Mayna Vessia- Libraries as Social Hubs

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Social hub, or a designated area to encourage social aggregation, is often associated with destinations such as restaurants, bars, movie theaters, shopping malls, etc. Throughout time, libraries have notoriously played a pivotal role in society by providing services and resources aimed to enrich communities, however, it is in the article, Librarians as Community Ambassadors, where the author, Hinze, lays out the framework of the library’s role. Which is to: 

• Serve as community center or community hub, 
• Provide meeting spaces, maker spaces, job assistance 
• Support literacy development 
• Support social service needs of all ages. 

By these standards, the function of the library is essentially, and inherently a social hub. The fundamental advantages of libraries go beyond providing physical resources such as books and periodicals but establishing a place to freely connect with one’s local community. The congregation of people into a space, such as a library, is a powerful representation of people seeking information from an entity that goes beyond a singular purpose. People come together in a library to join programs, share common interests, get help for projects, tacks, etc., but it doesn’t really matter what brings people into a library if they are still coming through and taking advantage of what is provided by, and for the community.  


References: 

Hinze, Shana. “Librarians as Community Ambassadors.” Young Adult Library Services, vol. 15, no. 1, Fall 2016, pp. 27–30. EBSCOhost, search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=118843606&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

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