Getting Involved With Your Local Library
April 28, 2023 11:42 AM Subscribe
Ways to support libraries in trying times As promised, resources to help support libraries and the freedom to read. These are US-centric. More resources and descriptions within.
What you can do in your own community:
Use your library. Check out books. Attend programs. If libraries can show an increase in circulation statistics and program attendance, that can translate to more money to help keep good stuff happening!
If you don't see a book you want, or a program you want, ask! We can order it, or organize it, and help your local library meet your local needs.
VOTE in every local election, including for things like school boards, city and town council, budget measures.
Organizations standing up for libraries
EveryLibrary Does great work to support legislative action for libraries nationwide. The site's also a good source for pertinent library news about legislations and book bans at a glance.
Urban Librarians Unite Mostly New York based, a group of librarians advocating for libraries, for the freedom to read, and for library workers to get the support they need.
PEN America has some good resources about book bans.
How to Fight Book Bans and Challenges from BookRiot.
We Need Diverse Books. Not strictly libraries but I love this organization for supporting diverse reads and ownvoices authors.
2022's most banned and challenged books.
As always, if I can answer any questions about libraries, I'm here!
What you can do in your own community:
Use your library. Check out books. Attend programs. If libraries can show an increase in circulation statistics and program attendance, that can translate to more money to help keep good stuff happening!
If you don't see a book you want, or a program you want, ask! We can order it, or organize it, and help your local library meet your local needs.
VOTE in every local election, including for things like school boards, city and town council, budget measures.
Organizations standing up for libraries
EveryLibrary Does great work to support legislative action for libraries nationwide. The site's also a good source for pertinent library news about legislations and book bans at a glance.
Urban Librarians Unite Mostly New York based, a group of librarians advocating for libraries, for the freedom to read, and for library workers to get the support they need.
PEN America has some good resources about book bans.
How to Fight Book Bans and Challenges from BookRiot.
We Need Diverse Books. Not strictly libraries but I love this organization for supporting diverse reads and ownvoices authors.
2022's most banned and challenged books.
As always, if I can answer any questions about libraries, I'm here!
My sister is in jail and I"m trying to connect the library and local bookstores to the jail, so they can have access to books. Sounds nice right? TURNS OUT...there are a kabillion laws about allowing inmates access to information. I'm about to cry so hard my eyes turn inside out.
posted by lextex at 12:38 PM on April 28, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by lextex at 12:38 PM on April 28, 2023 [10 favorites]
Volunteering at your local library helps people, and gets the library used. My local library does Tech Assistance, which tends to be mostly seniors looking for help with phones and laptops.
posted by mdoar at 12:50 PM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mdoar at 12:50 PM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm sorry about your sister's situation, lextex. Some jails and prisons have libraries, though they're often pretty threadbare.
There are a lot of books to prisoners programs, though not enough to reach everyone who's incarcerated.
posted by box at 12:54 PM on April 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
There are a lot of books to prisoners programs, though not enough to reach everyone who's incarcerated.
posted by box at 12:54 PM on April 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
This is a GREAT list.
I have been an active supporter of my libraries since I was old enough to volunteer ("reading shelves" at my local library when I was 10 - scanning each shelf looking for books that had been mis-shelved - which I think was mostly busy work, but I felt good about doing it anyway). I LOVE my libraries, and I've been fortunate to have really good libraries even as a kid in the suburbs.
I am really grateful to know about more avenues for supporting the essential work libraries do, especially those that are struggling against funding challenges and censorship battles that my well-funded library system doesn't have to deal with.
Thank you so much for posting this, SaharaRose - and for going to work every day to make sure people have access to information and the pleasures of great storytelling.
posted by kristi at 1:05 PM on April 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
I have been an active supporter of my libraries since I was old enough to volunteer ("reading shelves" at my local library when I was 10 - scanning each shelf looking for books that had been mis-shelved - which I think was mostly busy work, but I felt good about doing it anyway). I LOVE my libraries, and I've been fortunate to have really good libraries even as a kid in the suburbs.
