Oftentimes library lovers assume that everyone already knows about the library, and that everyone must use it and appreciate it as much as they do. But even though libraries are still a trusted and much-used part of life in the U.S., many people hold false ideas of what libraries are and how they operate, that prevent them from ever walking in the door. Below are a few reasons I have heard people give for why they do not use the library. If you have heard the same, consider finding ways to spread more information about libraries so more people can take advantage of these great resources!
The library does not carry any new releases.
I hear this all the time. People think they need to go to a bookstore to acquire the latest releases. While budget concerns may restrict the number of books a library can buy, public libraries in the U.S. do, in fact, buy current titles and do not stock only classics and textbooks. These new books are even set aside on a special shelf labeled “NEW” so people can easily locate and browse them. Additionally, most libraries also offer a Purchase Request form that you can fill out to ask that the library buy any specific title you might want to check out.
The library does not offer e-books to borrow.
I have met avid e-book readers who did not know that U.S. public libraries offer e-books that can be checked out. I even read online complaints during the height of the pandemic criticizing libraries for not offering e-books, even though most libraries were putting a lot of energy into advertising their e-book collections while library buildings were closed. Just go to the library website and you should be able to find the options available for e-book borrowing. Common apps are Libby/Overdrive and Hoopla.
The library cannot beat streaming movies at home.
Many public libraries now offer online services/apps that enable patrons to borrow and stream movies at home. Go to the library website and look for apps like Kanopy and Hoopla. Because these platforms charge libraries for each borrow, patrons are typically allotted a certain number of borrows each month. The balance resets again the next month. But there are also some movies/content that users can borrow without it counting against their monthly allotment. And the Kanopy Kids content is unlimited.
People must pay to get a library card.
It seems like common knowledge that getting a library card is free, yet I have to tell people all the time that there is no charge! Please, please do your friends and family a favor and let them know that setting up a card will cost them nothing. Just getting the card is often the first and biggest hurdle for people. But, once they have one, the possibilities of what they can do with it are nearly endless!
People must have and show a valid library card to enter the front door/sit in the library.
I am truly baffled by the number of people I have seen enter the library door, march up to the front desk, and flash their card while announcing loudly, “I am a member! I have a card!” Public libraries in the U.S. do not card people to come in, browse, or sit. But I have friends of friends who have never set foot in a library because they truly believe someone is going to stop them and demand some sort of identification.
Using the library is going to cost a lot of money.
Probably not. It is true that borrowing a large number of materials and never returning them will result in a hefty bill to replace said items. However, an increasing number of libraries are going fine free. This means that, once the items are overdue, there is usually some sort of grace period for the items to be returned. An overdue fine might appear on the account during that time, and card privileges could be suspended until that fine disappears (if the fine is high enough). To make the fine disappear, a person need only bring back the overdue materials–and the fine is waived. In short, before assuming that overdue fines are going to destroy you, check the library website or give the library a call to determine if overdue fines are even charged there.
The library does not have a Summer Reading program for adults.
Many U.S. public libraries do! Not all, of course, and they are usually less elaborate than the programs for the children. But it is still worth checking the library website or asking at the desk to see if you might be eligible to win some prizes for reading over the summer.
The librarians are silently judging one’s book choices.
A few people recently told me that they don’t like to use the library because people can see what they are reading. But most libraries I have been to are somewhat understaffed due to budget issues, and the library is busy enough that staff are often trying to help two or three people at the same time. It seems unlikely to me that what book someone is reading would be their biggest concern. But, of course, some people do like a bit more privacy. And they might be checking out some books on sensitive topics. In this case, many libraries now have a self check-out station, so you can get your books judgment free.
College students cannot use the public library, only the school library.
False! Public libraries allow college and university students to get cards, even if they only live in the dorms part of the year. Some libraries have special student cards for this. Others just hand out their normal cards. Call ahead to ask what you need to bring, but it is usually a valid photo ID with your current address. If your ID shows a different address than the college address you are living at, also bring a piece of mail with that college address.
What are some misconceptions you have heard about the public the library?
