海角大神

Standing behind the front desk in her cream cardigan and thick horn-rimmed glasses, Priya Charry looks like everyone's childhood librarian. Except, of course, for her long purple fingernails and gold nose ring.

Ms. Charry, who is in her mid-20s, recently earned her master鈥檚 in library science and now works as a part-time librarian for various Boston Public Library (BPL) branches. Charry says 鈥渕ore and more鈥� Millennials are interested in being librarians.聽And just as we need to rethink the stereotypical librarian, she says, we need to reimagine what libraries can do for young people.

鈥淏efore I started working in a library I would hang out in libraries all the time, just as a place where people are willing to have a conversation or make recommendations for me,鈥� says Charry, in between helping patrons at Boston's South End branch. 鈥淥ne of the biggest values of the library, for all ages, is that it's a free place where you can be outside of your home and outside of work.鈥�

In the age of Amazon's two-hour delivery and ubiquitous internet searches, libraries are seemingly obsolete institutions. Adding to their 21st-century woes, public libraries across the country face budget struggles: The US Institute of Museum and Library Services has cut funding in 37 states since 2011.

But according to a recent Pew Research study, 53 percent of Millennials (those ages 18-35) in the United States visited a library at least once in 2016, more than any other generation. Books are expensive, say Millennials. So why not take advantage of the library?

鈥淭he books I get at the library are exploratory,鈥� says Olivia Haskell, a rising junior at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., while perusing the religion section at Boston's Central Library in Copley Square. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have to commit to buying them.鈥�

Millennials say they also appreciate libraries鈥� free community spaces and in-person programming 鈥� two resources that fill a void in today鈥檚 digital age. The ability of libraries to fill this niche, say visitors and employees, will spell their future success.

鈥淭he tools and technology have changed, but libraries have always been innovative in responding to the needs of the community,鈥� says Jim Neal, president of the American Library Association (ALA).

Mr. Neal recently visited public libraries across the country聽and says that libraries from York, Pa., to Santa Fe, N.M., are seeing an influx of Millennial patrons and are adjusting their offerings accordingly.聽鈥淟ibraries are one the few organizations that operate in the public interest. They support people, and they do it in a very neutral, nonjudgmental way.鈥澛�

'The university of the people'

On a given Monday, the Boston Public Library鈥檚 online events calendar advertises a variety of free programs aimed at young adults, from 鈥淛ob Search and Resume Help鈥� at Central, 鈥淓nglish/Spanish Language Exchange鈥� at the West End branch, a book club discussion on a new bestseller at the Charlestown branch, to a free concert at the East Boston branch. Charry says the South End community, especially young visitors, suggest programs for their branch using a cork board on the back wall.聽

To Charry, offering such programming is part of the library's mandate. 鈥淚t's a responsibility to teach the things that we know already, as much as it is an opportunity to gather people鈥檚 opinions, bring them in, and have them grow.鈥�

Millennials are entering the field of library science to answer this call.聽Kate Benson,聽director of graduate admission for the Simmons College library science program, says the average applicant age has fallen to 27 in recent years.聽The younger applicants 鈥渨ant to promote literacy and access to information,鈥澛爏ays Ms. Benson.聽鈥淭hey聽want to serve their community in that way.鈥�

Libraries have always been 鈥渢he university of the people,鈥� says Neal, by supplying more than just books. In the 19th century, for example, immigrants sought out public libraries to learn English. And the Pennsylvania Avenue branch of the Baltimore library was one of the few public buildings to remain open during the violent riots that followed the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died at the hands of local police officers in 2015.聽

Anne Smart, who has worked as a librarian for BPL for almost three decades, says she has watched local branches become 鈥渃ommunity gathering places鈥� that neighborhoods 聽鈥� especially young people 鈥撀燿epend on. Recently, for example, a young woman came in to print off bills while a young man came in to work on his resume.聽

A new vision of library space

Boston鈥檚 Central Library was redesigned last year with these needs in mind, says BPL President David Leonard. The $78 million renovation, which included tearing out walls, adding more charging outlets, and simplifying book organization, has led to a 22 percent uptick in foot traffic, says Mr. Leonard, and many of the new visitors are Millennials.聽

鈥淭he library is one of the few remaining spaces in society that everybody feels they have ownership over,鈥� says Leonard. 鈥淓veryone feels like they can come here and rub shoulders together or engage in conversation.鈥�

Jihyun Kim, a middle school math teacher in her early 30s, says she visits libraries all the time 鈥� but she rarely checks out books.

鈥淚 just like the feeling the library gives me. It鈥檚 calm, clean, organized,鈥� says Ms. Kim. 鈥淚 can bring my work here or use it as a meeting place.鈥�

While helping two young patrons with a book request, librarian Charry reflects on the evolution of the institution she works for.聽鈥淚 think more and more people now are realizing [the library] is not only an intellectual place,鈥澛爏he says, 鈥渂ut also a creative place to have fun and relax.鈥