Library Corner: EALD striving to provide access for the whole community

Access. It takes just 6 letters to sum up the true reason for a public library to exist. And this isn’t just access to the most recent best seller or the latest action blockbuster, though those play their own integral part in the foundation of a library. What I’m talking about is access in both tangible and intangible ways. Access to knowledge, self-expression, a safe space, imagination, liberation, education, information and services, broadband and wifi, exposure to places, cultures, and ideas patrons might not otherwise encounter -- the list goes on and on. Libraries allow people to, in philosophical terms, access life.

But recently, both nationwide and regionally, who is allowed access to these library offerings has been called into question. Should libraries only be accessible to those who fall under the umbrella of “normal” instead of “other,” those who don’t make others feel uncomfortable? Or are they institutions where all should be welcomed regardless of race, gender or identity, economic background, mobility, age, intelligence, and sexual preference? Shouldn’t libraries be a safe haven for all? A place where anyone can come to think, question, and learn about the world and themselves?

Andrew Carnegie himself, the benefactor of our very own library, called his greatest libraries “Palaces for the People” and believed libraries were a place of enablement, a place for people to reach their true potential, a place people could go to for self-improvement and self-preservation, a place where the workers of today could become the leaders of tomorrow. Are libraries, especially those that exist because of his philanthropy, honoring his vision when they bend to the will of those who would limit access to those who mainstream society has ignored or rejected? For a library to truly be a “Palace for the People,” sheer access isn’t enough. Equitable access must be the goal.

Right now you may be thinking, “but how can a small, rural library such as East Adams Library District with a limited population and an equally limited budget accomplish something that even the gigantic library systems found in Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York City still struggle with every day?” The answer is simple: progress, not perfection.

Our little Carnegie library has already made great strides to ensure our library provides a space of equitable access. One of the largest projects was remodeling the library and installing an elevator and ADA regulation restroom in order to provide a community building that everyone has the opportunity to utilize. One of the smaller policies is making sure our computers and wifi are available to anyone who needs use of them, regardless of having a library account with us.

Equitable access is what inspired the creation of our Health Literacy program, ‘Access Health at East Adams’ and the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) for our tweens and teens. Equitable access is why we rotate items between our main branch in Ritzville to our satellite branches in Lind and Washtucna and deliver requested items to Benge. It’s one of the reasons the library is a scheduled stop for the no-cost People for People Ritzville/Othello route on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and hosts one-on-one help from SkillSource on the first Tuesday of every month. It’s why we are part of the interlibrary loan system so our patrons can access items we don’t have the space or budget for. It’s why we offer eBooks with reading settings for dyslexic readers and sign up sight-impaired readers for free access to the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library.

As we approach Thanksgiving and start reflecting on the things we are most grateful for, take a moment to think of the libraries that have had a meaningful effect on your life and how the access they provide changed it in some way. Whether it was something as simple as free internet or introducing you to your favorite book or perhaps something more life changing like providing lunch on summer days when school was out, remember and be thankful for what that access afforded you. Public libraries and the equitable access they provide are a community necessity not a luxury. Because everyone, regardless of status, deserves a palace.