, laugh out loud and be noisy. The main part of the library should be devoted to this and quiet spaces should not be in any open areas, but should be in smaller cubicles.” I agree with most of this statement as well. To really have a social environment, people need to be able to interact in normal ways and not just in a whisper. I think implementation of this type of idea would be specific to each library though. For example, if your users are mostly students who need a quiet space to study, than this would be the focus of the main areas. The opposite would be true if your library users tend to interact a lot. In the end, it depends on the overall needs of the community.
During my time of going to the library, it was only to do either research for a paper or just to look for certain information on a certain topic. But now, I go to the library to play online games, talk to friends and family that are distance away and do homework. Now the library has become more than a place where people can just relax and as far as the community goes the library is a social hub for those who don't have computers in their homes.
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