Society Needs A Dose of Vitamin L

My ideal world is one in which people come to libraries to check out books, to study, to learn new things, like the library of my childhood. Then, people associated the library with "important", vital things. It was where you went when you needed information, when you needed definitive decision, when you needed the kind of comfort that only quiet, solitude, and a good book could provide. If I had to define ideal library culture for myself, that would be it. The library, however, does not operate as a function of my mind (pity, that)--it operates in a societal structure that is largely out of individual control. To consider the function of a library as serving a fixed, timeless purpose, independent of the society in which it operates is what will doom the institution.

A library MUST operate as part of the society it serves. It must, to a certain extent, reflect that society. We can all cry into our beers about the dumbification of American culture, but unless the ALA is going to position itself as the savior of American culture and aggressively spearhead a movement to reclaim it, libraries have no choice but to evolve their collections and services to reflect what is actually going on in society. That said, I do believe that traditional library services and culture can be preserved and flourish, they just need to exist side by side with updated ones.

There is always going to be a segment of society that will lament the erosion of our culture. There will also be those who try to justify plain nonsense as intellectual discourse. The key is to find balance between the two. Bigger is not always better. Faster is not always efficient. More is not always fulfilling. Libraries should keep this in mind as they build collections and prepare programs for the digital generation. Create collections that are driven by quality, vibrancy, AND relevance. Yes, they may incorporate some less than highbrow aspects, but they don't have to devolve to "Rock of Love" level either.

Imagine a library world where people come to the libary. Actually come to the library. Some might come for books, some to play in a Guitar Hero tournament, some might drop in to check out a DVD or use the internet. But just imagine people having a central location to come, to meet, to relax, to possibly even learn, but ultimately to leave enriched in some way. Shouldn't that be a library's true mission anyway?