Even libraries are not libraries anymore

Healthy Body and Mind
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I remember as a kid in the 80s going to the library and looking around and seeing people actually reading books. Now in 2025 I go to a library and I see a lot of books but what do I see around me? People at computers on facebook, instagram etc. People sitting and mindlessly scrolling on their smartphones, it is honestly sickening what I see on a daily basis.

It is amazing to me how teachers, parents, etc all complain that kids don’t read anymore yet why would they? When they look around all the people they look up to are on devices, all day long, every where a child looks an adult is on a smartphone.
Children model what they see, and what they see around them on a daily basis are adults wasting their lives away on devices. It is a sad state of affairs.

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Honestly what libraries are you going to? I go to the college libraries and all I see is people studying. Mostly people go on their phones to break from the study but nowadays, students study on their computers! I agree though that things aren’t what they use to be. The public libraries are probably worse…

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Our attention span is shrinking & we are just too distracted to focus.
I wrote about it in a recent blog. It’s really sad to see.

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I personally confirmed this over the weekend. I got an AM/FM/HD radio for Christmas. While listening to a local talk-radio program, I realized that I missed something that the host said. I thought, “No problem. I will rewind the … Oh, wait! That is live radio, not a podcast!”

Now I am using my radio to re-expand my attention span.

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Yeah specifically public libraries, my university/college days are long gone lol

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At my local public library they offer free wifi so there are always people on their devices there. Also free computer sessions and they have a colour printer you can use too. I know in my community this is a valuable area for many people.

They also encourage ocmmunity engagement through daily kids storytime (where someone reads a picture book to groups of kids), and for the big kids (and tiny adults) they have creative and ‘learn-to’ classes for small groups, which anyone can attend for free. Anything from crochet to self-publishing to learning to grow veggies at home to composting…
Aaaaaand they have cabinets and wall space that local artisans can book (again for free!) to display and sell their creations through. It’s awesome and I’m grateful for it! :smile:

Do public libraries where you guys are also offer local community engagement things?

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Yeah they do but its mostly kids programs, they need more of these types of programs for adults

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