Discovering the Power of Libraries with Mychal Threets | SXSW EDU 2025 Rewind

At SXSW EDU, we know how important libraries are as community learning spaces. But not everyone thinks of libraries as a space for joy. Mychal Threets is on a quest to change that and remind everyone of their “library joy.” In his featured session with Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President at PBS KIDS, they shared insights into how libraries cultivate joy and belonging.

The Library Is For You

To set the stage, Sara and Mychal discussed how libraries serve an integral role in communities, serving as both safe spaces for young people to learn about themselves and the world around them.

“The same way that we do in classrooms is the same experience in the library. Trying to say this is your space. We’re trying to make you the best possible version of who you can be, to embrace you for your perfect, full self. And that’s what the library strives to do each and every day.”

Mychal Threets
Librarian & Literacy Ambassador

Libraries Are Here to Support Mental Health

Libraries serve as core community spaces that welcome people from all walks of life, who in turn bring their own struggles into the library. Mychal spoke candidly about his own struggles with mental health and how library people were the ones that helped support him.

“I think we often discredit how impactful librarians are, how impactful teachers are… I always say, at some point in your career, you’re going to go out of your library and a library kid or a former library kid… and they’re going to say ‘thank you for helping me find the book with the blue cover. Thank you for introducing me to graphic novels and comic books. Thank you for helping me get a library card. And most importantly, thank you for helping me stay one more day.”

Mychal Threets

Sara called out stories as safe spaces, and highlighted research about how people who read fiction each day are happier and have greater empathy. Additionally, Mychal shared examples of how libraries collaborate with mental health professionals to bring direct support and resources to their community members who may be in need.

But it’s more than just helping library users through negative emotions – there’s so much joy in the process. Mychal shared how he experiences great joy in selecting books for young people and adults in the libraries, how it feels like magic.

“This is part of the process. This is something we can do together… I have so much joy talking about those moments, those memories, because they happen every single day.”

Mychal Threets

Libraries Are More Rhan Books

Mychal and Sara discussed how libraries have more than just books available; libraries stock a wealth of other media, like video games, board games and even musical instruments. In making all media and resources accessible, the library truly is a space for everyone.

“Because libraries, as much as we’re a house of books, we’re the house of community. We’re the community hub. We’re trying to provide resources so that you can flourish together because that’s what the library represents: it’s togetherness.”

Mychal Threets

Sara and Mychal also highlighted how libraries partner with other community organizations to pool their resources to put on programs that serve the specific needs of their communities.

It’s About Feeling Seen

Mychal and Sara emphasized how important it is to feel seen in books. It in turn reinforces the idea that books and libraries are for you. When people don’t feel seen, it breeds fear and anxiety.

“I think that’s what happens when we’re not represented, when we’re not seen; fear and worry creep in.”

Mychal Threets

And representation in books in turn unlocks empathy, as it gives young library people an entry point to understanding people who do not look exactly like them.

“That’s what a library-kid-mind, a library-kid-heart does – that’s what they think when they see those beautiful books showing not just black kids, brown kids, Asian kids and so on, kids who happen to be autistic, kids who just so happen to be in wheelchairs. But it’s the kids who don’t look like them who are still like ‘yes! I love all these people! I want to be all of their friends’... And it’s those beautiful books that gave them that hope.”

Mychal Threets

In short – books become a vehicle for connection. Young readers learn how to connect with people through the stories they read, but even adults find connection through their experiences with books and libraries.

“It creates a joy of connection from harkening back to their earliest memories of books to now just discovering new ones and new ones and new ones.”

Mychal Threets

The message is clear – we are all library people and we all belong in libraries. Check out the full session to learn more about how you can cultivate library joy in your communities.

Watch SXSW EDU 2025 On-Demand Content

Take a look back at SXSW EDU 2025 and relive exciting Keynotes, Featured Sessions, and more, now available to watch on our official YouTube channel, plus listen to hundreds of audio recordings in the schedule.

Stay tuned for more information about registration and participation opportunities for SXSW EDU 2026 coming later this summer.

Photo by Andy Wenstrand