Libraries are an interesting way to see what people read because access to free materials removes possible financial obstacles that may prevent someone from choosing to read a certain genre or format of book, whether due to high volume of books read or simply income level. As James Palfrey, in BiblioTech, remarks: “the library is the last free space for the gathering and sharing of knowledge.” It might be easy to assume that the reason genre fiction is read so widely is due to the cheapness of mass market paperbacks, but the central and highly visible arrangement of genre fiction in the libraries I have visited suggest that this might not be the case.

And while evidence of what people are definitely reading cannot be provided by loan statistics, we can get a very good idea of what types of material they wish to read; if most people are anything like me, they fill their bags with books they hope they’ll get around to reading before their due dates. It’s not like they're buying them, right?

As well as being a fruitful place to examine what people are reading, community libraries are also a great place to find out how and where people interact with their print objects and to observe the social influence of a public community of readers on reading habits.

In addition to two excellent public library systems in the area (Strathcona County Library and Edmonton Public Library), Edmonton boasts a variety of smaller library collections ran by community members and organizations. A few of these include the LGBT library collection at the Pride Centre, the rotating stock of books in the Oliver Little Free Library project’s repurposed newspaper boxes, and the Edmonton Garrison library. Some examples of smaller libraries curated by local individuals include an indexed library in an adult condo and a take-a-book, leave-a-book collection in a coffee shop on Whyte Avenue. These community library collections are potentially insightful to explore because they have been fostered by people who are genuinely passionate about reading, enough so that they decide to help circulate books to others.

• Oliver Little Free Library Walking Tour
• Strathcona County Library
• Managing the Collection at the St. Albert Public Library
• Strathcona County Bookmobile
• China Town Library
• Pride Centre of Edmonton Library
• Seniors' Condo Library
• Junior High School Libraries

Edmonton's community libraries reflect the unique personalities found in the city while minimizing economic barriers to print. They also demonstrate how groups can use print to further develop a collective identity, or how an individual might be introduced to one of Edmonton's communities through the world of print. Edmonton's diversity facilitates these intriguing pockets of print, and there's undoubtedly many more community libraries to uncover and study.

Last Updated: Jan 15, 2018

Libraries are an interesting way to see what people read because access to free materials removes possible financial obstacles that...