Libraries have been around for centuries, but are they currently useful to the public? Libraries share the knowledge that literature provides, and access to these books is free of charge (if books are returned on time).

From storybook programs for children to study tables for students, libraries provide a quiet reading and learning environment. But as society advances, so does our way of attaining literature. Bookstores and online stores are now the most common place to get books, and the Internet provides quick, easy ways to borrow and buy books cheaply–with no late-return fees. With all these resources at our disposal, why should the public have a need for libraries?

Libraries offer a quiet and tranquil environment not only for reading but also for studying. Without all the at-home distractions, libraries offer one of the best environments to study for an upcoming exam or test. Some argue they could get the same thing out of studying at a coffee shop or diner. But libraries offer a quality that few other places can: silence. Most people know never to yell or use their “outside voices” in a library, most people have been told so since they were children. This peace and quiet the library offers is found, publicly, almost nowhere else. This inescapable peacefulness increases concentration and helps people shut everything else out and focus on the work at hand.

Libraries also offer helpful advice. One can’t get the same advice from the local Barista as one can from his local librarian. Have a Shakespeare research paper due in 24 hours and haven’t a clue where to start? Consult a librarian.  “The reference staff  is very knowledgeable on all topics,” said local Peachtree City librarian Carol Yeoman.  They can give students the best advice, second from their teachers. With their knowledge of books and understanding of literature, they can help students find what they need for that last minute assignment.

Librarians also help people find books for reading on their free time. A majority of librarians have enough knowledge of the library and its contents to tell visitors where they can find books similar to books they’ve previously read.

Libraries also keep the classics going. Bookstores promote the newest releases and bestsellers, putting the classics like Dickens and Shakespeare on the back burner, sometimes even in the back of the store. Libraries get new releases, but are not paid by publishers to promote them. Therefore, they keep the classics on the front racks and on tables, not just crowded on a back shelf.

  Dr.  Karen Davis, McIntosh’s media specialist, said,  “I think you need both. A well rounded library should have a little bit of everything.” This variety keeps classic books from being neglected and gives students a convenient opportunity to read  fine pieces of literature while also offering new release novels that people crave.

Libraries should remain open. People will continue to use them. Whether it be for studying or searching for the perfect book with which to curl up and read, the library will remain the best place to do either.