A Strong Community Starts With a Strong Library
Reflections during National Library Week
This week, April 19-25, marks National Library Week. Established by the American Library Association in 1958, it is a time to recognize and celebrate the essential roles libraries play in communities across the country.
In communities like Indianapolis, that means a lot more than just offering tens of thousands of books and other materials for check out–it’s about continued access, opportunity, and connection.
At The Indianapolis Public Library, we see every day how much our 25 locations are at the heart of their neighborhoods.
We have been hosting “Heart of Every Neighborhood” events across the city, giving patrons and staff members alike some time to come together and celebrate all that the Library has to offer them. During our most recent event last week at our East 38th Street Branch, I had the opportunity to hear directly from the people we serve. What they shared was both humbling and reaffirming.
One patron described the library as their “constant.” Another called it “part of my life’s routine.” Several spoke about the library as a “safe space.” One person expressed gratitude simply for being able to access a computer–something many of us take for granted in our day-to-day lives. And on our community wall, one succinctly noted “without free knowledge, we remain stuck and repeat the past.”
But above all, one of the most common themes we received from visitors is that though they love the library, they love their librarians even more.
Libraries are not just brick and mortar buildings–they are the people who occupy them daily. They are the staff members who show up each day committed to serving others, meeting needs, and creating welcoming spaces for all. They are the creative minds that put together interesting programming, the caring hearts that offer any help they can to our patrons, and the steady presence behind every question answered and door opened. Every day, thousands of patrons walk through our doors, each with a different need from the next. And every single day, our staff meets them where they are and gets them the support they need.
Because of this trust, and despite external challenges, The Indianapolis Public Library is continuing to grow. As responsible stewards of public resources, we remain committed to evolving alongside the communities we serve–we are expanding access in new ways, rolling out modernized bookmobiles to meet patrons where they are, and constantly looking for ways to continue to improve as we grow. We continue to expand hours, and thus opportunities, across our system.
At its core, a public library is one of the most democratic institutions that we have. It is open to all and gives back endlessly–through knowledge, opportunity, and community.
This National Library Week–I invite you to come learn more about your local library and what it has to offer you and your family, and connect with the people that make it all possible.
Because when you support your library, you are strengthening the heart of your own neighborhood.
~ Gregory A. Hill, Sr. is the CEO of The Indianapolis Public Library.