Libraries Aren't Going Anywhere

"Libraries are going to disappear soon. We have Google now."

This was the most common remark Erin Demeyer heard when she started her Master's program in Library and Information Science. As director of the Mark Twain Library in Redding, Connecticut, and president of the Connecticut Library Association, she recalls, "People didn't realize how rude it was to say that to someone becoming a librarian."

Scott Brill, director of the Milford Public Library and vice president of the New England Library Association, responds firmly to this notion: "That's completely wrong."

In reality, modern libraries have evolved far beyond simple book-lending facilities into essential community hubs. From providing technology access to hosting author events, craft groups, and various workshops, the range of activities available at libraries continues to expand.

An Accidental Path to Librarianship

Scott Brill's entry into the library world is unusual. For a full 10 years after becoming an adult, he didn't even have a library card. Born and raised in Shelton, Connecticut, he used the Plumb Memorial Library as a child, but after college graduation, he and his husband worked in the travel industry.

His life changed after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. As the travel industry declined, he was searching for new work when he discovered a job opening at his hometown library in Shelton. "I interviewed and got the job, and I was so happy," he says.

After working there for several years, colleagues repeatedly told him, "You need to go to graduate school for library science." The multi-talented performer, who also does theater, naturally handled every aspect of the work—planning programs for children and adults, working the circulation desk, and providing reference services and readers' advisory.

"I could use my mind in many different ways to help people, and it just felt very natural."

But he didn't go to graduate school. Instead, he took on more significant roles, where he heard the same advice. Working in the children's department at the Milford Public Library, where he currently works, he conducted story times and created a chess club, among other activities, but still didn't pursue graduate school.

It wasn't until he became head of circulation that he finally decided, "Okay!"

Spaces Beyond Books

The services modern libraries provide extend far beyond lending books.

Technology Access: They serve as gateways to the digital world for community members who lack access to computers and the internet.

Cultural Events: They function as centers for diverse cultural activities, from author lectures to book discussions and film screenings.

Educational Programs: They operate as spaces for lifelong learning, from children's reading classes to adult workshops.

Community Activities: They provide venues where people with shared interests can meet, such as craft groups and hobby clubs.

Libraries don't simply provide information—they create welcoming spaces. Librarians work quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, to make all of this happen.

The Evolving Role of Librarians

"Librarians quietly make the world a better place. Or maybe not so quietly."

This observation by Randy Kaye, host of WSHU's podcast 'Good at Heart,' precisely captures the role of modern librarians. Librarians no longer work only among the stacks. They are community planners, educators, technology supporters, and cultural curators.

Libraries led by librarians like Erin Demeyer and Scott Brill have established themselves as the heart of their communities. These are spaces that anyone can use for free, where people of any background are welcomed.

While Google may provide all the information one needs, warm welcomes, human assistance, and community connections can still only be found at the library.