This isn’t what you’d expect from a title like that. I’m not going to literally list all of the other things libraries offer because it differs from community to community. Instead, I’m going to highlight one that I’m buzzing about that happened last night.

Open Mic Night.

For three years, I have helped shape three open mic nights per year in our new library space. Luckily, another teacher at the school who pitched the idea of these recurring events is a casual artist himself and the best emcee. Collaboratively, we organize one fall, one winter, and one spring open mic night that allows students in our high school to flex their creative muscles in front of a live audience.

The lights get dimmed. The chairs are intimately pushed toward the microphone. The hot chocolate and baked goods smell wafts in the air. And these teens show up and they perform.

Spoken word (recitation and original)

Songs (original and borrowed, solos and duets, rap, Broadway numbers, pop hits)

Musical instruments (keyboards, pianos, drum kits, guitars)

Artistic expression (song and dance and break dancing)

What other things do libraries offer? Places to see and be seen. To build confidence and skill by offering something as simple as a small stage with a microphone.