It’s True–Some People Don’t Know How to Use the Library

Why it’s important to remember that not everyone is familiar or comfortable with libraries

Sometimes avid library users can take the library for granted.  We may have had parents who took us there while we were growing up.  We may have attended early literacy programs, participated in the summer reading program, or looked forward to the weekly family trip.  Or perhaps we discovered the library later as students, as job seekers, or as people simply too broke to buy all the books, music, or movies we wanted.  However, not everyone is a regular library visitor and this is sometimes because people are not really clear on what the library is, or how it works.

This may sound strange–how could you not know what the library is?!–but the reality is that most of us were taken to the library at some point and someone had to explain to us how it works. We did not always know that the books were free but have to be returned, nor were we always aware that the library offers far more than books.  In fact, even avid library users sometimes remain unaware of certain services like ILL or access to resources like online classes or ebooks.  If no one explains things to us, we can very easily remain in the dark.

This is the reality for many people who did not grow up in families who read or who did not grow up in families who utilized the library.  Having never been to the library, they remain unaware of how libraries, at a very basic level, work.  Anecdotally, I know of people who believe that you must pay or hold a library card merely to walk in the door, people who believe you must pay for a library card to attend programs like story time, people who believe that they cannot use their school library because they owe money to the public library, and even people who did not know their city has a library or multiple library branches.  These beliefs may seem silly to people who have been using libraries all their lives.  But people who have never stepped into the library can find it very mysterious and very confusing–so mysterious and confusing that they may be too intimidated to step in at all.

I think it’s important to remember that not everyone is familiar or comfortable with libraries because this awareness can shape how we talk about them.  To start, we may never think to talk about libraries at all if we find going there as natural and therefore as unremarkable as running to the grocery store.  However, just mentioning going to the library or a service you use there can be eye-opening to people.  Some may not realize that, even though they do not read, they could still check out movies or video games, use free tutoring, or even stream free movies at home.  Bringing up the library gives them a safe space to ask about it, to find out when and where programs are happening, whether the library costs anything, and whether they have to sign in or register or just show up.  These are questions they may have, but may be too hesitant to ask a library employee.

But we have to remember that we do indeed have to present the conversation as a safe space if we want people to ask.  We should be careful not to seem surprised or disapproving if someone does not regularly use the library.  After all, no one likes to feel judged or as if they will not be welcomed by “superior” library patrons.  The key to drawing in potential new library users is to keep the conversation friendly and light.  Channeling enthusiasm for the library we love is often a great way to do this without accidentally sounding condescending.

Libraries offer a wealth of materials and services that can benefit all members of the community–students, writers, parents, children, job seekers, homeless individuals, and more–but oftentimes people need information and an invitation before they feel ready to access these benefits.  Keeping this in mind when we discuss libraries can help us remember to keep an open and welcoming attitude, one that might just inspire someone to take that first step through the door.