#WhatLibrariesDo goes viral

A great librarian ‘lightbulb moment’ - to blog and illuminate people about #WhatLibrariesDo

It was both heartening and dismaying to see a brilliantly constructed thread by a library assistant (going by the handle/name of Secret Library Gorgon) go viral on Twitter last week.

Heartening because it demonstrated the love for libraries out there and the desire from so many to support and nurture them. It was great the way that the writer so clearly and accessibly presented an insider’s view, highlighting all the holistic benefits a library has to offer today to the various generations of users.

Dismaying because the fact this has to be said again and that people seemed generally so surprised by much of the thread showcased the ignorance out there - or naivety - about what libraries do.

This thread was a wonderbolt of enlightenment… but clearly much more needs to be done, to get the message out there about the value of libraries in the modern world. This needs to be ingrained into the public consciousness, by hook or by crook.

Otherwise, what hope survival for these precious spaces?

That’s why I am starting this podcast, EX LIBRIS.

Bravissima, in the meantime, to that bolt-from-the-blue enlightener, Secret Library Gorgon / @grumpwitch

Here is her blog on the matter. Please take a look, if you somehow contrived to miss the thread:

https://grumpwitch.wordpress.com/2019/05/16/things-i-have-learned-from-working-in-a-library/