A Middle Kind of View: What Happened to Our Relationship With Libraries?

Editor’s Note: “A Middle Kind of View” is a Flintside bi-weekly column series by University of Michigan–Flint student and Flint native, Amina Smith.

FLINT, Michigan — It was a normal, quiet, and humdrum kind of Tuesday evening at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library, an ordinary scenario tha,t after checking the clock for the fifth time and seeing it hadn’t yet moved a hand, inspired me to begin taking up my favorite pastime activity of people watching. 

If you’re a writer, journalist, curious, or just looking to pass the time, you’d know that this activity can be quite fun. Especially in a place like a library, where you encounter people from all walks of life, who have all walked very unique and interesting paths. 

Yet, upon my gazing around at the people casually coming and going about the floor as they used the space as an almost “rest stop” for wherever their journey took them next, something happened that to anyone else would be considered mundane, but to me was nothing short of extraordinary. 

There was a young girl who couldn’t have been older than the age of ten, pink scrunchied ponytail swinging in the wind, as she excitedly skipped–not ran—to the return bin on the wooden wall, with a backpack almost bigger than her stuffed full of books.  

Intrigued, I watched her pull out book after book, after book that she happily pushed into the slot with a rhythm before completely emptying the spacious Jansport and then excitedly dragging it to the children’s section, where I watched her begin to intently pick out books all on her own. 

Now, I know you’re probably wondering: Amina, why in the heck would you find something like this to be so extraordinary? It’s just a child reading books! Nothing major! 

To which I would tell you, friend, to look around and examine how many children you personally know or see on a regular basis that you know read not for school assignments, not because their parents make them, but rather for pure enjoyment. The same pure enjoyment that I saw on this child’s face.

Are all your fingers on your hand accounted for? Because I seriously doubt it. Especially due to our current epidemic of children being captivated by screens. 

Of course, like when most good things occur, I found myself wanting to tell my friends from the children’s department, the Children’s librarians, aka the Library fairies, about my observation. And while they agreed that this was indeed exciting, they also acknowledged that it shouldn’t be a phenomenon but rather something more normalized. 

It caused me to think about what might be preventing this from becoming the norm amongst younger generations. What happened?! 

That is when a friend of mine gently directed me to ponder two alternative possibilities that included: 1) the complete non-existence or misuse of in-school libraries, and 2) the view and relationship that people have of libraries. 

With the first possibility stemming from a recent rise in school libraries becoming an unfortunate thing of the past, some newer-built schools opting to forego libraries in building plans altogether, or when libraries are present in schools, they aren’t being used as libraries. But instead, they are being used for other things.

For example, when I had to look back on my own experience with libraries as a youngster, I found myself with well-versed, positive memories of my local library. But in contrast, when I think of my memories of my own school library… it wasn’t as great.

Because, unfortunately, from what I can remember as a youth, the only time that I ever ventured to the library was during mandatory state testing, evaluative testing, computer-centered assignments, and more. There were even points where I can remember our library being used as a quiet detention space, like something straight out of The Breakfast Club. 

And all these components, combined as a youth, left me with somewhat negative associations with our school library that I now believe, unfortunately, deterred me from ever using the space, which, in hindsight, sucks because we had the most absolutely wonderful librarian (shout-out to you, Mrs. Kotlark). 

Which then ties into the other point of our personal relationships with libraries and how we view them, because while I may have had this unfortunate experience with my in-school library, which could have affected my reading habit, I’m almost 100% positive I’m not the first. 

Meaning that generations older than me, who may now have children of their own, may also harbour or have not so pleasant associations with libraries that may deter them from taking their own children to experience the wonder and whimsy libraries both in-school and public have to offer. 

My main point I want to leave you with today, dear reader, is that as I always say, you can’t try and foster something within a person or child that they themselves haven’t experienced. Meaning that it is vital for children and people of all ages to visit both their in-school and public libraries so that they themselves can build positive associations and relationships with these places that are meant to act as safe spaces and pillars for learning. 

I end this week’s column by adding that while it isn’t necessarily bad or cataclysmic for you to let your child use a device they enjoy, it isn’t necessarily a bad idea to encourage regular reading habits or literature-based activities, either. Especially since they can help foster their imagination and literacy beyond what a device can.

And even if you’re an adult who maybe hasn’t read in a while yourself and is looking for a place to start, your local library is always there and ready to welcome you with open arms.