By Richard Schrader, Director, Scarborough Public Library.
My favorite quote growing up was “A friend in need is a friend, indeed.” A few decades later, I realized that proverb was actually a calling. Libraries are a beacon, a refuge, and a resource for anyone in a crisis whether personal, national or global.
Every day we connect people with books, devices, articles, websites or agencies to address a wide range of needs. I recently recall helping someone print and scan health forms for insurance companies, and another to get an obscure tax form, both in the same week. During COVID, we helped dozens of people retrieve forms for mortgage relief, we Zoomed programs so we could see other faces and share ideas or listen to music while the thought of being in the same room was too risky. During this time, we also helped numerous people set up Zoom accounts so they could see their grandchildren when a phone call wouldn’t suffice.
What never ceases to impress me is that people know that they can visit the library when they need something, and they will find an answer. The number of times an infrequent or new library user comes in for help only shows how deeply we are universally understood as a place of “helpers.”
Libraries also give a voice to the unheard. People who feel isolated due to their identity or situation in life can find a memoir or novel that proves to us that we are not alone. Think of how meaningful a book about a survivor of depression would be for someone in crisis, or how a memoir by the spouse of an Alzheimer’s patient would comfort a reader who is going through the same challenges.
During the economic downturn, in 2009, librarians knew that cable, newspaper and internet services were going to get cut from household budgets. They were cut from many of our own. During this time, library statistics soared by over 15% in many places. The interesting phenomenon, as the economy recovered, we kept most of those new users. If one thinks about it, that makes perfect sense considering the personal connections and the cost savings a public library offers.
After major storms we are packed with telecommuters and families that need to stay warm or cool. Households that run on well systems lose access to water during power outages. The library will be installing a generator this October to provide crucial services during extended outages. Courtesy of a Portland Water District grant and funds raised by our Friends Group, we will also have a water bottle filling station installed this spring, addressing another major need when climate issues wreak havoc.
We lean into our communities when we are in need, and we do the same when we are needed. It’s ingrained in our humanity and libraries are a reflection of that humanity. We welcome our community; the library’s walls embrace every soul who holds the wisdom to enter and understands our bond of trust.
