Democracy in the Library

Democracy is no better represented than in the library. The library is a community gathering place, open to the public. It is a place for children, teens, and adults to come and discover culture through books, magazines, music, TV shows, and films. It is a place to access the Internet for free and a great leveler of social status. In many cases, the library is the only access people have to computers, Internet, and other resources. 

I have recently started working at the library, and have been reflecting on the job and the people I serve. I have found that the library is an amazing space for justice and leveling social status. It is a place to engage people's minds and gather with the community. 

I think democracy is best symbolized in the way the library functions, and I am happy to meet a wide spectrum of community members' needs as an employee of the library.

With public libraries expanding to include downloadable materials, the libraries continue to meet patrons' needs and grow in the community. Despite these technological investments, the library continues to largely offer services for free. 

What are other places in the community that are representative of democracy? How could our society and political figures better follow the model of the library to serve? 

--Megan