Despite my myriad of stories involving hobos and teenaged butts at my hometown library, the library is close to my heart. I am peripherally involved in the library foundation for the library in the town where I work and spend most of my time. I used to go to the hobo library a lot when I was younger and didn’t have internet access at home. I’m at the library every few weeks picking up new books to read and I utilize the on-line hold feature fairly frequently. The library has saved my sanity, and my wallet, on more than one occasion.
My work-town library is a beautiful facility with a wonderful staff, a coffee bar, and a green approach to the building. Last month I attended the annual fundraising gala which hosts local authors for a fancy evening of silent auction, delicious food, and excellent conversation. We hosted a table for other attendees and Pulitzer-Prize winning author Matt Richtel (who, incidentally, it turns out, writes a comic strip under a pen-name with our guest from last year’s event, Darrin Bell! Small world.)
The thing is, most library’s public funding is being cut or going away. People don’t want their $0.025 to fund libraries. Why, I don’t know. Libraries help people help themselves – something I am all for. Libraries can be the heart of a community; a place to learn, a place to gather. It can be a place of refuge. Please take a look at the following infographic (specific to my state of California but useful for everyone) that shows that people still like the library and that even in this day and age of electronic immediacy, the library remains important. Consider looking into the organizations that help your local library – organizations like library foundations or Friends of the Library. You don’t have to volunteer, but even a small donation can help keep your library open.
Courtesy of: CityTownInfo.com