Solve your isolation problem with a library card (the idea of third places)

As a working librarian, I wanted to say thanks for promoting public libraries! If your local library doesn't have something that interests you, talk to a librarian and make some suggestions. Library staff are usually very eager to take patron feedback into consideration. We try our best to accommodate patron needs. Many states and regions allow folks to have multiple library cards, too, so you are not just limited to your local library and its branches. You can often take advantage of other libraries in nearby communities. Simply having a library card and checking out physical or digital media adds to library stats and helps libraries to prove their worth. Other things you can do to help include: attending library events, filling out surveys (when offered), voting in favor of library levies, voting for pro-library city council and/or school board members, donating to Friends' groups, writing to your representatives in support of libraries, and telling friends and family about your library either online or in-person.

A Library is more than just a quiet place to sit and read in silence. Hopefully this video encourages you to get involved and explore your town's library. Also, to see that more than 10% of the people who watched this video hit the like button is absolutely CRAZY. Can we keep it rolling? :O

My library is so dry when it comes to events tbh, everything is either for kids/teens, the elderly, or people learning English as a second language. all of those are important obviously but I wish there was stuff for younger people who are no longer in school.

So great that you are promoting the library. So many have no idea how much they offer.

I literally tell people this all the time. My library has maker's space (sewing machines, cricut cutters, 3D printers etc), computer game rooms for both teen and tween, a performance space, computer rooms and color printing......and on and on. There's even a performance space in one of the branches! I tell folks, your tax dollars are already paying for this, but it's free to use. And don't even get me stated on the audio and kindle books and magazines....The library is a hidden gem!

We love our local libraries. We also found we can access our neighboring counties’ libraries-so it’s been fun discovering the unique features and programs each one offers. 📚

Most board game stores have an area to play games. Those places are also good for meeting up.

YES so good! Editing on point but I really appreciate how you highlight this important issue AND provide a real solution.

Those countries you mentioned in the blu zones are also just fundamentally culturally historically more community and social based. This countries (US) problem is the stupid idea of rugged individualism that has been pushed for the last century plus or at least half century along with the shift away from what little social safety nets we once had were eroded away but corporations and these places that replaced our old third places centered around capitalism and consumption (like you mention in the video being marketed or sold to constantly). It’s not surprise that the blue zone countries have always been family oriented with multiple generations living together for entire lives or at least longer than we do. And it’s also not coincidence that they had growing productive socialist or left leaning governments that we spent the past 50 years overthrowing and replacing with rebels or capitalist friendly regimes.

This is a great idea. Unfortunately, I live in the UK - our local library was shut down and around 30% of the books it held were shoved into a spare room in the town hall, which they then called the "new library". No idea where the other books went. Probably some storage warehouse Similarly, almost 1000 libraries have shut down across the UK in the past decade.

I'm about to move to another town (in the same metro area) and this inspired me to check out the library where we're going. It has so much stuff!

Thank you Chris. I am at a place in life where I am STUCK… and feel locked into ‘stuck’ for some time in the future. : ( I know this happens to many people at least once over their lifetime. My situation is ailing parents. Long time ailing parents. The library or the equivalent, such as the City Community Center sound great now. I have always used the library with and for my children, but they are now on their 30’s - and I haven’t thought of using it for me - until now. 🧡

I love this idea. The only problem is that my local library closes at 6pm. I get home from work at like 5:30. I live in NY too. I only have Saturday to go there. I wish I could go there more. Society is just messed up. All people do now is work and go home to get ready for work the next day. Its brutal.

During high school and uni was fortunate to have great public libraries right nearby, made it so much easier to meet up with friends since our houses were always annoyingly far from each other- great video!

I like your library! and the lack of community while there are so many programs around one could join is so real. thank you

yes, D&D! i got into it at the end of 2019 and joined a group at - guess where? - my local library! then covid hit and yeah, that fell apart. i don’t live in that area anymore but i should absolutely check out the library here. thank you for the reminder ❤

I have a library card in my county and one in the county of my university. I love visiting libraries! They’re a great place for me to go when I have downtime or want a change of scenery.

Small world, you and I share the same library system!

I started attending a chess club that meets in a rented room in our local bakery. It was a game changer for me. HA!!! I love the idea of the library being a place to meet people. Awesome!

This is an incredibly important post. Isolation crosses all demographics. Just a really great subject with an actual solution. 👏 I’ve subbed.