Libraries as social hubs
I was very impressed by a video that we watched for our class LT140 from the Port Washington Teen Space library.
In that video we saw how libraries strive to give the users the most they can to build more than access to information but to also have "a social hub".
That library has a very big budget and has allocated those resources to fulfill all the guidance for Youth Services within the library. The building design, the content in each area, the location and visibility of the items and all the details have been carefully thought to give the youth a sense of privacy and belonging to a "social hub" as the after school homework area has been transformed to more than that. The rules have been adapted, they can drink and eat so when they have a break or they are tired they don't have to go home, they can rest and play games on computers or table games, they can choose to read or talk without being afraid of disturbing the rest of the public with high volume.
It was a nice surprise for me and I understand that not every library has the money to implement the principles but it is inspiring to see the the principles are set and that libraries, when they can afford it, they implement them.
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