I've written my article this week about public libraries and all the fantastic activities and events they now host, plus the part they can play in reducing loneliness.
Public libraries. The often unsung heroes of our communities. Part of the landscape of our towns and cities. Welcoming everybody, regardless of whether you’re an avid reader or just getting started.
Before the age of eBook apps and, before that, computers and the internet, libraries were the only places where you could freely access books and back issues of newspapers.
The whole concept of a lending library now seems rather quaint in this on-demand age. Why would we need libraries when e-books can be sent to your phone in a matter of seconds and books can be delivered to your door sometimes within hours or ordering them?
Yet, for those who use libraries on a regular basis, they are an important public space. Libraries fulfil a unique role. They are not targeted at a particular section of society or demographic. You can find a book on just about any topic, no matter how niche. You can spend an entire day in a library or just pop in for five minutes to use the wi-fi.
But libraries have had to flex as the needs of the population have changed. No longer are they just places for lending books.
Now they are community hubs, hosting full programmes of activities. From rhyme-time sessions for exhausted new parents and their babies to meet and connect with other exhausted new parents and their babies, to knit and natter for more senior folk.
Crime reading sessions and adult Rummikub games clubs are hosted at Petersfield Library, wordsmiths can enjoy a game of scrabble at Bordon Library, or you could join one of the many book clubs on offer. For those who are not able to physically get to a library, there’s also the home library service where books are brought to you.
During last week’s Loneliness Awareness Week, Hampshire Libraries took the opportunity to highlight the mental health benefits of visiting a library.
Libraries are a great lifeline for those experiencing loneliness. There’s always someone around to chat to. Far from being entirely silent spaces, Bordon and Alton libraries now have a ‘chat about’ scheme to encourage people to meet and talk.
Libraries are vibrant, stimulating environments where people can study, meet up with friends or relax with a good book. Sometimes all three.
They are great places to take your children to as well.
For younger bookworms, the annual Summer Reading Challenge gets underway next month. This is an initiative to encourage youngsters to read six books over the summer. It’s worth looking at the Hampshire Libraries website for details of the events that will be happening in your local library.
I regularly visit our local libraries to meet constituents and love the familiarity of the space whenever I walk through the doors. If you cannot remember the last time you visited a library, I’d encourage you to drop in next time you’re passing by. You might just be surprised by what’s on offer. Libraries and archives | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
