Why They Show Up: Defending the Heart of the Public Library

Public libraries in America have transformed over the years beyond being quiet buildings full of books. They have evolved into dynamic and much-loved community hubs. 

Libraries now offer free access to a wide range of resources and services, including print and digital books, music, and movies, educational programs, wifi connections, small business and job training assistance, social services information, research guidance, children’s and teen activities, and remote working and study spaces.

Community libraries also serve as essential "third places" — social spaces distinct from home and work where people can connect and engage with their neighbors. They remain one of the few truly welcoming spaces these days where people can gather, in real life. Here, folks attend lectures, concerts, and story hours, or collaborate with others in makerspace activities or, yes, even simply curl up in a quiet corner and read a book, without having to buy something or even have a library card.

Library professional Carsyn Fessenden sees the public library as “…one of the strongest indicators of a well-built civil society and a flourishing democracy,”  echoing the deep beliefs of many of history’s influencers from Cicero, on down to Benjamin Franklin, FDR, Eisenhower, and Rita Mae Brown, to name just a few.

Lately though, public libraries worldwide are forced to deal with troubling issues on many fronts – funding eliminations, rapidly changing technologies, the rise of book bans and threats to staff and materials, overworked staff, and the need to serve vulnerable populations.

On May 27, three library innovators, Shamichael Hallman, Stacie Ledden, and Tommi Laitio talked about the convictions they each share personally to “show up” every day for public library staff and patrons in the midst of present-day challenges. Their inspiring presentation, "Why We Show Up: Cultivating Hope and Community Action in Uncertain Times," was the keynote address given at the 2025 NEXT Library conference held in Aarhus, Denmark.

Watch the video:

Extra:

Read this English translation of the words inscribed within the spiral staircase of the Oodi Library in Helsinki. They form a public artwork called “Dedication,” created by visual artist Otto Karvonen in 2018 and mentioned in Tommi Laitio's portion of the video presentation above.

Photos (from top): 2025 Conference Keynote address, NEXT Library, by Sophie Dreijer; Backyard Concert Series, Anythink Libraries; Volunteer Homework Help session, Chicago Public Library. Video courtesy of Stacie Ledden and NEXT Library; Oodi - Helsinki Central Library.

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