#library services

Despite my status as an all-knowing library genius, I'd never even heard of renting board and card games from the library until relatively recently, when it was mentioned during an episode of the Untitled Library Podcast. I think it's a brilliant idea that could hopefully stop those pesky gen zers from complaining about "no third spaces" and "loneliness epidemic" and "everything horrible is happening at the same time right now and I'm 19 which is like the worst age for that to happen."

The initial concern with checking out board games is, of course, the itty-bitty pieces. But no librarian has ever said "oh, no, too much information!"

It really is just as simple as adding extra details - like the number and type of pieces in a board game - and then taking the extra time to check the board game box to verify the presence of all the pieces. Totally worth it when you understand all the benefits of having the board games in the first place.

As I mentioned earlier, there really is a lack of places for young people to just… hang out. The library provides a convient solution, but it has a reputation for fostering envinronments not conductive to things such as uproarious laughter, something which I have heard is ideal during "hangs." I wouldn't know, I was born in a test tube and raised by a particularly capable and very strict Alexa.

Anyways, the presence of the board games in the library, and ideally a louder-than-average board game section also within the library will be a great way to get young people into and familiar with the library. Plus, games are good for you. Of course, they help with mental health, but they also increase cognitive functions skills and promote things such as teamwork, patience, and sportsmanship.

Marylanders in the Baltimore area: Bmore libraries have paired up with Vision to Learn this year.

Vision to Learn offers free eye exams and glasses to kids/teens.

It’s by appointment, but easy to make via the link above.

Each branch has differnt dates/times.

This is an attack on all U.S. libraries. IMLS provides funding from Federal to State-level.

If you've been around my blog for awhile, you know my partner is a librarian and we've seen this shit coming, but it's still hitting like a ton of bricks.

Libraries are among the very, very few places people can congregate for free and obtain information and help with everything from doing taxes to translation services to literacy programs to community classes on anything from arts and crafts to household repair. All in addition to being spaces for essential community gathering and building. These are *OUR* spaces.

Please call your reps, ESPECIALLY if they are Republican. Slam their aids will messages, letters, postcards. Visit local offices and town halls. Show up for protests in your area. Make every kind of noise you can.

The MKCE Central Library actively provides diverse and superior library services. With a primary focus on career development, it supports curriculum, aids research, and stays current on trends and technology. Further, driven by the vision of library science pioneer Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, our library serves as a trinity of Learning Resources, Users, and Library Staff.

Now, some libraries have more services than others but even the most basic libraries will have shelves upon shelves of dvd, cd, books, games, etc… that you can borrow and use for free(!!!)

Some more bougie libraries will also have other awesome stuff.

For example, I once went to a library with a recording booth with a good quality mic, they had a green screen room, cameras that could be borrowed, computers with the Adobe suite to do editing, as well as a plethora of other resources and help from librarians.

Another thing, ask what your local librarians can do. They often are really good at researching and also might be able to borrow things from other libraries as well.

Also, once you get a library card you can sign up for Libby that has a ton of books and audio books (again) for free.