I am really grateful to know about more avenues for supporting the essential work libraries do, especially those that are struggling against funding challenges and censorship battles that my well-funded library system doesn't have to deal with.
Thank you so much for posting this, SaharaRose - and for going to work every day to make sure people have access to information and the pleasures of great storytelling.
posted by kristi at 1:05 PM on April 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
As a head of a library … can I just address the “volunteers” issue. Volunteers take up a huge amount of staff time, de-professionalise our work, and are a significant contributor to the declining funding that Public Libraries are facing. Libraries need trained employees paid a living wage and adequate hours to do their jobs (another big problem is way too many library jobs are part-time/benefit-free). Our mission must be to help the community and not devote so much staff time to creating make work projects for a select few in our community that want to cosplay being librarians.
posted by saucysault at 2:01 PM on April 28, 2023 [18 favorites]
posted by saucysault at 2:01 PM on April 28, 2023 [18 favorites]
which I think was mostly busy work
Shelf-reading is not busy work--a book that can't be found is a book that we won't have when someone needs it, and, in a building with thousands of books that all have exactly one very specific place they're supposed to be, especially one with open stacks where people can just pick things up and just put them down wherever (and, let's be real, where people who work there sometimes put things in the wrong place), it's important to have someone checking to make sure that things are where they're supposed to be.
Thanks for volunteering.
(I'm also the head of a library, and I tell my managers that library volunteers should result in a net decrease in the amount of work that paid staff have to do--if that's not happening, then something has to change.)
posted by box at 2:16 PM on April 28, 2023 [13 favorites]
Shelf-reading is not busy work--a book that can't be found is a book that we won't have when someone needs it, and, in a building with thousands of books that all have exactly one very specific place they're supposed to be, especially one with open stacks where people can just pick things up and just put them down wherever (and, let's be real, where people who work there sometimes put things in the wrong place), it's important to have someone checking to make sure that things are where they're supposed to be.
Thanks for volunteering.
(I'm also the head of a library, and I tell my managers that library volunteers should result in a net decrease in the amount of work that paid staff have to do--if that's not happening, then something has to change.)
posted by box at 2:16 PM on April 28, 2023 [13 favorites]
Just thought I'd drop this link here about a Canadian experiment to do away with librarians (and all staff).
posted by sardonyx at 5:31 PM on April 28, 2023
posted by sardonyx at 5:31 PM on April 28, 2023
scanning each shelf looking for books that had been mis-shelved
This is the best way to stop crying
posted by avocet at 8:39 PM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
This is the best way to stop crying
posted by avocet at 8:39 PM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
My sister is in jail and I"m trying to connect the library and local bookstores to the jail, so they can have access to books. Sounds nice right? TURNS OUT...there are a kabillion laws about allowing inmates access to information. I'm about to cry so hard my eyes turn inside out
lextex, Books to Prisoners can help.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 9:19 PM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
lextex, Books to Prisoners can help.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 9:19 PM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm in Australia, and the past few years I've been delighted to find that my local public library accepts book donations.
Books that they want, they add to their permanent collection.
Books that they don't want, they sell to the general public at low prices, with the money going back to the library.
Watching books that I've donated get added to the permanent collection is a really good feeling.
My donations have mainly been graphic novels, especially featuring Characters of Colour or LGBT characters. It's so great to see my donations turning up in the online library catalogue's "new acquisitions" section.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 9:25 PM on April 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Books that they want, they add to their permanent collection.
Books that they don't want, they sell to the general public at low prices, with the money going back to the library.
Watching books that I've donated get added to the permanent collection is a really good feeling.
My donations have mainly been graphic novels, especially featuring Characters of Colour or LGBT characters. It's so great to see my donations turning up in the online library catalogue's "new acquisitions" section.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 9:25 PM on April 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
I’ve thought about donating my books but I don’t know how desirable any would be in the collection, so it seems like it would just be “making my problem the library’s problem.” I don’t know much it really benefits them to deal with maybe selling them for a dollar each.
posted by obfuscation at 3:17 AM on April 29, 2023
posted by obfuscation at 3:17 AM on April 29, 2023
I’ve thought about donating my books but I don’t know how desirable any would be in the collection, so it seems like it would just be “making my problem the library’s problem.” I don’t know much it really benefits them to deal with maybe selling them for a dollar each.
