Key Takeaways
- Why the connection between public libraries and the creator economy matters, and how it opens new doors for community growth.
- The role of full-text databases and digital magazines in helping creators sharpen skills, research ideas and spark inspiration.
- How offering digital resources for creators positions libraries as a go-to hub for learning, creativity and innovation.
The creator economy — a term used to describe independent entrepreneurs, freelancers, artists, and content creators who earn income by sharing their work online or in their communities — is rapidly expanding. From craft makers selling their products on Etsy to science educators sharing videos on Instagram, creators fuel cultural, educational and economic growth. Public libraries can support this movement by connecting creators to resources that help them develop and refine their skills, conduct research and find inspiration.
Why Libraries Should Support the Creator Economy
Public libraries have always been champions of lifelong learning and community development. The creator economy offers a new frontier for that mission. Supporting creators means fostering entrepreneurship, digital literacy and community engagement — values already central to public librarianship. For example:
- Crafters and hobbyists are looking for tutorials, patterns, and step-by-step guides to turn their passions into small businesses.
- Science-based creators — from STEM educators to amateur inventors — need reliable information sources to create accurate and engaging content.
- Lifestyle and design influencers often look for inspiration from industry magazines, trend reports and niche publications.
By positioning themselves as a hub for these resources, libraries can empower patrons not just to consume knowledge, but to create and share it.
Public libraries have always been champions of lifelong learning and community development. The creator economy offers a new frontier for that mission.
Public libraries have always been champions of lifelong learning and community development. The creator economy offers a new frontier for that mission.
How Libraries Can Help: Adding Key Resources
Libraries can meet the needs of creators by curating resources that align with different parts of the creative process. Three EBSCO resources for public libraries stand out.
- Hobbies & Crafts Source
This database offers full-text articles, guides and patterns for everything from knitting and woodworking to photography and fashion design. It includes leading hobby and craft magazines such as American Craft, Ceramics Monthly and Woodworker’s Journal. A budding Etsy seller could use the database to refine their craft techniques or explore new project ideas to diversify their shop offerings.
- Science Reference Ultimate
Accurate, evidence-based information is essential for anyone creating science content. Local podcasters or Instagram educators can rely on Science Reference Ultimate to make their explanations engaging and trustworthy. The database features popular magazines such as Discover and Science News, peer-reviewed journals, multimedia resources, and hundreds of reference books from leading educational publishers.
- Flipster Digital Magazines
Flipster gives users access to current and past issues of popular and niche magazines in digital format. Covering everything from fashion and design to industry and trade, Flipster is a hub of inspiration and information for creators of all kinds. Creators who enjoy making clothes may look to Simply Sewing for guides and templates, or Elle for inspiration from emerging fashion. Freelance graphic designers and illustrators could turn to Communication Arts or Creative Quarterly to inform their work and stay up to date with design trends. Flipster also offers business magazines like Entrepreneur for tips on growing your business and strategies for success.
By integrating these digital resources for creators into their collections, libraries can offer both breadth and depth — practical how-to information, scholarly research and fresh inspiration.
Empowering Creators Through Library Resources
Supporting the creator economy is not about reinventing the mission of public libraries. Instead, it is about extending existing commitments to education, equity and community growth into new digital and entrepreneurial spaces. By promoting resources like Hobbies & Crafts Source, Science Reference Ultimate and Flipster digital magazines, libraries can give creators the tools they need to thrive — turning inspiration into impact and ideas into income.
