Oskaloosa Public Library
The Oskaloosa Public Library was built in 1903 with support from a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation and leadership from the Oskaloosa Women’s Club. In 1996, the library doubled in size and currently houses 83,750 items, including books, audiobooks, magazines, CDs, DVDs and other materials.
Libraries change as communities change, responding to the needs of the town it serves. Beyond books, the Oskaloosa Public Library provides cultural programming, language classes, reading programs, music events, a seed library, a makerspace, a library of things, and a genealogy room.
Libraries are also third places: places that promote social connections beyond a person’s workplace or homeplace. Third places have six important qualities:
1) They are on neutral ground, i.e. not in a private home.
2) There’s no paid membership or exclusion for socioeconomic or racial reasons.
3) Conversation is a central activity.
4) They are accessible and accommodating.
5) They have regulars.
6) They aren’t fancy or pretentious.
If you live in a community with a high quality of life, your town has a lot of third places, which act as connectors and gathering spots to bring diverse people together.