Kerby Anderson

Public libraries are dying. But you probably knew that since it is likely you haven’t been to a library recently. When author Zac Bissonnette first proposed a story about the death of the public library, his editor was shocked. “Like most people, my memories of libraries are idyllic: going to story time as a child, getting my first library card, and studying in the library with my friends after school.” However, visits to libraries continue to decline. He blames most of the decline on the rise of homeless people in the library. While that is true, tomorrow, I will discuss two other reasons for the decline in public libraries.

Walk into any public library in a large city and you will see lots of homeless people. Bissonnette observes, “Rather than resisting their role as first responders to the homeless, librarians have embraced it, to the detriment of everyone else who wants to use a library.” One librarian he interviewed explained that this is why they hired a social worker.

He also mentioned that most librarians he talked to were nervous about discussing the homeless problem. They are aware of the visible number of progressive librarians and activists who believe public libraries have an obligation to the homeless. When some libraries have implemented limits on bag sizes (in response to concerns about bedbugs and bad smells), they have been attacked by homeless advocates.

He also counters the argument that libraries are declining because people are reading less. Print sales are up, and bookstores are making a comeback. At the time when the print book collections in America’s public libraries are declining, retail sales of print books rose.

The homeless problem in libraries is just one reason for the decline in public libraries. Tomorrow, I will discuss some other reasons.