Pages Unbound | Book Reviews & Discussions 
What?? Wow most of those are just insane & non logical.. 😳 especially the « proof of membership ».; like libraries do help all kind of people who wanna use the computers and such.. it seems impossible with all the influx libraries must have!
I gotta admit I was shocked of our selection at our library; but that’s because we are a rather small town, so I didn’t imagined we had so much choice- and especially in french! (Only in the physical library though, not on the app; buut thats better than nothing)
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I’m actually very curious as to where some of these “facts” came from. I understand not everyone grew up going to the library and might not be so sure how they work. On the other hand, libraries are such a part of U.S. culture, it seems odd that no one’s ever seen a mention that cards are free.
And, yes, I have seen some truly tiny libraries! I make liberal use of interlibrary loan to make up for it….
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Right? I havent seen a single instence of them costing anything- even if we did need a card.. 🤔
Some people really just makes things up and believe them
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Maybe it’s just that libraries are so different from everything else in U.S. culture that people cannot fathom how they work. Something is FREE? Impossible! You can stay in the building all day without buying something? Too good to be true!
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Yeah, must be.. as I do remember it being a thing that people didn’t thought the covid vaccine was free 😅 and people took advantage for scamming..
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“A few people recently told me that they don’t like to use the library because people can see what they are reading”? lol that made my day. What kind of a book it must be that people want to make their experience of reading it private. I cannot imagine or maybe I can.
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I could understand wanting privacy to check out some nonfiction books on health topics or relationship problems and so forth, but the people I was talking to made it sound like they just didn’t want people to know they’re like a James Patterson fan or something, and that make me smile a bit. I’m sure librarians have seen all sorts of books go out. I just don’t consider myself important enough for them to remember what I checked out and then silently ruminate over my taste. 😀
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Oh, yes, I agree with you, that’s so silly. I will never understand that. I could check out a Pokémon or a Barbie book with ease. So what if I like John Grisham or a “sleezy” romance? Everyone has their own taste and I will certainly never judge another person. Next day they may be reading a heavy classic or even have a PhD in literature. Diversity is key. Maybe they do so for someone else. People should be free to check out whatever books they want without judgement or thinking they are “embarrassing”.
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I am wondering if these people maybe had a bad experience with a staff member? Most librarians I know are instructed not to comment at all on what people are checking out, even if it’s something positive. But I still don’t think anyone is going to go home and chat with their spouse over dinner about that Barbie book I checked out. They don’t even know if it’s for me or someone else, anyway!
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I am shocked that people believe these! What a surprise!!
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I’m always surprised by what people think they know about libraries! I wonder where they picked up these “facts” and what libraries can do to help spread more accurate information about what they do and how they work.
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I haven’t heard of most of these! The notion that you must show your card just to walk into a library kind of cracks me up, though. I’d be in trouble if you had to do that, because if I’m just picking up a hold I don’t even take my wallet in with me, and thus don’t have my card. I have the number memorized.
My library system has self-checkout terminals for people to use if a librarian isn’t available (or if they’d rather have a bit of privacy). It makes things a lot faster, and frees the librarians up to answer questions or sort out problems with people’s library cards and whatnot. I’m assuming other libraries have that, but maybe they don’t?
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I laughed at the image of people waving their cards too. Oops!
My current library has self-checkout, my library before did not, but the one before that did.
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I’ve seen people boldly proclaim their membership status at least three times. Imagine all the times it must happen when I don’t happen to be near the desk at the same time. It’s a thing!
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This was such an interesting read! Some of these are kind of, how do you believe that? Wait?
And I am still so very jealous that libraries are free in the US! I wish that was the case here. XD Plus, streaming movies? Apps for that? OMG, I want all of that.
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I am very curious as to where people picked up some of these “facts!” I could understand someone moving to the U.S. and they didn’t have the same sorts of libraries before, so it’s a new process for them. But a lot of people I speak to definitely have lived in the U.S. their whole lives and are very confident about their wrong information. I would have thought television or books or something would have disseminated the information that the cards are free, if nothing else.
And, yeah, libraries here have definitely been increasing what they offer. It’s all an attempt I think to remain relevant and chase the diminishing funding.
