The Case for the Third Place at the Library
The Library is at the heart of every community. Each branch has its own personality, its own dedicated staff, and its own programs that reflect the diverse interests of our community. In his book The Great Good Place, author Ray Oldenburg proposed that a healthy person needs three places in their life: home, work and a third place. The Library serves as a “third place” for many people in our community. The occasion of Library Giving Day on April 3 is the perfect time to consider making it your new third place as well.
In our Spring Transformations newsletter, we shared five trends making libraries the next-gen third place:
- Borrowing books saves money and it’s totally free with a Library card. Our supporters help grow the Library’s collection with patrons checking out over 6 million items last year.
- Using the Library is better for the environment than buying books new. We have over 325,000 active card holders utilizing a broad spectrum of physical, digital, and audio books, a collection that expands with the support of our donors.
- Reading physical books is a digital detox from phones and screens. What better place to curl up with a good book than your Library. The generosity of our donors helps to make our 21 Libraries safe and welcoming places for all. Last year the Library welcomed over 2 million patrons through our doors.
- Programs and events are a great way to meet people with similar interests. Nearly 400,000 customers attended a program or event last year. What a wonderful way to build meaningful connections and share an experience together.
- Library spaces are places to see and be seen. A recent article in The Guardian explored how Gen-Zers (ages 12-27) are “rediscovering” the library, using the public institution at much higher rates than previous generations, calling it “an environment that supports focus and growth.”
This list only scratches the surface of why the Library is our community’s best third place. It’s inclusive, it’s free, it’s local, it’s safe, it’s educational, it’s fun… and it matters. Visit your local branch today. And consider a gift to strengthen our impact.
ABOUT LIBRARY GIVING DAY
Library Giving Day started as a concept conceived and developed by the Seattle Public Library Foundation. Their idea was to create a national day of giving for public libraries to rally around and for the public to embrace.
On April 10, 2019 #LibraryGivingDay was launched in Seattle, WA, as a fundraising movement to support public libraries. Since its inception, over 400 library organizations from 45 US States and 5 Canadian Provinces have joined the #LibraryGivingDay movement and a total of $3,411,849 in fundraising revenue has been reported. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation was one of the inaugural 400.
