June 10, 2026
“Making People’s Lives Better”: A Massachusetts Library’s Community Impact
The public library is one of the last strongholds of third spaces that is entirely free for the public. It remains uncompromising in the weather and can serve as a refuge from sweltering heat or the bitter cold of winter. You can stay as long as you like, and many public libraries often host events to bring the community together. However, this is a third space that has been significantly compromised as libraries have dealt with funding cuts, tensions over book bans, and technology pivots.
By Katherine Burns
