Drowning in free-time with no income to speak of, I found myself spending a lot of time in my local library. Quiet, contemplative, and comforting, it was a place to simply exist. And it was entirely free.
I was reminded of my childhood during this time. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in both the public library and my school library. I felt awkward, lost, and out of place then too, favouring quiet solitary playtime over the loud and rambunctious games of my peers.
But what is a library, really? The obvious answer is that a library is a place full of books that you can borrow free of charge, so long as you return them. However, as a child, libraries were more than that. They were a place to learn, full of all the wonders of the world — knowledge at my fingertips. They were a safe place where I could be myself without any presumptions or judgements. 20 years later, there I was again with a book in my hand, wondering (and worrying) about what I was going to do.
Given all the time I had spent in libraries fostering my love of knowledge, books, and reading, you’d think it would be obvious that I would want to work in one. While that wasn’t clear to me at the time, it certainly is now.
Which brings me to today; just over a year into UFV’s Library and Information Technology (LIBT) program, and I’m more obsessed with libraries than ever before. Through this program I’ve learned a lot about the inner workings of libraries and have come to the realization that much of what I thought I knew was really just the beginning.
Compared to the long history of the written word and the first printed books, free, publicly accessible libraries are pretty new. While libraries have been a part of human societies for centuries, up until the mid 1800s, they were generally connected to specific institutes, rather than being available for the general public.
The first free public library in Canada opened in 1883, funded by local taxation, following the passing of the Free Libraries Act of 1882 by the Ontario Legislature. Prior to this, most libraries were funded by member subscriptions, excluding people without the means to afford one. Over time, perspectives had begun to shift, leaning more into the belief that an educated population was of benefit to the economy and society as a whole. Demand was growing for libraries and their services. People wanted to read.
This function of libraries as places to access information has remained mostly unchanged. Public libraries are still supported by taxes. They still house books, freely share them with the public, and they seek to support the needs of their community. It is through that goal that, over the past hundred or so years, libraries have evolved into the beloved institutions that we now have. While our first impression of a library may involve its focus on books and reading literacy — which is a big part of what they do — it isn’t the whole story.
To explore the modern library and the role it plays within a community, I sat down with local librarian, Alexis McKenzie, at the Clearbrook Library — one of many locations part of the wider Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL). FVRL is British Columbia’s largest system of public libraries, operating 25 different branches, and providing for approximately 820,000 people from Maple Ridge to Yale. The libraries range in size and scope depending on the communities they serve. Therefore, as McKenzie explained, the work of their staff varies quite a lot too.
“At FVRL it’s really interesting because we wear so many hats … There’s a lot of cross training and you can really lean into your particular interests … [but] every library situation is different.”
Despite their relaxed atmospheres, libraries can be incredibly busy places. Staffed by library technicians, pages, volunteers, students, and of course, librarians, there are a number of roles and responsibilities to cover, ensuring libraries serve their community as best they can. In a larger library, like the one in Clearbrook, this can take a lot of coordination. As a librarian, this is a part of McKenzie’s job. There’s more to it than just checking out books. A lot of the work she and other librarians do is similar to the general management and administration of other organizations, like managing workflow, emailing, and scheduling.
While many staff members do follow the quiet and bookish archetype we commonly associate them with, that’s not always the case. As communities grow and change, libraries adapt along with them, providing new services in unique ways. Diverse skillsets and experiences are integral to the operations of modern libraries. For those considering a career in library services, McKenzie highlighted that your background, even if seemingly unrelated, can be an asset.
“I’ve got co-workers who are more artistically inclined than me; they make posters to create scavenger hunts and display some really visually interesting stuff … You can really lean into the strengths that you have.”
Libraries support safe and healthy communities, giving everyone the opportunity to learn and relax without judgment. Offering access to clean bathrooms, drinking water, comfortable seating, and shelter, they can be meeting places and study spaces. All of this, they share with the community for free. You don’t even need a library card.
To McKenzie, in the broadest terms, a library is an informative and entertaining safe space for anyone to simply exist comfortably, without having to spend any money. In a world where places like these are dwindling, and the cost of living is always on the rise, libraries hold a special place.
“A common mission of libraries is [to be] a place where people can go and feel comfortable. Feel welcome … and to be a part of that is really rewarding.”
