Worldbuilding: Fostering a Creative Collective at the Library

Worldbuilding: Fostering A Creative Collective At The Library

Libraries have been a fixture of human society since antiquity. Repositories of written records have existed for nearly as long as humans have thought to keep records. As societies emerged and disappeared, records pertaining to their respective cultures and histories were left behind offering glimpses into what life was like for their citizens. As archival practices progressed and preservation became a more concerted effort between those who dealt in history, culture, and information, these repositories grew and implemented new tactics to safeguard and organize knowledge to ensure its transferral to future generations. From cuneiform to papyrus to born-digital records, these knowledge repositories have necessarily evolved with the times in their noble pursuit of protecting and promoting information for tomorrow.

While their fundamental premise as houses of knowledge remains, libraries as modern institutions continue to broaden their scope of service and adapt to meet the needs of the communities in which they operate. From incorporating new technologies into their offerings to hosting personal and professional development programs, libraries across the country and around the world have increased their cultural and societal output, expanded their presence in civil and social spheres, and worked to ensure they remain accessible institutions. Whether it be school libraries encouraging young students to engage with the writing process, academic libraries assisting with the publication process, or public libraries supporting the needs of community members by offering writing workshops and self-publishing opportunities, libraries offer up collaborative environments that usher writers along with their personal and professional projects. As accessible spaces that foster collaboration, creativity, and personal and professional development, libraries are uniquely positioned to continue their support of writers regardless of experiences along their journeys with writing.