Our view: In age of misinformation, 'divisive concepts,' library more important than ever

How Americans use libraries has morphed since Columbus Metropolitan Library got its start 149 years ago as a reading room in what was then city hall on the site of what is now the Ohio Theatre.

Most branches are modernized and, in many respects, now serve as community hubs where written, spoken and digital information can be created, shared and discovered. 

The system has renovated or rebuilt 12 of its 23 Franklin County branches since 2014 — the new Gahanna and Reynoldsburg branches are scheduled to open by 2023 and 2024.

The library system had 2.2 million in-person visits in 2021 — down from 5.5 million visits pre-pandemic in 2019. That's in addition to virtual programs and millions of digital downloads and trips for curbside pickup.

But despite overwhelming voter support, the importance of libraries and literacy is often taken for granted here as in other communities around the nation. 

The fact isaccess to public libraries is not a guarantee and is not common in some parts of the world.

Columbus resident Darius Ricks embodied the importance of literacy and libraries after he saw Veleta Jenkins throwing old text books in a dumpster back in 2018. 

Ricks, who immigrated from Liberia for better opportunities in 2016, asked Jenkins, then his English teacher at the Dayton Job Corps Center, if he could have the book.

When Jenkins responded that no one would want the old books, Ricks explained that there is no modern libraries in Liberia and that they would be of good use to students at the Ardju Preparatory and Daycare Center in Monrovia, Liberia.

That exchange stirred Jenkins and gave her a mission. 

In 2019, Jenkins left her teaching job and she and Ricks founded Library for Africa, a non-profit organization that purchased land and is raising funds to build a library in Monrovia, the capital of one of the world's poorest nations, according to the World Bank. 

"I am amazed when I visit newly built libraries in Dayton and Columbus. I dream and pray of the time when the people in Liberia will have a library of their own. When I visit Liberia, it breaks me down to see the youth in my old community struggling for the opportunity to improve their life," Ricks said in an email to the Dispatch Editorial Board. "I want the future generation to get a good education so they can have a decent life.”

Jenkins' and Ricks' work shows how important what we have here really is.

Columbus Metropolitan Library and the vast range of information its branches contain are even more important in an age of misinformation, book bans and burning around this nation and legislation such as House Bill 327 which could restrict the materials and programs Ohio libraries could offer dealing with race, racism and other historical topics.  

House Bill 327 has gotten most of its attention due to its potential impact on K-12 education, but the Ohio Library Council and other opponents say it could lead to the barring of books and programs.

More:Our view: Let Ohio teachers teach truth. Educators, kids casualties of raging culture war

Libraries and the information they contain are also particularly critical now due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on student learning. 

For instance, Ohio's third-grade reading proficiency dropped from 67% in the 2018-19 school year to 51.9% in 2020-21, according to the Ohio Department of Education.

“Third grade is definitely a critical point in a child’s development, and their reading development and their academic development in general," LM Clinton, the agency's literacy policy administrator, recently told the Dispatch. 

If an effort to boost literacy, Columbus Metropolitan Library will kick off its Summer Reading Challenge June 1. Kids and adults can sign up to read at least 15 minutes a day for 30 days for a chance to win prizes.

Nearly 60,000 people participated in the 2021 challenge which included more than 1,000 programs. 

Jenkins, the Library for Africa co-founder, says access to books and quality education is the great equalizer.

"It helps level the playing field so that youth can have an opportunity to compete and prepare for a bright future,” she told us. 

That's as true for kids in Monrovia as it is for kids in Columbus. 

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Columbus Metropolitan Library is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2023. 

The way we use the library will continue to evolve. We hope it is here to continue to bring value to our lives and to our community for generations to come. 

This piece was penned by the Dispatch Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson on behalf of The Dispatch Editorial Board. Editorials are our board's fact-based assessment of issues of importance to the communities we serve. These are not the opinions of our reporting staff members, who strive for neutrality in their reporting.

New Then What Happened podcast

The latest episode of the "Then What Happened" podcast features unabashed Columbus cheerleader Gregg Dodd. 

Raised in Toledo, the Columbus Metropolitan Library marketing chief discusses the importance of literacy and explains why he loves Ohio's capital, its people and food. 

Then What Happened Podcast can be found here, on Apple Podcast, Spotify and where ever else you find your favorite shows.