In our modern era, full of ever-evolving technology that progresses at nigh incomprehensible speeds, it can be very easy to become left behind. The rise and dissemination of generative AI, for example, has been swift, with most tech companies and softwares now incorporating the technology into their products and platforms. In only a few years, we have gone from a relatively AI free existence to being surrounded by it, whether we want to be or not. Not only can this be stressful and intimidating, or a barrier for those less technologically inclined, it can also pose a number of risks. It is now easier than ever for those with malicious intent to harness the power of these technologies to lie, scam, and grift their way through vulnerable corners of society.
As McKenzie explained, in an effort to educate the public about these emerging technologies, and how they can be effectively and safely used (or avoided), many libraries are working on improving media and technical literacy. This can include teaching patrons how to identify scams or how to navigate ChatGPT and understanding its potential to share inaccurate information.
“[We’re] helping [to] educate people on how to tell the difference between what is real and what is not … and that feels important.”
Librarians try to be on the forefront of emerging technologies partly to discover how they can be implemented to better serve libraries; but also so they can better aid patrons looking to use this technology in the library, or who are looking for information about them.
“The internet was a big game changer, and then e-books were, and now its AI [that’s] increasingly changing the world we live in, and libraries continue to adapt … Right now I’m doing a lot of workshops and webinars about AI so that if I get a question at the desk, I’ll be able to speak to it.”
Decades ago, when widespread use of the internet became popularized and more and more resources moved online, libraries had to evolve. In many ways, it was a very substantial change. Databases and organizational systems shifted from paper-based methods and card-catalogues to digital software. Libraries began subscribing to online journals, adding e-books and audiobooks to their collections and even streaming services. In recent years, many have even taken to the use of apps like Libby, allowing easy access to borrowed digital media through the convenience of smartphones, tablets, and computers.
For those of us who grew up alongside computers and the internet, utilizing these technologies is almost second nature — but not everyone is so confident in their uses, nor how to navigate them safely or effectively. Be it generational differences or the barriers of diverse economic or geographical situations, access to modern technology isn’t a universal experience. According to McKenzie, this is another area in which libraries seek to help the public.
“The internet makes a lot of things more efficient, but also presents challenges because we have to educate on how to check your sources … because there’s a lot of information on the internet that might not be true … I like to think of us as the helpers in the community to help people sort that out.”
Even so, with all this in mind, McKenzie says that libraries, despite the modernizations, remain very much the same kind of places they’ve always been.
“We are still a community hub. We are still a place where you can find entertainment, information, and community.”
As this hub, the goals of public libraries are to serve their communities. Of course, literacy of all kinds continues to be a major focus amongst libraries and their staff, but there is so much more they can offer.
One of the newest aspects of FVRL that McKenzie introduced me to was a collection known as The Playground. Have you ever wanted to find out if you actually liked playing the ukulele, but don’t want to commit to buying one, or always wanted to try birdwatching but don’t know where to start? This is where The Playground comes in. There are a lot of items that are very useful, but we don’t actually need all that often, so buying them for ourselves doesn’t make sense. In order to better serve the community, FVRL has formed a collection of useful and interesting items that you can borrow for two to three weeks free of charge, so long as you have a library card. From sunshine lamps to solar panels, all these items are in the collection with the hopes that they can help patrons learn, explore, create, and have fun.
Everything done within a public library is done with the community in mind. What that means and looks like will be different depending on where you are. Even throughout the areas that FVRL serves, the way individual branches operate will vary based on the communities they connect with. Abbotsford’s Clearbrook Library is home to people from all over the world, and for a library, being accommodating to the community is key. A notable feature of this library is their collection of books in a number of different languages. They also host free events throughout the year spotlighting various cultures throughout the community. Recently there was Mushaira: South Asian Poetry event, then a recurring Women’s Bhangra Aerobics event, and an upcoming Indigenous Hoop Dancing Workshop. Clearbrook Library is a welcoming space. However, public libraries around the globe aren’t always operated the same way.
“Something that’s very striking is how often people will come in here and ask if they’re allowed to be here [or if] they need a membership just to be in the building. Depending on where you’re from, that can be a foreign concept. It’s quite lovely to be able to tell someone this is free. You can be here. You don’t even need a library card — but hey, if you want one, we will give you one.”
