Palaces for the People

Book three of 2020 is extra exciting because...drumroll Eric Klinenberg is speaking at the Florida Library Association conference in May! Klinenberg's big idea here is “social infrastructure” and how it effects our lives. He does a wonderful job developing his thesis and using examples to convince us that he's right. This book is awesome for anyone interested in community development, libraries, climate change, and, in general, how we can make the world a better place.

More specifically, I read this book because of his discussions about libraries. As a library professional, I understand that there are more than one kind of library, and I thought Klinenberg did not address that very clearly here. However, I would encourage any library staff reading this who don't work in a public library to think outside the box. How does your library offer social infrastructure to its patron? Is it the bathroom? Is it a cool place to sit on hot days? Is it hosting conversations on a college campus? There are so many things that could apply, and they are worth thinking about, especially as we look at how to distinguish ourselves for funding and strategic planning.