With growing uncertainty in educational policy and a surge in book bans across the country, public libraries have become increasingly vital. Libraries provide access to knowledge and serve as safe, inclusive spaces for learning and connection, making them deserving of our attention and support.
Supporting these institutions is especially important when considering the essential services they provide for underserved communities. According to a 2024 report by KQED, there are currently more than 8,300 individuals experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, a 7% increase from 2022. In 2009, the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) became the first in the nation to hire a full-time clinical social worker. Since then, SFPL has helped more than 300 people access temporary and permanent housing, and over 1,000 people connect with services such as free food, medical care and mental health counseling. More than 40 cities across the U.S. have since adopted the practice, training staff to engage with individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges.
Unhoused individuals can also use public libraries as a space to prepare for job interviews, participate in educational courses, or simply enjoy a clean, warm and quiet space. The library functions as a “third place,” a term coined by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg to describe a place outside of the home and the workplace where people can connect with their community in a casual, social environment where cost is not a barrier.
Jennifer Nozawak, the marketing and communications manager of the University of Utah College of Social Work, explained the importance of third places for college students in a Sept. 2024 article titled “How to find your ‘third place’ in college.” She argued, “Finding third places is especially important for young people, particularly those who have marginalized identities. These spaces allow individuals to connect with others who might have similar lived experience or backgrounds to explore different parts of their identities and to practice becoming who they are.” With the rise of virtual connections through social media platforms, the BBC reports that third places have become increasingly rare, despite their societal importance.
Amid rising instances of book bans, public libraries also stand as bastions of intellectual freedom and inclusivity, working to combat censorship. In April 2024, The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) announced their commitment to making books accessible nationwide in the face of state book bans. “DPLA is proud to be part of a group of leading libraries committed to counteracting this censorship by making banned books available digitally and for free. By guaranteeing open access to these titles, we’re making books unbannable,” read the announcement.
SFPL has responded by hosting events during Banned Books Week, offering programs that raise awareness about censorship and empower people to fight for intellectual freedom. By providing both social support and access to a broad spectrum of ideas, public libraries are critical in a time of growing societal divisions.
City Librarian Michael Lambert said in a 2023 statement, “While not prevalent in San Francisco, the increase in book banning across the country, particularly challenges to books that affirm LGBQIA and BIPOC communities, is of grave concern to everyone.”
Lambert explained that SFPL’s efforts are designed to get patrons “involved in protecting the ability for every member of our community to read freely.”
Data from the Public Library Survey found that nationwide physical attendance in libraries has gone down by 31% over the last decade, and for SFPL, annual attendance has dropped nearly in half, from 6.2 million annual visitors in 2016 to just 3.9 million in 2024. With people increasingly turning to the internet and digital libraries, the public library’s status as an important community hub is at risk.
It is therefore crucial to recognize that the role of public libraries extends far beyond being a place to check out books. Supporting these institutions ensures that they adapt in a way that continues to provide services and resources that are especially critical in today’s political climate, even as the ways individuals access information evolves.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, Opinion Editor: Dakota Duran, Scene Editor: Elina Graham
