Kiera Parrott became the Director of Darien Library in September 2020. Prior to that appointment, she was the Reviews and Production Director for Library Journal and School Library Journal, where she oversaw the publication of over 12,000 influential book and media reviews annually. Additionally, she launched and expanded numerous professional development events and training courses for library professionals nationwide. Kiera has been a proud library worker since her teen years, working as a page for the Queensborough Public Library in high school, as a reference assistant at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst during college, and as a senior librarian for the New York Public Library. She previously worked at Darien Library from 2008–2013 as a children’s/collection development librarian and as Head of Children’s Services. She lives in Norwalk with her husband (also a librarian) and their two cats.
Arranged by Min and Jan Selkowitz
Bryan Hooper’s notes on the talk:
Kiera Parrott, Director of the Darien Library, spoke to us about the history of libraries, and related how the institutions adapted to the advent of digital sources, and where the future lies for this valuable resource for so many communities.
While many private libraries have existed over the past five thousand years, the growth of public libraries began in late 18th century England, as the Liverpool Subscription Library was established in 1798. It not only supplied information to subscribers, but also included amenities such as a newsroom and a coffee house. As the industrial revolution developed so did the thirst of the working classes for more knowledge, and in 1850 the British passed a bill named the Public Libraries Act to encourage social good and be morally uplifting for the lower classes. (Coincidentally, the bill was supported by the temperance movement of the day in an effort to control rampant intoxication of the working classes.)
The growth of the public library movement in the US began with the founding of the taxpayer-supported library in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in 1833, grew with the opening of the Boston Library in 1854, and really burgeoned with the active support of Andrew Carnegie later in the century. He provided funds on the condition that the municipal authority also levy taxes annually to augment those funds to finance operations. In fact, in 1905 he offered Darien $5,000 on condition they levy $500 in annual support: the RTM turned him down! However, the Darien Library, originally established on the Post Road in 1894, managed to survive and expand, and opened its newest building – also on the Post Road – in 2009.
Over the years, libraries have faced and met challenges such as equal access rights in the 60s, up through the 90s and into today with the perceived mortal threat of digitalization. Darien Library has done so by applying its principles of adapting to meet customers’ needs and becoming a community center where people can learn, read, socialize, train, and attend special events – such as yoga classes. Additionally, it has embraced technology: as an early adapter of the iPad, they offered clients the ability to try the product. They have joined the so-called “maker movement” to provide advice on how to build and make things, e.g., radios or clothes. This reaction and action to change, to embrace the emergence of new technologies has sparked a renaissance for libraries and led to their development as information experts to provide advice to their users. They can even advise you on how to spot fake news: most people trust libraries to tell the truth.
There is a unique and productive partnership between the Town and Darien Library. Activities such as focusing on early literature aid for toddlers to encourage learning, and outreach at the other end of life to those using the senior center, professional development programs, writing the next great American novel, experimenting with Legos, holding events like May 4th (be with you!).
The future for the Darien Library is set to meet the challenges of the community by being responsive, flexible, adaptable and resilient, and in answering the question of how to better serve their users to provide the crucial infrastructure to further our democracy. You can view the video of Kiera’s presentation at https://youtu.be/JOInCcH9TiY.