Librarians Quote by Scott Douglas
““A library was nothing without its people. You say library and there’s this iconoclastic image of an old-lady librarian telling people to be quiet and not to run. But the thing was, that lady—that iconoclastic lady—was with us when we cleaned. She wore blue jeans, too. Maybe she was what people thought about when you said library, but she didn’t make the library. People made the library. That’s what made a library. Without them, all the sacredness was gone. It was just a building with books.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Library Conference, 2015
A library’s value comes from its community, not just its building or staff; people give it purpose and life.
In simple terms: People make a library meaningful.
Key Takeaway
Focus on community engagement.
Themes
community
purpose
libraries
people
Mood
appreciative
reflective
Type
inspirational
observational
When to use this quote
- public events
- reading programs
- volunteer drives
- community meetings
Key Concepts
social capital
collective identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can libraries better involve patrons in decision making?
- What role do staff play in shaping library culture?
A Different Perspective
Neglecting staff contributions can diminish the sense of ownership.
