Without Libraries was created to provide librarians a platform to share stories about education, discuss current programs, and consider life without libraries. Libraries provide access to information and educational resources, promoting literacy, critical thinking skills, and community building by offering a safe space for people to learn, research, and connect with others. Join the conversation at Past Forward.

Guest: Kate Buckson
Produced by: Past Forward

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Kate Buckson: The role of library staff in the social structure of our society should not be undervalued. In an era where people are more connected digitally, they are less connected in other ways. Face-to-face interactions that used to be a daily occurrence can be rare for people working from home or living alone. Isolation and loneliness are real, and humans are social creatures. Libraries provide a place to connect.

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Hi, my name is Kate Buckson, and I am a librarian. I've worked in three different public libraries in the Chicagoland area since 2004, and currently I'm the director of St. Charles Public Library in Illinois. It's difficult for me, and in fact frightening, to imagine a world without libraries. I've worked in public libraries for over 20 years, and I began my career as a circulation desk associate. We saw people regularly who had very little human interaction aside from their library visits. We became enmeshed in the lives of our patrons, learning their pet names, celebrating when grandchildren were born, extending condolences for lost loved ones. The role of library staff in the social structure of our society should not be undervalued. In an era where people are more connected digitally, they are less connected in other ways. Face-to-face interactions that used to be a daily occurrence can be rare for people working from home or living alone. Isolation and loneliness are real, and humans are social creatures. Libraries provide a place to connect.

Aside from the human connection, providing access is the most critical aspect of what we do in public libraries. Access to books, yes, this has not changed, but also access to technology, not just free public computers and internet, but technology you can check out and bring home with you. Access to trained researchers who use authoritative databases to travel with you down a rabbit hole, looking to find an answer to your question. Access to content creation software and equipment. Our makerspace staff can teach you a new hobby or help you learn a skill that could lead to a future career. And access to a space that is warm, clean, and free from judgment. True access to me means that anyone can find us, use our resources, and not find extraordinary barriers along the way. No one should face obstacles when they're trying to improve their lives. This is what access definitionally means to me that we do not gatekeep our knowledge and resources. Instead, we promote them and encourage their use. We encourage the public to use the resources provided by their tax dollars to enhance their lives. A world without libraries would lead to more loneliness, less human connection, a loss of access, and for some, nowhere to go on a cold day.

In early 2025, our library installed a micro-food pantry like many other public libraries have. This is due to food insecurity that we see every day. We are not a social service agency, yet we face many of the same challenges and see the struggles of our visitors up close. Even in a relatively wealthy community like St. Charles, people still go hungry. The public library is a place where anyone can come to be safe and warm, and now it is also a place where you can find a community food pantry to help with the very practical need of being fed.

Libraries have mission statements identified by their boards and we're no different. Our mission is to support the growth and creativity of individuals and build a spirit of community by providing welcoming spaces, robust collections, responsive services, and enriching programs. For us to accomplish this, people need to have their basic needs met. Even though we are not tasked with solving the major social concerns of our community, we have a hand in improving conditions. Even though we are not tasked with educating the public, we can play a role in lifelong learning. We should not forget the importance of institutions that lift up their communities, and this is what libraries do.

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