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I’m always so thankful for my public library and all the wonderful services it provides! I think the misconceptions I’ve mostly come across have to do with the libraries in my city, where there’s a very large main library and lots of neighborhood branches. I’ve heard people say that their neighborhood branch is too small and that they never have the books they want — so I remind (or inform) them that you can request anything from any branch! I think many people aren’t aware that having a library card means having access to the entire system’s resources, not just the particular books on the shelf in their own neighborhood.
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My last library was like this. My city library was small, but they were in a system with s bunch of other local libraries. I knew I could request books, but I honestly still found it annoying because it was impossible to go in and just browse, and I really hated that I had to pick specific books, wait for them, then retrieve them exactly when the library said so even if it didn’t work with my schedule. They only held them 3 days. I know it’s a first world problem, but it made using the library kind of inconvenient for me, and I honestly didn’t bother to go that often because I didn’t find it worth it.
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Oh, that’s true! A lot of people don’t understand the concept of a library branch or understand that the libraries are all part of the same system. I find myself trying to explain this, too, though I am not always sure people get it.
I do prefer going to the main branch myself usually for the larger selection when I browse. But, if it’s a little neighborhood library that a lot of people walk to, hopefully the inconvenience of having to order the books won’t be too troublesome. I definitely think the holds should be held for at least a week, though. Three days isn’t enough! People do have lives and can’t necessarily rush over whenever the call comes in.
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Just to point out, some of these misconceptions you’ve listed can sometimes be true for public libraries in some communities within the US. A lot of it depends on the size of the library and funding.
In my case, I’m outside of the US (Canada) but I know that some of these things don’t apply to our library
For example, my library does not offer many streaming movies. We don’t have Hoopla and we have very few credits per person for Kanopy.
People living in on-campus student housing are explicitly not allowed to apply for a free city library card, but they can purchase one for a short period of time. People living on other parts of the campus (but not in student housing) may be eligible for a free card, but there is no guarantee and the length of the card’s validity is limited compared to a full cardholder.
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Oh, for sure! Every library is different, which is why I tried to say “many” and “most” in my post.
Also, things are changing! Even though not all libraries have access to Hoopla and Kanopy , more libraries are expanding their digital collections in response to the pandemic. My hometown library doesn’t have popular databases like Hoopla, for instance, because they’re badly underfunded, but even they have been experimenting with lesser-known services that offer digital content since March 2020. I visit the library website a lot to see what’s new because it’s not always widely advertised.
And then there are sometimes workarounds if you don’t have access to the databases you want at your home library. Plenty of states have a “state library” that anyone who resides in the state can get a card for. The state libraries sometimes have popular databases that you can use from home. Or some libraries have merged with others to be able to afford databases, so they might share it with a bunch of libraries across the state. Or if someone really wants, they can pay for a card to a library that is not their local one to offer their resources. Usually you just get a free card to your local library due to residential/tax dollar reasons, but other public libraries sometimes give them out to non-residents for an annual fee.
But, for sure, the credits on these platforms are limited because it’s pay-per-loan on a lot of them. You can’t binge watch on Kanopy like you can on Netflix, lol!
I’ve never heard of a public library denying a card to a student. The states that have stricter residency rules often make the card expire at the end of the semester, so you have to keep reapplying, while other states with less strict rules might give out a regular card. But I guess if the library is adamant about not giving it out to students, one could in theory ask if they can pay the fee for a non-resident card. Usually the fee is comparatively cheap, and if you check out a few books it would pay for itself.
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Well, now you know of one! 😦 They deny free cards to anyone in student housing. The fee is about $30 USD for half a year. That’s not totally awful, but it’s not insignificant either.
The only way for someone in student housing to get into the library system for free is if they have residency elsewhere in the province. They’d have to get a card at that library, then apply for a partner card at my library – with restrictions such as no digital content, no streaming, and limited borrowing privileges.
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But…that’s so annoying! I do know some states are stricter with the residency requirements, and they have to follow them to receive state funding. But I do think they should look into whether there’s a way to make a student exception. If you are leaving there several months of the year, you could theoretically be considered a resident, so there might be a way to work around it if they were interested. I suppose not a lot of students would find the time to pressure them into making that a priority.
