One of our favorite ways to introduce people to the public library is to host class field trips. The age I have the most fun with is elementary school, and when I have hosted those classes, along with a story and a silly song and a tour of the library, I always ask the group, “Who does the library belong to?” Answers vary, but usually kids say things like, “You!” or “The Mayor!” or “The President!” and my answer to all of those is “yes.”
Yes, the library belongs to all those people. The library also belongs to you. And your neighbor, and your teacher, and your friend’s mom, and everyone else in the community. Because the library is for everyone. The library belongs to everyone, and everyone belongs at the library.
Tuesday, October 1st is the annual Staff Day at Jackson County Library Services. Each year we close all 15 branches to the public for one day and bring all our staff together for training and team building. For most staff, it is the only time we see some of our colleagues face-to-face all year. Gathering all 192 (or so) of us together for the day, Staff Day affirms our organizational values and group identity. Each of us is part of the team that helps JCLS pursue our mission of connecting everyone to ideas, information, and each other, and every staff member brings with them unique and important skills that move that mission forward.
Every Staff Day has a theme, which helps give the day focus and adds to the fun. Our theme this year is “You Belong Here,” a message to our staff that everyone has a place at the library, that we value diverse viewpoints and backgrounds, and that each of us belongs.
We want our patrons to take this message of belonging to heart, too. Belonging is at the very core of the idea of a public library. As civic institutions, public libraries truly belong to everyone—the public—and we want each member of our communities to feel welcome at JLCS libraries. That ideal is a guiding principle that we keep front of mind when designing library programs and services.
It is written into the library’s official goals to build trust and deepen connections within our communities, and we work on it all the time. It is an ongoing project to keep moving the needle closer to that inclusive ideal. It’s part of why we have an Outreach department, where they work with library branches to spread the word about what libraries have to offer people, often directly providing services to teachers, seniors, college students, rural residents, incarcerated youth, Spanish speakers…the list goes on. Library staff show up at community events to talk to people who might not otherwise realize what the library can do for them, that library services are free, or even that there is a library in their town. And when you come to a library branch, we’re friendly and helpful, our spaces are bright and comfortable, and our staff can help you find the information and entertainment you’re looking for, without any judgment. We want everyone to know what the library can do for them and to feel good about visiting the library.
Members of the committee that planned this Staff Day spent some time exploring the theme and shared some thoughts with me on why “You Belong Here” felt like such a good fit this year. They said one of the strengths of our libraries is that our staff are also members of our communities and library users. We are who we serve, and our connections within our communities inform how we do our jobs. At a time when many interpersonal relationships are strained by political or other differences, it is common for people to feel disconnected or uncertain of their welcome in an unfamiliar place. Many people are left craving a sense of belonging, so we work to create opportunities for connection at the library. We hope that our staff and the larger community feel they belong at their library. We want to send a message that all the parts of who you are belong here. Your successes and failures, dreams and setbacks—all your perspectives and life experiences. We value each patron and staff member for who they are, and we are a stronger and healthier organization when we all know that we belong here together.
So as JCLS staff take the day to reflect on belonging and get to know our colleagues better, please know that we’re also thinking about you, our community. We may be closed for the day, but we will be so pleased to see you come through our doors the rest of this week.
Because you belong at the library. We all belong at the library.