Lift Up Your Library

The majority of American take libraries for granted.  They are always there, chock-full of information and excellent reads, and will always be, we think.  However, with the current economic situation, libraries are truly at risk.  Lawmakers around the country are slashing library hours, freezing book purchases, and reducing staff. There are even some who argue that with e-readers and the Internet libraries are obsolete.  We, as readers and writers, can only shake our heads at such ignorance.

What’s a reader to do?  Here are a few suggestions:

1) Join the friends of the library group if there is one, or start one if not.  Our local friends group takes used book donations all year long and then has a giant book sale once a year to raise money for the library to buy new materials.

2) Ask a librarian what you can do to help.  He or she will have insights about what can be done in your neck of the woods.

3) Have a bake sale, lemonade stand, or car wash near the library to raise funds.  Every little bit helps.  Who wouldn’t pay $1 for a lemonade to help their local library?

4) Join writer Jenn Hubbard’s “Let’s Love Some Libraries” challenge from March 23 to 27.  Lots of YA & MG writers have agreed to donate a certain amount of money to a needy library for every comment they receive.

Sure, I have self-interest in this.  I’d love for every library in America to have my novel on its shelves.  But most of all, I’m issuing a call to action, because of my own memories of libraries as a sanctuary when I was growing up.  My dad was in the public health service, so we moved every few years until I was in 7^th grade.  That was tough, having to always start over with a new place, a new school, and new friends.  Once the dust settled from our move, the library was one of the first places we found, and I’d leave there with the maximum amount of books I could check out.

My parents could never have afforded to buy all the books I wanted to read.  In large part, libraries made me the reader and writer that I am today.  It’s time for me to show some gratitude and find ways to assure healthy libraries for every girl and boy who walks into them.

How about you?  Other ideas?  Please share them in the comments below.  Thanks!

About The Author

From ages 0 to 9, I moved every two or three years, which I like to think made me adaptable and open to new places, people, and ideas. We lived in San Francisco, Virginia Beach, Albuquerque, Lexington, K.Y., and Dayton, Ohio. The library was one of the first places we found anywhere we arrived. I’ve always found a home in books.  Read more about Amy Brecount White.

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