This November, as cold weather sets in and our thoughts turn to the holidays (especially Thanksgiving), I am reminded that although people are very different in many ways, they are grateful for the same things:
· Enough food
· A place to call home
· Good health
· A sense of accomplishment
Unfortunately, we at the library are faced with the reality that some of our patrons do not have enough food or a place to call home. In the colder months, they come to the library for shelter and warmth, valuing not only warmth from the furnace but from the staff which strives to welcome everyone. These patrons work on the computers, connect with family and friends, read everything from newspapers to esoteric tomes on philosophy, and discuss the world and its troubles with other patrons. These patrons, in fact, are just like us.
So what is the library’s role in this unfortunate reality? First, it is to provide a place that is welcoming to everyone, and second, it is to provide free access to a wide variety of materials in print or via the Internet to all patrons.
This unfortunate reality is uncomfortable for some patrons who have expressed that “those people” should not be in the library. However, our role as a library is not to pass judgment on who should or should not be here or what they should or should not read.
This holiday season, be thankful for what you have and compassionate for those who don’t have as much, for whatever reason. Also, give thanks that we live in a society that provides free information with diverse viewpoints to everyone regardless of economic or social standing.
To learn more about this issue, check out the following link from the American Library Association:
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