Public libraries reduce barriers. They forge ahead with the mission of making their space and their resources as open and accessible as possible to as many people as they can — this includes people who are dealing with unstable housing situations and may not have a permanent or fixed address. In most cases, when signing up for a new library card, patrons will be asked for a piece of identification; however, requiring this to obtain a card would mean excluding individuals that don’t have ID. And libraries are not about exclusion.
As I learned from McKenzie, there are protocols in place that enable people without ID to still receive a library card. There are some limitations to their cards, mainly a reduced number of items they are able to take out at one time, but otherwise, they function much the same as any other library card.
“We try to reduce barriers everywhere we can … [One time I was] working with this woman and creating her a library card, [and] when I handed it to her, she looked up at me and she said, ‘this makes me feel like a person, and I haven’t felt like a person in a really long time…’
“I provided this woman, through the library … her only piece of ID. It’s very hard in the world we live in to get any ID when you don’t have any ID … There’s a lot of barriers … and so being able to help her was extremely rewarding and a really nice moment.”
There are many methods libraries employ to ensure their spaces and resources can be accessed by a wide range of people. When their goals are to provide information to the public for free, it makes sense that they’d strive to make that as easy as possible. Of course, any financial barrier to entry has already been taken care of, but there’s even more that goes into making libraries a space for everyone.
For those unable to visit the library in person, there is a service in place to ensure these patrons can still receive the books they want. Books can be sent by mail or delivered by a variety of other methods. As McKenzie was keen to highlight, whatever it takes to get your items to you, they’ll make it happen.
“There’s a variety of options and we’ll work out how to do it … [If] you can’t make it into the library, we will figure out a way to get the books to you … We bring the library to people when we can.”
Should physical books not be your preferred option, the library also offers a wide selection of other media, including CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, and even access to some streaming services. Regarding audiobooks, they house two different formats. There is the more common modern version, which allows you to connect to the internet and listen to the books. This is all well and good if you have a smart device and an internet connection, but not everyone does. So, the FVRL has an alternative in place for that as well. Playaway MP3 players — or simply Playaways — are a more analogue form of audiobooks, consisting of an audio recording on a device, similar to a cassette tape, and the specific player that it is compatible with. Then, all you need is your own pair of headphones, and you are good to go.
Ultimately, public libraries exist as spaces for everyone to enjoy and feel welcomed. As a part of that, many have moved away from the quintessential library rule of the past — silence. At the Clearbrook Library, no longer are you expected to remain absolutely quiet, speaking no louder than a whisper. While it does remain a relatively peaceful place to peruse the stacks and enjoy reading, silence isn’t the end-all be-all of library regulations. They have other priorities, which McKenzie explained.
“We only have three rules. You have to be sober, you have to be awake, and you have to not be disturbing others.”
This allows the library to be a space that is welcoming to more people, for whom silence isn’t always an option. McKenzie explained that this change was made because libraries are a family friendly place, meaning that young children and even infants are pretty common visitors. Children shouldn’t feel ashamed for making noise now and then.
“We understand that children make noise … Overall the library is not considered a silent space. You can speak at a regular volume … You can even have a crying baby in the library. That’s allowed … You should feel welcome to come in here.”
Truly, that is what it is all about, feeling welcome. In a high demand world, where it’s costing more and more to simply exist, the library is a space that is free for people to do just that — exist. It is a place, as McKenzie said, to find information and entertainment as well as being a community centre.
The public library is open for you, and is willing to go the extra mile in order to make the experience exactly what you need it to be. Are you looking for a place to unwind after stressful classes? Go to the library. Has it been a while since you watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) but you can’t find it on your streaming service? Go to the library. Do you want to start a new hobby but don’t know how? That’s right, go to the library. Running a library is a labour of love, and it’s all done just for you.
Elyssa is a BSc student, pursuing studies in Physical Geography while also entertaining her creative side within the visual arts. She is currently the Creative Director here with the Cascade. Having previously been an Illustrator, Production Assistant, and Production Manager, she's been around a while. In her free time she can often be found knitting and watching reruns of outdated shows from the 80s.