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Libraries the Next Big Thing (after Cupcakes)

NPR just published this article Why The Next Big Pop-Culture Wave After Cupcakes Might Be Libraries.  The author, Linda Holmes, points out several reasons why libraries might soon become very popular in the media (if you’ve seen the Old Spice videos below you’ll understand why she thinks things are moving in this direction).  Here are her main reasons why:

Libraries get in fights. Everybody likes a scrapper, and between the funding battles they’re often found fighting and the body-checking involved in their periodic struggles over sharing information, there’s a certain … pleasantly plucky quality to the current perception of libraries and librarians.

Librarians know stuff. You know how the words “geek” and “nerd” have gone from actual insults to words used to lovingly describe enthusiasts?

Libraries are green and local. This is where there’s a lot of potential appeal for the same people who like organic produce and reusable grocery bags.

Libraries will give you things for free.

“Open to the public” means “some days, you really have to wonder about people.” This is where you get the spark of an idea for TLC or somebody to do some goofball show called The Stacks, which follows a small local library through funding problems, trying to get book clubs started, whatever. When your building is open to the public, that means open … to … the … public. And you know what’s a little unpredictable? The public.

Sounds like some good reasons to check out the library: Orland Free Library

Posted by Jody Meza, City Librarian.