They like books in good condition published in the last 5 years. (NOT textbooks.)
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:48 AM on April 29, 2023
They like books in good condition published in the last 5 years. (NOT textbooks.)
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:48 AM on April 29, 2023
If you feel like donating to your local library, money is always, always the best option.
Book donation can be a complicated thing. It's going to vary between library systems, so always ask first. FWIW, libraries or branches that have a Friends Group of organized volunteers are more likely to accept donations, as they use them for book sales.
Donating a book that winds up on the library shelf can mean that the book has to be cataloged, processed with spine labels, sometimes covered in that funky plastic shielding they put on hardcovers. All of which costs money and time.
Other local places that might accept book donations (but always, always ask first!)
Senior centers
Shelters
Schools
Organizations working with under-served communities, like immigrants
It requires a bit of local research and community knowledge, but it can be done.
posted by SaharaRose at 7:50 AM on April 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
Book donation can be a complicated thing. It's going to vary between library systems, so always ask first. FWIW, libraries or branches that have a Friends Group of organized volunteers are more likely to accept donations, as they use them for book sales.
Donating a book that winds up on the library shelf can mean that the book has to be cataloged, processed with spine labels, sometimes covered in that funky plastic shielding they put on hardcovers. All of which costs money and time.
Other local places that might accept book donations (but always, always ask first!)
Senior centers
Shelters
Schools
Organizations working with under-served communities, like immigrants
It requires a bit of local research and community knowledge, but it can be done.
posted by SaharaRose at 7:50 AM on April 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
The Fight for the American Public Library - "Library boards, school boards and legislatures are becoming battlegrounds in a push to censor books. Communities are fighting back."
A History of the American Public Library - "A visual exploration of how a critical piece of social infrastructure came to be."
posted by kliuless at 8:08 AM on April 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
A History of the American Public Library - "A visual exploration of how a critical piece of social infrastructure came to be."
posted by kliuless at 8:08 AM on April 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
Alas, my avid library use means I have very few new books in my possession :)
posted by obfuscation at 9:13 AM on April 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by obfuscation at 9:13 AM on April 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
I don't see it on SaharaRose's excellent list: If your local library has a Board of Trustees, attend some of their meetings and consider running for a term as a trustee. It can be a bit less of a commitment than running for school board (your community may vary) and is a great opportunity to support your library staff and support good policies.
posted by evilmomlady at 9:44 AM on April 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by evilmomlady at 9:44 AM on April 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
Interesting! There are two open seats on the local library's Board, which is appointed rather than elected, and I'm tempted to apply. I'm almost positive that there are better-qualified candidates than me, though. "I use the library a lot and am not an asshole about library-related issues" is probably not enough, at least not in my particular jurisdiction, which is chock full of people with good library politics and actual relevant knowledge and experience.
The issue in my community is that the threat is not local. It's coming from the state government, which is writing bad laws with the explicit goal of disempowering local communities like mine, which support libraries and free expression. For instance, the legislature just passed a bill pertaining to school libraries that says that any book successfully challenged in any school library in the state must then be removed from every school library in the state. This effectively gives the position of state-wide library censor to the most regressive community in the state. I think a lot of people in my community are relatively complacent, because we feel like we live in a little oasis of rationality in this godforsaken hellspace of a state, but this stuff is not just playing out at the local level.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 11:53 AM on April 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
The issue in my community is that the threat is not local. It's coming from the state government, which is writing bad laws with the explicit goal of disempowering local communities like mine, which support libraries and free expression. For instance, the legislature just passed a bill pertaining to school libraries that says that any book successfully challenged in any school library in the state must then be removed from every school library in the state. This effectively gives the position of state-wide library censor to the most regressive community in the state. I think a lot of people in my community are relatively complacent, because we feel like we live in a little oasis of rationality in this godforsaken hellspace of a state, but this stuff is not just playing out at the local level.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 11:53 AM on April 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
Most public library boards (in my experience) are advisory boards, not governance boards.
