Public Libraries are Institutions of Engagement

 PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS INSTITUTIONS OF ENGAGEMENT

by Carla M. Sewer, Ph.D., CFLE, Librarian

The importance of public libraries as institutions of engagement shares in the socialization process, which allows families to engage with and in their children’s education for positive outcomes. The social responsibility of public institutions has historically been a cultural haven of learning playing the role of record keepers and information providers (Rubin 31). Engaging families in public libraries begins with defining family engagement as it relates to public libraries and then examining the pros and cons of engaging families in public libraries. The support of public libraries by the American Library Association (ALA) provides public libraries with essential support to help children and adults develop reading skills. These skills help support the use and understanding of technology and how to seek and effectively utilize information resources within a global information society. For public libraries that lack funding to implement family engagement programming is yet another con, however, there are pros to family engagement in public libraries. 

Rubin (6) found that there are almost nine thousand public libraries in the United States. Eighty percent of public library patrons over sixteen have used a public library in the past (94). Public libraries are institutions that provide support to individuals in all aspects of life, particularly reading and research. Public libraries are places where individual behaviors are shaped within a society and learning takes place. For families, community spaces are essential to the growth and development of children. Public libraries offer opportunities for families to engage with their children through various literacy programs, such as “story hours”, which empower parents to gain the knowledge and confidence needed to engage their children’s early literacy skills (Lopez et al., 2). 

According to the Pew Research Center over ninety percent of parents consider libraries safe places for their children, however, only mothers are more likely to engage in libraries than fathers (3). The resolution is to engage librarians with professional development training in family engagement in public libraries in terms of providing services specifically for all members of the family. The research findings have indicated that families, specifical mothers, are more likely to say that libraries are important institutions within communities and they are more likely to say that libraries are important to them and their families (3). Families and public libraries are necessary ingredients in the productive lives of children, however public libraries do not want to become babysitting centers or have library staff act as babysitters (Cerny 3). Librarians may need exposure to family engagement in public libraries in order to learn how to engage both children and families by creating innovative programming.

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