Libraries: Gen Z’s New Favorite Hangout Space

Libraries have been around for the longest time, and despite the rise of technology and the perceived fall of the good old physical book, they’re still here. In fact, in recent years there’s actually been a resurgence in the popularity of libraries!

Now, more than ever, teenagers and young people have been finding themselves flocking to the library. But what’s pulling them in? What do young people love about the library?

Are Libraries Really That Popular?

It may come as a surprise to many that gen Z and gen alpha are flocking to libraries. There is a certain stereotype about young people, and teens rushing over to the local library definitely doesn’t fit those preconceptions! 

But the statistics speak for themselves. While 77% of Americans on the whole believe that libraries are important, a study from the American Library Association has found that gen z and millennials are using public libraries at a significantly higher rate than older generations. Within the gen Z bracket, POC appear to use libraries the most. 

Access to Free Resources

Libraries used to just be a place for books and writing, archives, and all sorts of physical media. But now they are so much more than that. A modern-day library provides people with the chance to access the internet for free, as well as reliable technology.

Relatively up-to-date computers that are unlikely to break, printers that are well stocked with ink and paper, and reliable WiFi, are all things you can find in a library that plenty of people don’t have access to elsewhere. This is incredibly important in an increasingly digital world, especially with the cost of living rising all over the globe. Finding free things, especially resources, isn’t common – unless you’re at a library! 

These resources allow libraries to bridge the digital divide, helping those less fortunate to access the same resources that their peers can. For many, this can really make a difference when it comes to their schoolwork, their opportunities in terms of the job market, finding and applying for work, and can even give them experience digitally that will benefit them going forward.

Events and Workshops

It’s not just technology that libraries have to offer. Local libraries and college libraries will often host events and workshops for the community and students. Things like digital workshops, resume workshops, even reading classes and clubs can provide young people (or anyone, really!) with something to keep them busy, and a chance to improve themselves. It also helps to foster a sense of community, giving people the opportunity to meet others in their areas.

In some lucky places, libraries get the chance to host even more exciting events like author readings and visits, which unsurprisingly attract plenty of people, young and old! 

A Safe Space

There are plenty of young people who live in busy, loud homes with lots of siblings, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. A library is a local space where teenagers, students and other young people can find some peace and quiet. Local libraries serve as a safe space for plenty of young people, a place to unwind. 

In some cases, young people might feel that a library is the only place they can really focus! Imagine trying to do all your homework or studying in a shared bedroom with your younger siblings… Libraries simply offer an alternative space. It’s perhaps best described by Rachel Noorda, who worked on a report on the use of libraries: they are ‘a place to be solitary, but also a place to build community.’

Creating Content 

Perhaps most surprisingly, there are lots of young people across the gen alpha, gen Z and millennial age bracket that visit libraries in part to generate content. There’s a big audience out there online especially on apps like TikTok. Plenty of people film studying content, reading content and bookish content. 

From ornate libraries at red-brick and Ivy League universities to modern and clean fresh shelves at your local community library, people will record clips of the shelves, their workspace, and their books, and post them online under ‘BookTok’ or ‘Bookstagram’, where it will often receive thousands if not more views!

Combatting the Loneliness Epidemic 

In a world that is becoming more and more online, a library offers something special. The younger generation have been called ‘extremely online’ by many, and for them and for others who have found themselves increasingly online, finding connections in person can be really hard.

For people who work or study from home, the local library can offer a space that is comfortable and bright, but also that is full of other, like-minded people. For many, this provides them with the chance to get out and interact with people in the way that we used to in offices and in classrooms.