Why the Amish?

Although the Amish are traditionally an isolationist people who disdain the outside world, higher education, and intellectual pursuits, they are known to be voracious users of the library. Despite this, very little research on library service to the Amish has been conducted. Published articles are few and far between, and misconceptions abound as to how best -- or even whether -- to try to serve the Amish community. Therefore I intend to examine how the library can be of best use to the Amish, in the hopes of recommending what services a library could implement in order to best serve them.

An understanding of the borrowing habits and library usage of the Amish can only enhance what it is to exist as a public library; after all, the public library serves to exist for all of its constituents and those who are under-advantaged have arguably an even greater need of its services. By taking the time to learn about Amish beliefs and culture, libraries which serve these rural communities would create the opportunity to bridge this gap in the services they offer, particularly by contributing to the literacy of both Amish school children and adults, and by assessing ways to accommodate Amish needs, such as by providing bookmobile services, in order to better reach them.