Let’s Keep Libraries Open Longer
The New York City public library system has over 200 branches scattered throughout the metropolis, but only 21 libraries are open seven days a week. In a recent surprise announcement, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams proposed additional funding to the city’s libraries, expanding seven-day service to 10 additional library branches citywide. While a small change, this is still great news.
In New York, demand for libraries has steadily risen over the past three years. Data from the city shows that libraries in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island drew eight million visitors in 2024, up 10 percent from the previous year. Expanding library hours can help with demand. This development should be embraced by all New Yorkers because, as the Mayor’s office correctly noted, “Libraries create spaces that inspire learning, spark curiosity, and foster lifelong connections among New Yorkers of all ages.”
The simple truth is that the city serves its citizens and meets increased demand if more libraries are open and available. What is of particular interest to me with these extended openings is that libraries are of particular value to some of the city’s youngest residents—those teenagers who are in Gen Alpha—who desperately need spaces to connect and create more than ever in a time of increased political instability.
I make this statement because over the past few weeks, I spoke with hundreds of middle school students at several schools in the New York area, the eldest members of the Gen Alpha cohort. What was clear amongst the students I spoke to was how curious they were about their place in the world but confused about ____. They know that the political world is contentious, and they have some understanding of policy and government, but civics is not often a priority in schools, leaving them wondering how they can engage. They know that they want to engage on particular issues but cannot vote, and they want to have a voice but are simply not sure how to make an impact.
This is where libraries can step in to play an influential part in the lives of Gen Alpha and their political futures. Libraries should work to explicitly welcome young Americans, a group that regularly reports being “bored” and is in search of authentic, human contact. For Alphas, who lived so much of their lives in front of screens due to the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries can be resources and spaces to learn about and from the communities in which they are embedded. As various cross-sections of people visit libraries regularly in New York—from young children having story time and play areas to senior citizen reading groups—libraries can support Alphas by making sure they are welcome and seen and giving them opportunities to meet other members of the community.
On weekends, Alphas need places to go and things to do. Many New York libraries already offer wonderful traditional social and educational programming and libraries should do more to expand their weekend and after-school programming such as hosting TableTop Tuesday, where the library puts out board and card games, on Sundays.
When people connect in physical space with the chance to have authentic conversations over shared experiences, empathy and sympathy for alternative views and experiences develop, and civility ensues. Communities can develop stronger social capital and political engagement from our libraries and teach these critically invaluable skills to Alphas, too.
Beyond the traditional social resources libraries offer, libraries should remind Alphas that they provide spaces, resources, and programming in what they specialize in: knowledge dissemination and skills development. New York libraries can offer classes and opportunities to learn about digital literacy and misinformation. Opportunities like this can help Alphas who are permanently online and bombarded with unending misinformation and deliberate bias on various social media platforms. Libraries can open digital resources to help students learn to produce content and code beyond simple phone uploads. This would enable Alphas to directly take on issues that matter to them, share their views in the public sphere, and increase overall consciousness about public policy.
Teenage influencers have incredible power and influence in the marketplace of ideas and culture—think Taylor Swift’s “Swifties”—despite not being of voting age. They need the spaces and skills to create and collaborate, and many libraries have retooled themselves in New York to do just that. Several libraries in New York have recording studios, video and photography equipment, and offer computers and Wi-Fi.
Opening more libraries on weekends in New York will not be some magical cure-all to the political questions and social needs of Alphas, but libraries have the potential to impact this our teenage generation. Our libraries are a powerful way to support Alphas, and we should keep their doors open for as possible for this up-and-coming generation.
Originally appeared on AEI Ideas: https://www.aei.org/society-and-culture/lets-keep-libraries-open-longer/