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November 17, 2024

Weekend Edition: How communities are galvanizing against Trump, third spaces, wildfires and the latest in Gaza.

Going Home: How Libraries Offer Refuge and Community in Turbulent Times

A quick note: I’ve really enjoyed writing this with each of your perspectives, and can’t wait to do it again soon! Note the diversity in our readership by the quotes in here – each one was submitted in response to my prompts to this audience. We’ve got a really beautiful community here 💛

When Hurricane Sandy hit New York in 2012, neighborhood cafes became impromptu shelters. During pandemic lockdowns, public parks transformed into essential gathering spaces. These "third spaces" – the space people frequent after their homes and their workplaces – have always played a vital role in community life. But in times of crisis, they become something more: they become extensions of home itself, offering sanctuary when traditional domestic spaces are compromised or insufficient.

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg first described “third spaces” as “informal public gathering places like cafes, libraries, community centers, and places of worship.” Today, they've evolved to include coworking spaces, community gardens, and even digital platforms that facilitate local connections. What makes them unique is their accessibility, welcoming nature, and ability to foster social interaction across socioeconomic boundaries.

Third spaces are uniquely positioned to respond to local emergencies, and often do, acting as cooling or warming centers during extreme temperatures, providing food or WiFi during environmental disasters, and acting as a hub for local updates as crisis unfolds. They do this not just because of their financial or economic capital (having a brick-and-mortar, paying for WiFi) but their social capital, or access and trust to the community: regular customers who can volunteer, suppliers who can donate resources, staff who know local needs, and email or phone number lists to reach a wide audience.

I asked you to tell me how public libraries, one of the widespread and accessible third spaces across the U.S. shape your community – and over 2,000 of you responded. Unlike other third spaces, public libraries require no purchase upon entry (unlike a coffeeshop, for example) and caters to a broad audience. As the fight against banned books and accurate history continues, the safety that libraries provide may be more threatened. Here are some of the highlights.

1. Life Stage Support & Transitions

From student study sessions to children's storytimes to retirement planning workshops, libraries provide dedicated spaces that support people through every major life phase. They particularly shine during transitions - whether that's new parenthood, career changes, or aging.

“Today, as a mom of 5 kids all under 10 years old, the public library has become a weekly place we visit. From participating in 1000 books before Kindergarten, summer reading challenges, enjoying toddler story times, play dates with friends in the kids area, and of course checking out books, the library offers us so much!” – Victoria

“My parents took me to the public library as a child but it wasn’t until I started middle school that the public library became a refuge from bullying and a place to immerse myself in worlds different and far from my own. I would check out stacks of books each week, and exchange them for new stacks the following week. As a young adult, whenever I moved to a new place I would find the closest public library and get my card as soon as I could. I split my time between fiction and nonfiction, learning about arts and crafts, plants and gardening, architecture, and DIY. I’ve loved every public library I’ve ever visited. They represent possibility and comfort.” – Kamille

“My son, who is six, wanted me to write that he wants to go to the library everyday because they always have a new book on dinosaurs and he wants to read them all. He likes dinosaurs a lot and wants to study them when he grows up. Cuteness aside, I’m so glad we have a space that’s given me a free way to invest in what he cares about. I think he’s learned about the power of research and self-study, a practice I wish more grownups had.” – Sofia

2. Community Connection & Programming

Libraries transform into active gathering spaces through free classes (yoga, language), civic services (voting, tax help), and cultural programming. These activities create natural opportunities for neighbors to meet and connect across social boundaries.

“As an introvert who was very quiet and highly anxious I found books to be a source of connection to the world. I was able to dream about possibilities for my future, and begin crafting resilience because I knew that I had dreams to craft a life that was separate from my hometown. I knew my hometown wasn’t for me, but it was rural and the schools were underfunded so there was this underlying messaging from community members that made it seem like dreams were pointless and we would not amount to much. So books from the library helped me not feel alone.” – Marisa

“The library has always served as a place of peace for me. Over the past 6 years, my daughter and I (and our loved ones) have attended events to learn about other communities and cultures, being creative, exploring a variety of stories, playing games with friends and family, and I meet with the children who I offer academic and executive functioning support, too.” – Miriam

3. Economic Access & Equity

By offering free entertainment, digital resources, and business services, libraries level the playing field. They provide essential resources to those who can't afford them elsewhere, while serving as a welcoming space regardless of economic status.

“As a parent attending the library often now with my kids, and having a good friend share her experiences as a librarian, I’ve learned more and more what else the library provides beyond the books on their shelves. They are safe and inclusive spaces for all individuals; they become warming centres in the cold months; they are communication hubs; they provide low barrier workshops, community resources and activities, and they are the ultimate curators of curiosity and discovery. I see clearly now how incredibly important library spaces are for EVERYONE. They are a lifeline for many and a true free space.” – Tiffany

“I run a library that is a collecting library rather than a circulating library. We collect books written or illustrated by Ohioans, as well as books about Ohio. We also have an extensive collection of writer’s personal papers, manuscripts and other ephemera. While our items don’t circulate, people can come and use the materials in the library itself. We feel strongly about collecting books that are both self-published and published by major publishing houses because we want all voices represented. We never weed anything out and we accept everything that can be linked to Ohio.” – Kim

“My job involves home visiting, and I've encouraged several of the families I work with to visit their local public library. From free museum passes to some of Boston's most popular attractions to family programming to a wide selection of kids' books, these libraries have many services that can enhance my clients' lives. I've used many of the library branches as a pit stop between visits, and through Libby, I've listened to many a free audiobook while driving from house to house!” – Madeline

4. Mental Health & Wellbeing

The library acts as a sanctuary - offering escape from family stress, relief from burnout, and a quiet space for reflection. For many, regular library visits provide stability and social connection when needed most.

