When you think of a library, what do you think of?  Chances are that a physical building comes to mind.  But libraries exist in many other types of ways!  Even before libraries were online, collections have been meeting people, wherever and however works best.  One of the most talked about “trends” in libraries are Little Free Libraries, or LFL’s.  LFL’s are small book locations in which people may take a book or leave a book.  LFL’s are becoming so popular by 2017 there may be more LFL’s than McDonald’s restaurants!!  The LA Times called Little Free Libraries “literary democracy in progress.”

Another really fun way libraries reach people are by “nomadic libraries”.  These mobile, roaming libraries reach people wherever they may be, however they need to.  Whether by camel, boats, or tanks, these libraries are delivering books to people who need them. 

Alex Johnson wrote the book Improbable Libraries, discussing how creative librarians are willing to get in order to bring the library to the readers.  “Librarians have a long history of overcoming geographic, economic, and political challenges to bring the written word to an eager audience, they continue to live up to that reputation today, despite the rapid, sweeping changes in how we read and share books in the 21st century.”

So however you choose to read your books, remember that we are here to meet you more than halfway!