EDITOR'S NOTES
Librarians as the Ultimate Problem-Solvers
by Brandi Scardilli
Libraries are consistently seen as trusted institutions—at least by the general public, if not by some of the people currently making decisions about their future. A survey from EveryLibrary Institute and Book Riot studied attitudes toward public and school libraries, finding that “92% of parents, grandparents, and guardians trust librarians to curate appropriate books and materials, … with 90% of parents reporting being comfortable allowing their child to select their own materials and a remarkable 96% feeling their children are safe within the library” (everylibraryinstitute.org/parent_perceptions_librarians_survey_2023). This gives libraries the power to do some real good, and they take full advantage. This issue of CIL offers four perspectives on ways libraries solve problems: as stepping stones in solving society’s biggest issues, leveraging phone usage for a fuller life, providing readers with new books they hadn’t considered, and protecting libraries themselves from digital threats.
Amanda Sweet (Nebraska Library Commission) writes about how librarians can play a role in driving innovation to tackle concerns such as food insecurity and housing costs. Sureshkrishnan Ramakrishnan (ELTE Institute of Library and Information Science in Budapest) discusses the importance of mobile-first design for libraries looking to connect fully with patrons. Wendy Moulton (Abilene Public Library in Kansas) provides her favorite free sources for readers’ advisory. In order to be able to offer these community services, libraries need to be prepared for cyberattacks. Maggie Harris (Nevada State University) guides librarians through creating a cybersecurity checklist as part of a risk-mitigation project.
Want to join other librarians in a forum for sharing how they problem-solve? Attend the 2026 Computers in Libraries conference March 17–19. Learn more at computersinlibraries.infotoday.com/2026.
Sincerely,
Brandi Scardilli,
Editor in Chief
bscardilli@infotoday.com
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