When I say libraries, what is the first thing to come to mind?

It was probably books.

The purpose of libraries for thousands of years was to collect and preserve the written word. Of course, having books alone is not enough without people who know how to read them. That is why libraries have always strived to expand literacy. This is especially true today, even in the digital age.

Brooks Rainwater, CEO of the Urban Libraries Council, understands the important role that public libraries play in expanding literacy. In a recent article on the EdTrust website called Libraries are at the Heart of the Reading Ecosystem, Rainwater shares how libraries are important to literacy while at the same time facing a very challenging environment.

Without public libraries, it is much harder to solve the problem of illiteracy. At a time when only 31% of U.S. fourth graders are reading proficiently, a continuing downward trend from previous years, it is especially worrying that public libraries — critical to helping children and their families begin the important process of reading and writing fluently to gain on-grade skills — are under attack.

Rainwater stresses how libraries play a bigger role in our communities beyond just acquiring books.

Libraries are more than just passive repositories of books; they are indispensable neighborhood resources. Libraries are learning hubs at the very heart of community literacy, anchor spaces providing essential support to our youngest readers and their families, teachers, and other literacy providers, helping to build out a strong “literacy ecosystem” across communities.

From his leadership position at one of the largest library organizations in North America, Rainwater understands the challenges and knows how libraries are making a difference in their communities.

I am the president and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), an organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the essential role of public libraries as dynamic, accessible places for opportunity, learning and innovation. I’m proud to say that, despite the challenging environment we are in, our member libraries are still stepping up to meet the needs of our developing readers and their families in numerous ways that are aligned to all that we know about how young brains learn to read. 

To learn more about how libraries support literacy, please read the full article.

For those of us who are devoted library members, there is nothing more satisfying than walking into our local branch to find a book or attend an event. But have you ever wondered if everyone else entering the library feels the same way?

The New York Public Library was very interested in this question and commissioned a survey to discover the truth. And the truth was good. In an article on Literary Hub by James Folta, the results of the survey were shared.

Science has backed up what many of us have long been saying: the library rocks. A study from the New York Public Library surveyed 1,974 users on how the library makes them feel and how it affects their lives, and the results are overwhelmingly positive.

Breaking down the survey questions, the amount of perceived benefits from the library was very impressive.

• 92% of respondents reported feeling somewhat to very “calm / peaceful” after visiting the Library
• 74% of respondents reported that their library use positively affects how equipped they feel to cope with the world
• 90% of respondents reported that their Library use positively affects how much they love to learn new things
• 88% of respondents reported that their Library use has supported their personal growth

Even more encouraging were the comments from the survey participants. Folta reports:

What I find most charming in this study are the quotes, which the researchers highlight in “Patron Voices” sections. They’re full of great little lines, like people calling the library “a touchstone” and “a place to rely on,” and that “knowing it’s there makes me feel better about my life in the city.”

What to see more results? Read the full article on the Literary Hub website.