I am proud that I was able to help build a library in an exceptionally small borough immediately outside of Pittsburgh city limits. I thought I knew what libraries were before that project, but man, modern libraries serve so many niches that small boroughs can’t ever hope to provide.
Sure, it had books, but it also had computers with largely uncensored fiber internet access. It had a tool library, with everything from screwdrivers to hydraulic suspension spring compressors. It had a small kitchen with a few cooktops for cooking classes. It had a back garage that was kitted and tooled as an auto mechanic workshop that hosted classes AND could be rented for DIY car maintenance. It had music, games, DVDs, atlases… Hell, they even rented eBooks! All stuff that poor kids of all stripes would never have access to otherwise.
It’s definitely a place to hang out, but I wish people would dispense with the notion that a library is where the free books live. It has been so much more than that to so many people for almost a century now. Fight and protect your library, folks! You truly have no idea how many people make use of it unless you’re there all day.
Like I said in another comment here, it’s unfortunate how so many people don’t realize that libraries are truly and seriously community centers. They provide so much more than books
Yes! The library in my hometown has a 3D printer that my cousin runs and maintains. It’s super neat. She is the head librarian, but she takes online tickets with the STL file, slices it, prints it, finishes it, and puts the print in a basket in the front of the library. You use your library card to then check it out. :)
3D printing isn’t the most useful tech right now, but, it’s an excellent first step towards the development of a cottage industry built around just making parts to repair random things in a house and encourage reuse.
I am proud that I was able to help build a library in an exceptionally small borough immediately outside of Pittsburgh city limits. I thought I knew what libraries were before that project, but man, modern libraries serve so many niches that small boroughs can’t ever hope to provide.
Sure, it had books, but it also had computers with largely uncensored fiber internet access. It had a tool library, with everything from screwdrivers to hydraulic suspension spring compressors. It had a small kitchen with a few cooktops for cooking classes. It had a back garage that was kitted and tooled as an auto mechanic workshop that hosted classes AND could be rented for DIY car maintenance. It had music, games, DVDs, atlases… Hell, they even rented eBooks! All stuff that poor kids of all stripes would never have access to otherwise.
It’s definitely a place to hang out, but I wish people would dispense with the notion that a library is where the free books live. It has been so much more than that to so many people for almost a century now. Fight and protect your library, folks! You truly have no idea how many people make use of it unless you’re there all day.
Like I said in another comment here, it’s unfortunate how so many people don’t realize that libraries are truly and seriously community centers. They provide so much more than books
EDIT: Many nowadays even provide 3D printing
Yes! The library in my hometown has a 3D printer that my cousin runs and maintains. It’s super neat. She is the head librarian, but she takes online tickets with the STL file, slices it, prints it, finishes it, and puts the print in a basket in the front of the library. You use your library card to then check it out. :)
3D printing isn’t the most useful tech right now, but, it’s an excellent first step towards the development of a cottage industry built around just making parts to repair random things in a house and encourage reuse.