By Sophia Sullivan, Editorials Editor
It is commonly known that February is the month of love, but it also is the month of a very different, but no less important, sort of love—National Library Lovers Month!
In today’s fast paced world, let’s face it—libraries are overlooked. People seem to care less and less about books and more and more about, well, anything else.
That is why it is vital to raise awareness of the fact that libraries are not going extinct, and they are one of the greatest sources of information in our world today.
Libraries are incredibly important. They have so much to offer, whether it be to the public or to students in general. Carol Ann Moon, professor and reference and instructional outreach librarian at Saint Leo University, explained how versatile libraries can be.
“They provide access to resources and activities and community meeting spaces,” said Moon. They are places where people from all over can gather and get to know one another. Libraries are home to so much knowledge, and knowledge is a pathway to connecting with others on a more personal level.
Students should remember that libraries are there to help them, and so are the librarians who work in them.
“Make a friend of a librarian,” said Moon. Librarians are very knowledgeable when it comes to databases and books—you may just learn something new!
Not only do libraries offer physical benefits, but they also offer people the opportunity to better themselves. Uncovering material and information can help people become more “informed, educated, and creative citizens,” according to Moon.
College is the perfect time to better yourself, and what better way is there to do that than in the library?
Even with all they have to offer, there are still some who think that libraries are no longer relevant. Many may think they are outdated. Why read books when you could scroll on social media?
To this, Moon says that libraries evolve with our society. It is these people who seem to forget that libraries contain digital databases now, and they are not only about books!
You may be asking, “How can I be a library lover?” Well, it’s simple! Moon urges students to partake in library “events” and to “donate to your library” before throwing away old books.
If you do your part, libraries can continue to thrive. Sometimes, all it takes is a few small actions.
“Libraries need people,” says Moon, “just as much as people need libraries.”
Next time you walk past the library, stop in. You never know what treasures will await you inside.