My (medium-sized city-county public) library's board is a mix of people with varying levels of knowledge and experience--there are judges, businesspeople, educators, nonprofit leaders of one kind or another, etc. Over the years, we've also seen more than a few people whose main qualification was that they were a big fan of public libraries.
It's helpful to have some people on a board who are familiar with Robert's Rules and know how to read budgets and contracts, but those skills aren't that hard to pick up.
If you think you might be interested, I second the advice to go to a board meeting--if you let people know you're considering applying for an open seat, they will probably jump at the chance to talk to you about what it's like being on this particular board.
posted by box at 3:43 PM on April 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
My (medium-sized city-county public) library's board is a mix of people with varying levels of knowledge and experience--there are judges, businesspeople, educators, nonprofit leaders of one kind or another, etc. Over the years, we've also seen more than a few people whose main qualification was that they were a big fan of public libraries.
It's helpful to have some people on a board who are familiar with Robert's Rules and know how to read budgets and contracts, but those skills aren't that hard to pick up.
If you think you might be interested, I second the advice to go to a board meeting--if you let people know you're considering applying for an open seat, they will probably jump at the chance to talk to you about what it's like being on this particular board.
posted by box at 3:43 PM on April 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Speaking of EveryLibrary, Nora Roberts is doing a big fundraising push to combat book bans.
posted by SaharaRose at 10:27 AM on May 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by SaharaRose at 10:27 AM on May 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Most public library boards (in my experience) are advisory boards, not governance boards.
This can be variable. Where I am, the boards are governance boards in terms of the "business" of the library (non-profit though it may be - they do things like budget, fundraise, hire the library director and oversee the library's foundational documents) and the library director handles the day to day running of the library.
In any case, however, being on the board if you are not an asshole about library issues and are willing to speak about library issues, especially in a state which is being threatened lately, is really important. Not everyone has the capacity for this (which is fine!) but if you have some capacity it's a great way to give back to your community and help the library.
I agree the volunteer thing and the donations thing can really really depend based on the place. My library (rural Vermont) really needs volunteers in order to function but it's very very picky about donations (we run a book shop which is a really nice little store that is wholly independent from the library and it brings in some good $$) in a way that I think can make us seem snobby. That said, it's important that people don't just dump their books. There is another local library which does this and it has its own set of problems.
The really good news is that our communities are right next to each other so we can send people back and forth with their donations. Ask your library what their donations policy is, most will be happy to tell you and you can figure out together what will work. As long as you're not expecting your donated books to go on the shelves, it might work out for everyone.
Thanks so much for this post SaharaRose.
posted by jessamyn at 2:52 PM on May 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
This can be variable. Where I am, the boards are governance boards in terms of the "business" of the library (non-profit though it may be - they do things like budget, fundraise, hire the library director and oversee the library's foundational documents) and the library director handles the day to day running of the library.
In any case, however, being on the board if you are not an asshole about library issues and are willing to speak about library issues, especially in a state which is being threatened lately, is really important. Not everyone has the capacity for this (which is fine!) but if you have some capacity it's a great way to give back to your community and help the library.
I agree the volunteer thing and the donations thing can really really depend based on the place. My library (rural Vermont) really needs volunteers in order to function but it's very very picky about donations (we run a book shop which is a really nice little store that is wholly independent from the library and it brings in some good $$) in a way that I think can make us seem snobby. That said, it's important that people don't just dump their books. There is another local library which does this and it has its own set of problems.
The really good news is that our communities are right next to each other so we can send people back and forth with their donations. Ask your library what their donations policy is, most will be happy to tell you and you can figure out together what will work. As long as you're not expecting your donated books to go on the shelves, it might work out for everyone.
Thanks so much for this post SaharaRose.
posted by jessamyn at 2:52 PM on May 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
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