The library is the most important place in Airdrie.
The Library Board and staff at Airdrie Public Library (APL) would, of course, agree with this statement, but is it a fair one?
In a digital world where the endless flow of information and entertainment is instantaneously available through a hand-held device, why would a boring old building filled with books still be important?
One of the driving mandates of public libraries is to build community face-to-face.
We do this by inspiring patrons to learn about art, literature, and music, and by encouraging healthy dialogue between people.
This alone is why libraries are still important, but does that make them the most important place?
More than just books and computers, libraries are community hubs where people interact, explore the world’s knowledge, and feed their imaginations.
You see this played out every day in APL’s Children’s Area, where groups of mostly moms but some dads gather and share the important stories of their lives. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to join one of these unplanned gatherings, you’ll be in awe of what such a simple thing is accomplishing.
Through conversation, there is a sharing of practical information and useful knowledge, and a swapping of life experience between new parents and those who’ve earned their parenting stripes.
And this kind of face-to-face exchange happens not just in the Children’s Area, but throughout our small library, in the meeting rooms, in the Makerspace, at computer stations, and around the fireplace.
People who may or may not know each other, from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, with a broad range of interests and passions, gather in the one place where the common denominator is our shared human experience and a desire to improve our lives and that of our community through literacy and lifelong learning.
So, is the library the most important place in our city?
We think so.
