"A place where people are:" Organizational flexibility and the public library as a third place

• In Event: 50259 - Third Places: Beyond the Home and the Workplace

Abstract

Public libraries have long served as essential community institutions, moving beyond their historical role as sites of knowledge to become dynamic third places. This project examines the change role of public libraries through the lens of organizational flexibility, which allows them to adapt to emerging social challenges such as the opioid epidemic or the Covid-19 pandemic. Drawing from interviews with librarians, library staff, and patrons, as well as content analysis of library documents, this study highlights the critical role of public libraries in providing essential services. I argue that the unique, elastic structure of public libraries, characterized by local autonomy and adaptability, enables them to respond effectively to crises and shifting community needs. As commercial third places become increasingly inaccessible and unwelcoming, libraries remain among the last truly free public spaces.

Author

• Lydia Nicole Orr, Temple University