These days we talk a lot about bubbles - not the physical definition but the one we use to describe a social circle. In late February, several newspaper articles appeared about a study by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), which concluded that high-income Dutch people with no migration background live most in their own bubble. We also talked about bubbles during a zine-making workshop within our research, with policymakers and managers from the library world.

The word bubble has different connotations, some may think of the corona pandemic and see the bubble as the people they were allowed to be in contact with. Others might see social bubbles as factors that contribute to polarisation in society. What does a bubble offer that makes us stay in it? Comfort, understanding, safety and support, or just the appearance of these words? Should we perhaps be working on the opposite of our bubble and instead of 'bubbles' go 'debubbles'?

CBS writes that social groups have always been there, "people who are alike seek each other out". But they state, "strong segregation in a society, however, is seen as unfavourable: it can promote 'social bubbles', thwart social mobility and reinforce polarisation processes." In the study, CBS tests, among other things, the exposure people have to people of different origins than themselves. Exposure to people of a different origin or from a different social group counteracts segregation. What role do public places like the library play in countering segregation?

The unfavourable process of strong segregation leads to opportunity inequality and the bubble you grow up in determines a lot in this. Increasing opportunity inequality is an important function for libraries, especially with the focus and expansion of libraries in schools. With this, children are encouraged to read at an early age and by promoting basic skills, it is hoped to increase equity of opportunity. The collection that children are exposed to broadens their world. Libraries' collection can play an important role in 'debubbling'.

What makes the library a place where one can 'unbubble'? One of the participants during the zine-making workshop mentioned the word 'debubbling' and described how the public library contributes to this. The approachability of public places like the library makes people walk in casually because they have no obligations at this place. The library provides a place where you can enjoy yourself for hours at a time, find information, chat or just do nothing - provided you follow the house rules. Accessibility and a casual atmosphere make many different people feel welcome to come and stay at the library, which contributes to 'debubbling'.

It takes more than easy accessibility and a collection for a nice place to come in and stay. Libraries are working to create a place that goes "from collection to connection", as one librarian I interviewed emphasised. In this, human contact with staff and visitors is central and hospitality is a key feature. It is the staff and connections that are formed there that make the place - a meeting place and a place that meets the needs of people in the area.

Needs vary greatly, as we wrote in an earlier column, exactly what a library should be and offer is different for everyone, both among staff and visitors. A public place like the library can showcase the plurality of our society and ideally reflects that same society. The task of 'from collection to collection' goes beyond 'debubbling', it is more than exposure to social groups other than what you belong to or identify with - it is connecting and establishing relationships. 'De-bubbling' in the library happens through exposure to people who are different from you, and connection happens when we go one step further and get to know that other person.