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I never knew that summer reading programs mattered to adults! I can understand how some of these myths about library come about but the reading program one just boggles the mind
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I guess adults like to have reading gamified, too? Some people need that extra incentive to take the time to go to the library? I know plenty of people who only show up if there is a free giveaway and not for much else, so it doesn’t surprise me that some adults need a semi-financial reason (i.e. the chance to win a gift card or something) to visit.
I do like that more libraries are starting to host Summer Reading for adults because we make such a big deal of having kids read every day. And then once they’re out of school a bunch of people stop reading. It’s nice to have something to remind people that reading is for everyone.
On the other hand, I think a bunch of these programs and giveaways are supposed to get people in the door so they use the collection and see what is on offer that they might find useful. But if they’re just popping in to try to get free goodies and then walking straight back out, maybe this strategy isn’t working.
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I always envy reading people in other countries get free library cards and many new arrivals. I paid to get my lifetime library card. It’s not big amount but still people will hesitate to get it when they visit library only occasionally. I also don’t like it when my library gives only 15 days to read book and not a month and there isn’t any other system if I cannot visit back in 15 days and want to renew the book.
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I think this is part of what baffles me about U.S. residents not getting cards. So many other people wish they had free cards and abundant libraries across the nation offering as much access as they can afford to new books and materials. And then so many people who have these things don’t seem to appreciate it. I know plenty of people who only ever complain about what the library doesn’t offer, instead of being grateful for what it does. It makes me sad that it’s hard for people to recognize that libraries are in a way a very unusual thing!
Also, what? 15 days? They must think everyone is dropping everything to speed read that book!
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I hope your post reach out more people and let them know all the goods library offers.
Hmm, yes i think they expect exactly that!! I fear to get big books from library just thinking i have to renew it thrice before i can finish the book. 😂
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The “PEOPLE MUST HAVE AND SHOW A VALID LIBRARY CARD TO ENTER THE FRONT DOOR/SIT IN THE LIBRARY.” part surprised me because where I live (Hungary) we can’t go inside without showing our library cards. So the fact that you don’t have to do that in the US is surprising to me!
Also, I’m so jealous of the ability to borrow e-books! I wish we could do that too. And library cards are not free here either, though they are not expensive.
Great post! I wish more people used libraries because they are just so amazing.
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I have heard that about international libraries! And it would make sense to me if people new to the U.S. would show their cards. I know people, though, who have lived in the U.S. their whole lives who think this, and I don’t know why.
Ugh, yes! I wish more libraries would start expanding access! I know it requires money, but it would be so worth it!!
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As a librarian, I can say 3 of the 9 “falsehoods” continue to circulate amongst the public.
The good news is, many individuals know that many public libraries have access to e-books, but they might not know how to access them without assistance; hence, the issue surrounding e-books and public libraries.
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I think you’re probably most often correct that it doesn’t cost money to get a library card in the US, but I have lived places that charge $5 for a library card and I know some places also allow non-residents to get a card for a fee.
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That’s interesting. I have definitely seen the ability for non-residents to pay, but I’ve never had to pay as resident, and I seem to move every few years to a new state. Although of course I haven’t been to every library in the US! XD
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Looking back, I’m wondering if I’m wrong about this. I went ahead and checked the libraries where I’ve lived and can’t see anyone who’s charging for a card. Maybe I got one where I wasn’t a resident once and that’s why I remember paying!
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Could be? Or they changed the policy?
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Wow… just, wow. As a librarian, I’m appalled that there are people who actually believe these things. Though, I have had patrons ask me how much it is to get a library card, so that didn’t shock me.
The new releases one really baffles me though. Pretty much all the books we order are new… we hardly ever get anything over 1-2 years old unless it’s in high demand or to replace a damaged one. Even then, we don’t always replace every book that gets lost or damaged.
This was a great post!
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My only guess is that the people who don’t think libraries have new releases are either thinking back to an under-funded school library or the old tomes they saw in an academic library? I’m pretty sure my school library had a budget of zero dollars. I never saw the library get in any new books , and all they stocked were essentially children’s classics. Perhaps if I hadn’t been to the public library, I’d think all libraries were like that?
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That’s a possibility. Could also be those who live in an area with a very small library that has a limited budget.
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