Why Public Libraries Won’t Survive Covid If We Don’t Act Now
One of the most vital resources that relatively every community has across the United States is a public library. It may not seem like much, but the public library system has been around for almost 200 years, and while we have gone through many changes as technology has expanded reach and different resources to utilize, the same mission is still there.
Libraries are a community asset where anyone is welcome to learn and gain knowledge for free (or a relatively low cost — ie. taxes) regardless of background and social class. The public library system is a place to gather, to learn, to read, to have internet access, and so much more.
During the covid-19 pandemic, it unfortunately resulted in the mass shut downs across the country of many businesses, schools, community buildings, and even public libraries.
In a time where we craved information, and something to occupy our mind from the constant media confusion, or to break away with a good book, we were unable to.
Most libraries across the country are funded through tax payer dollars through state, county, city, and even local taxes. Along with other funding through programs such as the state lottery and so forth. With the millions of Americans out of work, along with the combination of little to no spending during the shut down period, state restrictions resulted in the public library systems to operate at a major loss.
In just my county library system, we have a total of 46 public libraries in that network. During the shutdown period, only 2 out of the 46 were open (partially to meet CDC guidelines, and this still remains the same 2 that have since gone to full operation status). Of those 2 libraries that stayed partially and then fully operational, one happens to be the biggest library out of the network; while the other is my local community library.
Do you think having 5% of my counties public library system open is sad? You will get even more depressed when you hear how much my community library lost during the 2 month shut down period they had…
..they are personally operating at a loss of a whopping $100,000.
Yes, you heard me. That sticker price is astronomical, and doesn’t even account for the other 44 libraries in my county that are still closed to this day. Despite being closed, these community buildings are still in some cases paying employees, cutting community programs entirely, unable to get new books and media, still paying the bills, and more.
It may not seem like this should be of concern as of right now, but multiply my counties situation across the entire United States. As of most recent data, from 2016, there are roughly 9,000 public libraries in the entire United States. If only an estimated (hypothetical) 5% across the board were open during the pandemic, then that equates to around 8,550 libraries closed (nearly $900,000,000 loss in revenue that typically was to fund libraries — all an estimate).
This loss of revenue from city, state, and local taxes, and state funded programs such as state lottery is contributing to the high unemployment rate due to loss of jobs, and also flat out money down the drain since community resources are not being leveraged to improve mental health, educate, or provide a social service to community members in underrepresented groups who seek internet access and other resources.
Libraries are at risk to close across the United States, and it is up to us to help. I urge you to look into local community library fundraisers if you have the means to donate, or just share this blog to inform others in your community. You can even write to your local and state representatives to inform them how passionate you feel about public libraries in order to protect them.
Libraries need to stay due to being a major community asset across the United States.
