One book, two books. Red book, blue book. It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I’m a huge fan of books. Any books. Nonfiction, fantasy, contemporary, memoir… I’m a firm believer that every genre has its merits, and that there exists, somewhere in the world, at least one book for everyone. Unfortunately, my quest to build my ultimate personal library featuring a healthy mix of the classics and YA (Young Adult, for the uninitiated) is somewhat limited by my student-sized wallet. And that’s where my library card comes in.
Public libraries are an invaluable resource to communities all over the world, and not just because of the books. Here are a few reasons to support your local public library—and a few ways to do it.
1. Public libraries are hubs for their communities
While fact-checking this article, I came across another article from Brookings on how libraries build community. The gist of it is that libraries don’t just serve as a place to pick up and drop off books. Libraries are a “third place,” with the first being home and the second being school or a workplace. Inadvertently, libraries have become places for people to connect, and they’ve only leaned more into this as time has gone on—our new public library even has a cafe attached to it.
Furthermore, libraries are (when not in pandemic-mode) a fantastic gathering spot for students and in fact, people of all ages to get together, do some studying, browse the stacks… what’s not to love?
2. Public libraries provide a number of free resources
The most commonly known of these is probably the fact that libraries provide books. According to the Calgary Public Library Foundation’s website, seven million books have been borrowed through curbside pickup since the start of the pandemic, and digital library usage has tripled.
But the influence of libraries doesn’t stop there. Libraries provide computer and printing access for free to those who need it. CPL’s printer policy gives all members a $5 monthly printing credit, which equates to fifty pages of printed materials per month. This can be invaluable to those without printer access at home, especially when working from home during the pandemic.
Libraries even provide further enrichment through free access to virtual resources such as Rosetta Stone and other similar programs.
3. Public libraries promote literacy by making books accessible as well as by hosting programming such as book clubs
This one seems pretty self-explanatory. Libraries get kids and adults alike engaged in literacy. They provoke curiosity and foster learning. One way that they do this is through volunteer-run tutoring and enrichment programs for kids of all ages.
Ways to Help:
“Sounds like a great cause! How can I help?” you say. Well, I’m glad you asked. Here are a few ways to get involved at a local level:
- Donate to the Calgary Public Library Foundation. Libraries are largely run on donations. In 2019, 3.37 million dollars in donations were directed to the libraries, funding Early Learning Centres and helping them expand their collections. A donation of just $12 will buy one children’s book. You can also donate actual books to the library.
- Volunteer! Once again, this is a bit more of a challenge given the global pandemic going on, but in more normal times the library is always looking for community-minded helpers to run programming, tutor kids, and more.
- This is a tough time, but showing your appreciation for our librarians, libraries, and the value they bring to our community is more important now than ever before. Consider writing a card for your local librarians!
- Finally, continuing to take advantage of the resources afforded to you by the library is another great way to keep them going.
If you’re looking for some great book recommendations, check out this recent post on must-read books by YAA blogger Bhavani or this post on YA books by Shraavni. Happy reading!