“At 72 I sold my home near Santa Fe, New Mexico, and moved into a third-hand converted Sprinter van, where I'm now living. I tried parking overnight at one of Santa Fe's branch libraries, and was pleased to find that I was left alone at night, as nobody came along and told me to move. One day I returned the favor by picking up trash in the parking lot, which included beer bottles and a couple of used needles. I later introduced myself to the library's reference staff, and learned that my presence was actually appreciated, as I served as a kind-of de facto guard and watchperson, reducing the potential for theft and vandalism. […] So beside using the library as a resource base in my daily life, it's also a safe resting spot with good WiFi in the parking lot and a welcoming home to many in the community.” – Allan

If you want to continue the conversation, go to the web version of this email and chat in the comments!

• Join your local library – even if you don’t think you’ll attend often – to underscore how necessary this resource is for others.

• Attend community council meetings when discussing the future of local libraries near you, or funding allocations to local libraries.

• Sign up for volunteer initiatives at your local library. Chat with administrators about how you can support in times of crisis (ready to drive? Down to volunteer as a staff member if needed?) Or, inquire on how the library may have resources you may need in a time of crisis.

• Write to local, state, and federal governing bodies about what your library means to you to encourage preservation of funding. Spread the word about the important services libraries provide and encourage friends and family members to become library members. For those that responded to this prompt for this newsletter, copy and paste your submissions and send them to your leaders!

Also, reader Carolyn offers two points of public libraries you might not know about. Thanks for sharing, Carolyn!

• You can request that the library purchase a book! I've requested quite a few books and the library has purchased many of them. Not only has this saved me money, it allows easy access to the book by other readers as well. This can help get books by BIPOC, queer, and/or disabled authors a spotlight too.

• Interlibrary loan - if your library doesn't have a particular book you're looking for, you can request your library to borrow the book from another library system that may have it. They'll mail the book to your library for pickup so you can read it. And this is free to library users!!!!

POLITICS

Farmworkers are organizing to resist Trump’s attacks on immigrant workers. Organizers from Florida, Vermont and Washington discuss the rising exploitation and rollback of protections ahead. Truthout >

California voted for pro-prison ballot measure funded by retail giants. Incarceration rates may soon rise in California due to a ballot initiative that passed on November 5. Truthout >

Trump picked Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA. What will that mean for environmental policy? What to expect: deregulation justified as boosts for the economy, and platitudes about the importance of clean air and water. Grist >

What’s the deal with the Latine vote? “The diverse Latine experience, shaped by factors like immigration status, race and class, is too often oversimplified—both by outsiders and within our own communities.” In These Times >

The 2017 Trump resistance playbook is out. Community organizing is in. The Women’s March is now the People’s March, and groups working to oppose Trump’s agenda are highlighting specific actions volunteers can take. 19th News >

ENVIRONMENT

It’s not normal for the East Coast to be on fire. Here's why the November wildfires in New York and New Jersey are so alarming. Grist >

Veteran activists started a decade-long pipeline fight in Appalachia. Three veterans who fought the Mountain Valley Pipeline saw it as their duty to protect their community against domestic enemies: fossil fuel corporations. Prism >

We may have less to offer’: U.S. negotiators confront diminished standing at COP29. The Biden administration tried to project confidence in the early days of the U.N. climate conference, but all signs point to a reduced U.S. role. Grist >

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Pay first, deliver later: Some pregnant people are being asked to prepay for their baby. Pregnant people are being asked to make large cash payments months before they deliver their babies. Some patient advocates worry this billing practice allows providers to hold treatment hostage. 19th News >

📢 ACTION: Sign the ACLU’s “Defend Trans Freedom” petition ahead of the SCOTUS case on trans healthcare. The ACLU will display the names of signatories at the steps of the Supreme Court. them >

‘What happened in Nebraska won’t stay in Nebraska’. The deceptive tactics employed by anti-abortion forces to defeat a Nebraska ballot measure securing access to abortion demand closer examination. Prism >

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Unless ‘clean slate’ legislation passes in your state, your permanent record really stays with you. Twelve states allow residents to seal their records and start anew, allowing those impacted by the criminal legal system a fresh start. Capital B News >

With two months left in office, here’s how Biden can make an impact for criminal justice. Judicial appointments and the death penalty are among areas where a lame-duck administration can still leave a mark. Marshall Project >

GAZA

Israeli war tactics condemned as aid still blocked from reaching north. In the last two days alone, “six attempts to deliver lifesaving assistance to besieged areas in North Gaza governorate were blocked”. UN >

With Gaza’s education system in ruins, parents take matters into their own hands. Kids in Gaza have been without school for 13 months. Parents are looking to out-of-work teachers and volunteers to fill in the gaps. The Intercept >