#FundLibraries Update:The campaign to save over $210 million in library funding continues this
week in the Senate with the release of two Dear
Appropriator letters.This activity follows on the heels of the White House budget proposal for FY 2019,
which recommends the elimination of most federal library funding.
Starting today, two Dear Appropriator letters are circulating in
support of federal library funding for FY 2019 for both LSTA and IAL. Library advocates need to contact their Senators this week and ask them to sign both letters by the April 10th deadline.
The more signatures we get on these Dear Appropriator letters, the
better proof we have of the wide, bipartisan backing for federal library
funding. For many members of Congress (especially those not on the
Appropriations Committee), signing these letters is the best opportunity
for them to show their support for our nation’s libraries.
Want to send an email? Visit the Action Center to take advantage of our email template or suggested tweets.
A recent assignment for my MLIS has incited my interest in the ease of accessibility for persons with disabilities when using services provided by public libraries. I am interested in learning more about what public libraries do in order to ensure that their services are easily accessible by all.
A tip sheet from the ALSC offers excellent suggestions for what library employees can do in order to meet accessibility needs, but how are these services actually carried out?
Feel free to share your knowledge or personal experience. I’d like to learn more in order to improve my ability to help others.
Signal boost!
boosting – I mostly use the library to print stuff and check out books and don’t need much in the way of accommodations but I’m sure some of my followers have stuff to say!
It’s been said before but if public libraries weren’t a fact of society and were proposed today they would be roundly rejected as pie in the sky communism
“FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE???????? FREE BOOKS?!?!?!?!?!?! For….. POOR people????? That’s socialism!!!!! You’re a communist!!!!!! How DARE you suggest that we supply reading material to the POORS. I mean, are we even sure that they can read?? And how would we know that they would bring the books back? They would probably sell them to get drugs. Those people…. always trying to get drugs from the inner city. That’s what these libraries are, I tell you: a way for the poors to get drugs. They always use these ENTITLEMENTS and we, the rich people, are left holding the bag. I won’t stand for it. I won’t let these people read free books. A line has to be drawn somewhere.”
That may seem like a joke, but initially libraries weren’t free. Original libraries required you to pay a daily or annual fee to have the right to enter and to be able borrow books. Most poor people couldn’t afford those fees and were denied access to libraries. Enter: Andrew Carnegie. I don’t know if free libraries were a thing before Mr. Carnegie, but he’s the one who really made free libraries a nationwide thing. Quick thing about Carnegie, her left like a pittance to his family (who eternally hate him for this) and donated nearly his entire fortune to the improvement of social services for the poor, INCLUDING FREE LIBRARIES. He made grants available to fund free libraries across the nation. In fact, the library where I used to live was still called the San Benito County FREE Library. It was built In 1906 with a Carnagie grant. Please look up Mr. Carnagie, the majority of social services for the poor wouldn’t exist today without him and in many ways the last time some of these services received funding was from one of his grants. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Carnegie
This our library here in Spring, Texas, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. When I think of people who have lost everything, I hate how sad I feel about a library. But this is where I’ve taken my kids for story time since they were infants. It’s where I’ve met my closest mom friends. It’s a place that means the world to me.
But beyond that, this is a place that my community needs. It offers free educational programming, resources, information, language classes, Internet, human connection, a place that is clean and safe, free lunches for kids in the summer when school is out. It’s not just a bunch of books. For some people, the library is their only access to these things.
You can donate to the Texas Library Association’s disaster recovery fund here:
This may not be as pressing a need as shelter and food right now, but in the coming future, libraries will be critical centers of information-sharing to their communities. They will help people connect to all the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
Libraries are free, mostly. Pretty much everything millennials are “killing” costs money.
Plus, unlike half the stuff we’re killing, libraries actually have a practical use
we out here
Not to be *that* millennial, but as a librarian I’d just like to say that the greatest thing you can do to support your local library is to understand how they are funded and to support their funding with your vote.
Libraries can do a lot all on their own but quite often they cannot legally “toot their own horn” so-to-speak when it comes to advocating for sustaining or increasing funding, getting levies or bond issues passed, etc. Libraries need you to love them not just with your checkouts and attendance at programs.
We can do that too.
build libraries on dead golf courses.
We Are Dewey’s Army X3
Friendly reminder that many Libraries double function as free schools and other free resources, sometimes including otherwise inaccessible technology, like 3D printers.
The libraries in my city host ‘English as a Secondary Language’ classes, cooking classes, classes on how to use that 3D printer, local history classes, responsible naturalistic gardening classes, beekeeping classes, and all sorts of other fun topics. Plus the plethora of clubs that use the library conference rooms as their meeting place.
All for free.
Support and visit your local library. Ask about their services and classes. VOTE TO KEEP THEM FUNDED
Support libraries also that don’t have as many fancy functions and programs – where I work, we’re long on books (we have a lot that nobody even reads anymore) but short on programs, so we’re trying to phase it in as neatly as we can. Right now we have computer classes, and we’re about to do some renovation and begin supplying laptops for patrons to check out, in building, for a range of time. In smaller libraries, the best way to help out is (unfortunately) monetarily – we get most of our revenue not from the state, but from patrons during book sales, print/copying/fax/fines, local-business candy sales, and donations. And circs still count! The more circulations (of books, movies, games, etc, obvs) your library gets, the more the state and the library boards will agree that your library is worth funding, and worth supporting monetarily – because it’s a visual representation of how much the library is in use. And guys, I love ‘Dewey’s Army’.
A few months back I posted a review of a YA book I really enjoyed. II promptly received a PM from someone I do not know asking for a PDF of the book.
As it happens I don’t know how to turn Kindle books into PDFs, though it’s probably possible. But even if I did, I would never do this. Yes, even though the person said they’re poor.
Why? Because it’s actually possible to read books for free. Right now I have about 16 books checked out digitally through my local library, with another 15 on hold. I’ve made many recommendations to them and they almost always eventually purchase the books I recommend. Then I get to read them, fun!
You do have to wait in a queue for popular books, and you won’t be able to read new books as soon as they come out. But it’s really a much better system than begging strangers for PDFs on social media. And authors benefit.
I get that it sucks to not afford things, but I have no patience for people who don’t even try to investigate ethical, legal options for consuming media before jumping to piracy.
This is the nicest story about adults luring kids into deserted buildings with video games.
i know you were trying to be funny but libraries are usually not deserted. even on slow days, there is always (at least in my city) one person in the library. some libraries are now also lending out tools for everyday yard work, like lawn mowers, for free. libraries also have free access to the internet and cheap printing, so low income people or homeless people can use computers to help them find a job or just for some entertainment. again, i know it was an attempt at humor and i wasn’t gonna comment but i gotta defend libraries, yall. theyre under attack under GOP rule in America, and we cannot afford to lose them.
Urocyon's Jaunts 2.0 
You must be logged in to post a comment.