Announcements!





Thursday, April 14, 2011

National Library Week - Support your Library

Today, I have a great librarian and blogger - Jessi from The Elliott Review. She's here to share more about how you can help libraries. :)





As you may already know, the current economic crisis in the US is hitting libraries hard since many people (including legislators) do not realize the value of what libraries offer to society. It seems like an easy place to nip off a few billion dollars here or there. What's a reading junkie book-lover to do? Here is a (definitely not exhaustive) list of things you can do to support and/or promote your local library:





1. Let your voice be heard.

There is strength in numbers. Now is not the time to be silent if the library you love is in trouble. Contact the decision makers at the state and local level - raise a fuss.


You can contact the legislators in your area by checking out:

ALA's Legislative Action Center. You can view actionable items and search by zip code to find the decision makers in your area.


The Campaign for America's Libraries has many different activities to get people involved.


Advocacy University is a great place to go if you're not sure what to do.



2. Volunteer



As budgets go down, so does library staff. Most libraries would be grateful to have someone to help shelve books, read to kids at story time, or do random tasks that there is no budget to fill. Libraries are looking for people who are competent and professional who they can count on. Who better than book lovers? This will help guarantee that your local library stays functional and vital in a time when it needs to look good.


3. Use the library.





This seems like it should go without saying, but in these times, resources that aren't being used will become obsolete. Even if you're an obsessive book buyer, you can always try to broaden your horizons.



Thank you Jessi! I agree with all of those, make sure you guys stop by a library this week and say Thank You to a librarian.

post signature

5 comments:

  1. I live in a city of ten million people that has never had a public library-I cannot believe those who do have access do not give them the support and respect they need

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like #3 the best. It benefits both parties; keeps my library open, and I get to read free books! Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a great post. My district school libraries are in talks about being the next budget cut. :( Now my school library is busier than usual from students showing support and saying that we do care about what happens to our libraries. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I find that libraries are great places for finding great new authors with no risk. When money's a real limiting factor in the books you buy, it can be hard to take a chance on something that looks interesting but that is untried and untested. Get the book from the library, however, and you've spent nothing but the time to read the book in the first place, and potentially discovered an author that you're certain you want to buy books written by! Libraries are a frugal book blogger's delight!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have had a library card since I was 3 (over 40 years ago!) Everytime I move to a new city, one of the first things I do is find the local library and get a card. All of my kids had cards at young ages also. I just don't feel a place is home if I don't know where the library is!

    ReplyDelete

Leave some love!