Sine qua non

 “The day after the storm passed, New Jersey libraries rallied, and were the places residents flocked to as they began to put their lives back together.” —Michele Stricker, New Jersey Deputy State Librarian for Lifelong Learning 

Libraries are probably not the first place you think of when you consider where you might go after a disaster. On a regular day, you might not even need a library because of your access to technology. If you were to have a personal crisis, you likely can turn to family and friends. But what happens when a disaster affects a whole community? The community turns to its libraries.

The evidence is undeniable. Articles about recent crises show that libraries play a critical role in the response and recovery of communities in crisis not only in New Jersey, but also New York, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Missouri, Colorado, Michigan, California, Oregon, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington, North Carolina, Iowa, Haiti, Chile, Australia, Norway, and more (Librarians and Libraries Respond to Disasters: Bibliography on Library Roles in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery). 

Throughout these articles, libraries are called safe havens, ports in the storm, sanctuaries, churches of knowledge, and gates to information. There is good reason for this. They are arguably the most approachable of all governmental agencies, at once authoritative and welcoming. No matter where you are, you know what a library is for and what it can provide. And it isn’t just books.

Last week I attended a community resiliency workshop given by the New Jersey State Library. The librarians spoke of people coming to the libraries after Hurricane Sandy, shellshocked from having lost their homes, their pets, and their businesses. The library staff sat with hundreds of people, holding their hands and comforting them as they poured out their grief and fears. Even staff who usually had no contact with patrons came into the reading rooms and sitting areas just to listen and provide comfort. 

For weeks, the libraries extended their hours and services, connecting patrons to resources and tools. They provided activities for children so parents could focus on filling out FEMA forms. And when people could not come to the libraries, the libraries went to them. They sent staff and materials in the form of mobile libraries to shelters and neighborhoods. They even walked door to door to let community members know about services and events available at the libraries. All in addition to having to resolve the effects on their own homes and families.

This is a pattern repeated again and again in libraries around the country and the world. It is a fascinating phenomenon that is not advertised or promoted typically. It is an inherent part of the culture of libraries and our communities. The public expects libraries to be there for them and libraries do all they can to provide for the needs of the public no matter the circumstances. If leveraged effectively through planning, preparedness, and collaboration, this culture can be key to not just the recovery of individuals but the resiliency of an entire community.