Arts & Culture
The Role of Public Libraries as Informal Learning Hubs in Marginalized Communities
Quick fact
In many U.S. cities, public libraries in low-income neighborhoods are used by more than half of the residents for free internet access, job applications, and digital skill-building—none of which require a library card.
Why this is interesting
When a neighborhood has no bookstore, no after-school program, and limited internet access, what place can transform a child's future? The public library, despite its quiet image, is often the most powerful engine of informal learning in marginalized communities.