Libraries as Social Hubs: The Solution to The Lack of Third Spaces

The concept and need of “Third Spaces” has had its murmurings among many spaces on social media. The need for a space that is not work and that is not home but something else entirely is something that has been lost more and more with our new age of technology. However, the topic of libraries being a third space is one argument that I’ve seen pointed out again and again! As coined by the American Library Association, they have determined it as “a place that is separate from home and work where we seek conversation, neutral ground, and comfort in feeling connection” (18). What could better define a third space than a library? While I was attending UCSD, Geisel Library was where you could find me when I wasn’t in my dorm, I wasn’t at work, and I wasn’t in class. Geisel Library at UCSD became that third space for me that also connected me to my community of students that weren’t in my major or even my year. 


I was deeply connected to the article “Third Spaces in Academic Libraries” by Peter J. Klubek and Tiffany J. Ellis as I related a lot to their examples of how academic libraries also provide both an intellectual third space but a way to socialize with other students. The article touches on some main features of academic libraries that strengthen their use as a third space: Relaxation and Connect. Stress-relief activities, especially at an academic library, are crucial! I remember all the events that Geisel library would host: therapy dogs, mini zen garden crafts, puzzles, lego building, and more! All these types of activities brought stressed out college students a moment of relief during exam seasons. Academic libraries have also been providing quiet spaces, sleep pods, and incorporating more comfortable furniture within the library’s spaces as well! Another feature libraries incorporate are events to connect students with their fellow peers! As stated in the article, “By incorporating activities that revolve around diverse cultures and special interests, the library creates opportunities for individuals to come together, share their passions, and learn from one another” (21). These types of themed and specialized events connect students from different years and majors. 


Overall, public libraries and academic libraries foster social connections with the types of events and services they provide for their patrons. It brings people away from their everyday routines into a new space that allows for new connections to people they otherwise would have never met. Libraries are essential in bringing the community together!















Works Cited

Klubek, Peter J., and Tiffany J. Ellis. “Third Spaces in Academic Libraries.” RUSQ: A Journal of Reference & User Experience, vol. 61, no. 2, Jan. 2026, pp. 18–23. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=e7f21b13-27e3-3983-89a5-10b448418191. 


https://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/odlos-blog/rise-third-place

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Libraries conflict Social Networking websites

         Social networking is something important for many different types of careers, especially as some take both your skill set but also who you are as a person into a mix of hiring. This is further increased due to the introduction of social media, where there are a plentiful amount of social networking sites out there for people to socialize online. Libraries come into play with this, as in order to stay connected with its community, it needs to be able to adapt to societal changes include online social networking.       This comes quickly into clash with how the library functions, and even regarding public safety. According to the periodical volume titled  Social Networking and the Library,  there was "...  a law that would have made it necessary for libraries that received federal funding to block social networking sites from minors in the same way that the Children's Internet Protection Act requires that certain librari...
Read more

Library Services for the Homeless

 In many ways, a library can be a safe haven for homeless people. Some go as the last resort to rest from the outside conditions and some go to access information they would have never been able to at any other place for free. I feel like more programs specifically for the homeless should be considered by all public libraries. Of course there are policies and free internet access in place for everyone to freely use but specific programs can be helpful for homeless people that need more guidance and knowledge when it comes to for example, job searching and resume making.  I discovered an article that tackled just what I've been saying.  Here is the link: The Problem is not the Homeless  The article, "The Problem is not the Homeless", talks about library services for homeless, model approaches, and how we can sustain programming efforts. "Vikki Terrile, coordinator of young adult services at New York's Queens Library", states " Those visits remind her tha...
Read more