PUBLIC LIBRARY SPACE IN SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY 1

Public Library Space in Service of the Community:

In Response to Eric Klinenberg

Taylor Howell

University of South Florida

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Eric Klinenberg in his book, Palaces for the People, claims that social infrastructure—the

impactful but oftentimes hidden network of interpersonal connections and support systems

made in places of social convergence—is a huge factor in determining the wellbeing of a

community. Libraries play a pivotal role in encouraging the growth of social infrastructures. In

the first chapter, Klinenberg claims that “building places where all kinds of people can gather is

the best way to repair the fractured societies we live in today” (2018 p. 11). Some of the

“fractures” Klinenberg describes are isolation and polarization. For example, current

telecommunication technologies make it possible for people to connect with one another and

find resources without ever leaving their homes, but at the expense of personal interactions

and being exposed to diverse opinions and people. Examples of how libraries combat isolation

and division are provided in Palaces for the People. However, there are many more ways adult

programs and features like makerspaces can target the problems of isolation and division in the

community.

Klinenberg illustrates the problem of isolation in our community by describing Denise’s

struggle with her first few years of motherhood. Many mothers like Denise are left at home

with the constant needs of a newborn and complications like postpartum depression, leading to

unhealthy feelings of desperation and loneliness. There are few public or commercial spaces

that are baby-friendly, and nursing services are costly. Denise soon found that libraries fill this

infrastructural void. In addition to free childcare programs like story times, puppet shows, and

arts and crafts classes, the library provides a safe, free space where young children can be noisy

without drawing public ire. The library gave Denise opportunities to learn more about childcare

through books, classes, and the help of friendly librarians. Most importantly, the space draws
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mothers together where they bond, share experiences, network professionally, and overall

disperse the isolation that plagues this demographic. “Friendships develop quickly in the library

in part because the places sponsors so many shared activities for children and, by extension, for

caretakers too” (2018 p. 36). Luckily for Denise, she met a reliable nanny through her time

spent at the library (p. 37). Social transactions like this occur every day and in libraries which

contribute to society’s social infrastructure.

While Klinenberg describes mainly how the library property itself acts as an important

local for bringing otherwise socially isolated people together, there are many other ways

libraries can provide programs and services to promote community involvement for people of

all ages. A great service implemented by some libraries is that of the makerspace—a physical

space in the library that is dedicated for “patrons to experiment with all kinds of new

technologies and tools to create and invent” (Fallows, 2016, p. 1). A makerspace can look

something as sophisticated as a 3D printer lab, or as simple as a wood-working station. It could

serve as an arts and crafts station for young children or as a sewing workshop for older folks. A

makerspace is designed to attract creators from expert artisans to dabblers, expanding the

library’s mission “to be places where people can not only consume knowledge, but create new

knowledge” (Fallows, 2016, p. 2).

Because of the way they draw in people who would otherwise be working alone,

makerspaces can fight social isolation. Crafting is often a solitary task: one only needs materials

and a space at home for most creative projects. Classes can be expensive and consequently

exclude poorer members of the community. Library services, however, are free or charge a low

fee. Makerspaces also provide materials such as tools, 3D printers, and sewing machines. These
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spaces consequently encourage participation from patrons with different means. Library

makerspaces bolster social infrastructure by encouraging growth of a network of creators, like

how Denise became part of a network of moms through her library’s childcare services.

Collaborating on a project or working side-by-side is a different social interaction from a simple

chat with another person. In a makerspace, creators can trade ideas with one another, network

for businesses, find new friends with similar interests or join new communities. Library

programs like makerspaces can be a strong antidote to social isolation.

Along with social isolation, library spaces and the services they offer help reconcile

social, cultural, and economic divisions in the community that can wear down social

infrastructure. Eric Klinenberg succinctly describes how bringing isolated people together and

eliminating divisions takes place in the library: “The accessible physical space of the library is

not the only factor that makes it work well with social infrastructure. The institution’s extensive

programing, organized by professional staff that upholds a principled commitment to openness

and inclusivity, fosters social cohesion among clients who might otherwise keep to themselves”

(2018. p. 36). Libraries are accessible because they are free, friendly spaces that do not turn

away the differently abled, the homeless or non-native English speaker. “Places like libraries are

saturated with strangers, people whose bodies are different, whose styles are different, who

make different sounds, speak different languages, give off different, sometimes noxious, smells.

Spending time in public social infrastructures requires learning to deal with these differences in

a civil manner” (Klinenberg, 2018, p. 45). While it may feel easier and more comfortable to

interact with people who have the same opinions and look and sound like us, being exposed to
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differences and learning to appreciate them paves the way for a more diverse, accepting

community.

Libraries can take further steps to heal community divisions by promoting diversity and

civic engagement in its policies, physical space, and programs. The American Library

Association’s policy states that it “promotes equal access to information for all persons and

recognizes the ongoing need to increase awareness of and responsiveness to the diversity of

the communities we serve. ALA recognizes the critical need for access to library and

information resources, services, and technologies by all people, especially those who may

experience language or literacy-related barriers; economic distress; cultural or social isolation;

physical or attitudinal barriers; racism; discrimination on the basis of appearance, ethnicity,

immigrant status, religious background, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression;

or barriers to equal education, employment, and housing (2016)." Making diversity a clear

priority in the library’s policies, training staff on diversity, and celebrating differences among

people in programs are all steps libraries can take to promote a more inclusive community.

Spreading awareness of democratic responsibilities and community service also

strengthens social infrastructure. The Urban Library Council’s “Leadership Brief: Libraries

Leading Civil Engagement” gives clear strategies for how to implement outreach services and

programs for encouraging civic engagement. The overarching goals of these programs are to

“encourage people to contribute to their communities in meaningful, productive and sustained

ways; create an environment in which people of all ages and from all ethnic and socio-economic

backgrounds feel they have a voice, a role and a valued place in their communities; build

capacity to tackle challenging or controversial issues, heal community wounds when needed
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and embrace community change; and strengthen democracy and build strong communities” (p.

1). Citizenship 101 classes, voter education, and events celebrating ethnic differences in the

community are all ways libraries can purposefully promote civic engagement.

Isolation and division are just two aspects of the fractured modern society as described

by Eric Klinenberg. However, strengthening social infrastructure can repair these wounds by

bringing people together. Klinenberg acknowledges the important role public libraries play in

social infrastructure as a free and inviting space that encourages creativity, tolerance, and

community participation. While simply maintaining this space is beneficial, librarians do so

much more to promote these ideals with the implementation of policies, programs, and

makerspaces.
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Refrences

"Defining Diversity", American Library Association, March 18, 2016.

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/diversity (Accessed April 17, 2019)

Document ID: 2812e03d-d3ff-4d46-a34e-151dff980bee

Fallows, D. (2016). How libraries are becoming modern makespaces. The Atlantic.

Klinenberg, E. (2018). Palaces for the people : how social infrastructure can help fight inequality,

polarization, and the decline of civic life. Crown.

“Leadership Brief: Leading Civic Engagement.” Urban Libraries Council.

https://www.urbanlibraries.org/assets/ULC_Leadership_Brief_Libraries_Leading_Civic_

Engagement.pdf.