Because Stories & Libraries Matter - by Carrie Newcomer

Published 1 month ago• 8 minute read

I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of a Library." -

"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library."

“My encouragement to you is to go tomorrow to the library.” -

These days my daughter works for the American Library Association (ALA). Basically Amelia, her colleagues, and every librarian and library supporter she works with are true superheroes. Seriously folks. Every week I hear inspiring, beautiful, creative, dedicated and courageous stories about the kinds of things librarians and the libraries they serve are doing to continue to be beacons of the public good. So here are two brief personal and family stories - AND then information how you can support your public libraries!

A personal story. When I was a girl the bookmobile visited every two weeks during the summer months. It would park at the far end of the block that usually flooded after a storm. I would run to be first in line to climb the three metal steps and into the cool interior that smelled like books and ink and kids that had been playing in the hot sun. I would take out as many books as I was allowed and read them all before I had to give them back. There was one librarian, a woman who wore sensible shoes and pretty scarves, who took notice of me. She would ask me about the books I was returning and listened appreciatively as I told her about the ones I liked the most. She began to bring stacks of books just for me, stories about brave women and girls, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman and Laura Ingels Wilder. She brought me books about people and places that were far away. She brought books about birds and bugs and horses and trees. She brought me a funny book about a mouse with a motorcycle, a book of poetry for children, and books filled with arts and crafts ideas. I remember laying on the cool linoleum in the basement or under the tree in the front yard, turning each page and thinking about the great conversations I’d have with that special librarian about the book I was reading. I loved the bookmobile and I loved that wonderful woman. She changed how I thought about the world and myself - she changed my life.

A family story—My paternal grandfather grew up on a rural farm and did not finish his schooling as many farm children in those days. But my grandfather was a bright, curious and a very intelligent man, who had a library card and used it faithfully. There was always a stack of books right next to his reading chair. He could converse on all kinds of topics, and helped my dad with his college homework. He didn’t go to school past the 8th grade, but he was a reader—and he had a library card.

The library was then, and is still today, a place that anyone can go for information, to check out books and stories, to expand their world and lives. It is there for anyone, and it was totally free.

Stories change how we see ourselves and the world. Libraries are a place for expanding our hearts and minds. But libraries are also becoming places that provide an ever widening array of community services.

Unfortunately, like so many important public services, resources and organizations, our public library system is being seriously threatened by the current administration. So I wanted to send out this post in solidarity, in appreciation, in humble gratitude to each and every person who is connected and involved with the workings and support of our bold, beautiful library system.

Whether your library is large or small, city or rural, in a school or college institution, whether it is a traveling wonder, a bookmobile parked where children can climb three steps and encounter new ideas, new stories, new understanding of the world and themselves it is a community and national treasure. If your library is providing job preparations services, high speed internet and telehealth services, summer reading programs, databases like ancestry.com, creative professional software for music, film or small businesses, providing homeschooling resources or inter-library loans for seniors in rural areas they are all making our communities places of continuing learning and opportunity. To all of these things…and to all these libraries and librarians, I send a bow of gratitude and deepest appreciation.

On March 14th, an executive order was signed, aimed at eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a small but mighty agency that is the federal agency dedicated to library funding.

IMLS's total budget is less than 0.0046% of the federal budget but it has a huge impact on communities across the country. From technology classes for jobseekers to services for people with disabilities, from library delivery for older Americans to summer reading programs for families, IMLS funding makes a real, concrete difference in the lives of Americans every day. The executive order puts all of those services at risk.

For some libraries, federal funding is a small part of their total budget, but for many rural and small libraries, federal funding is a major part of their budget. And even for big libraries, federal funding provides key resources like discounted internet access, talking books for people who can't read standard print, and interlibrary loan programs. If those federal dollars go away, local communities would have to pay for this through other means, like local or state taxes. For many states, there will not be the funds (or will to fund) these vital programs —and so we may simply lose many of the programs that so enrich our lives and communities so much.

The American Library Association has created a great resource page for how you can participate in preserving and supporting your local libraries and protect federal library funding. Here is the link for that take action page!

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/show-up-for-our-libraries

If you want to get more involved it also has a toolkit with social media graphics, printable flyers and bookmarks, AND printable protest signs. It is a one-stop shop for library champions!

You can also share your library story! Many legislators don't realize the impact that libraries have on their constituents and they need to hear from you. The American Library Association's story collection project is helping library leaders use powerful stories, along with facts and figures, to show decision makers that libraries = opportunity.
https://airtable.com/app9Th502PQsZcatS/paglDQdgAlJbHvKVR/form

I would usually ask for people’s library stories here….and would love to hear them. But today, instead of writing them here, consider clicking the link below and telling your legislators your story or become part of the ALA’s library story collection project!

OR give us a quote from a book that you memorized or that comes to you often.

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This is a song called “A Small Flashlight” that appeared on my album Before and After. I live out in the woods in a home that is built into the side of a hill and so there are lots of steps and levels to get just to the front door. I always carry a small flashlight because on moonless nights it gets pretty dark. The nice thing about a small flashlight is its always enough light to allow me too take one more step. I don’t need to see ten miles down the road. All I need is enough light to see the next step and when I get there, I have enough light to continue.

“The way is dark up ahead of me, the way is dark and I cannot see. What I love the most is a flashlight beam, lighting up the way when I cannot see.”

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I found the growing down phase very relevant to me. As I head into the autumn of my life I find myself more invested in others. I have had my share of wins (and losses) along this journey and now spend more time trying to make the journey better/easier for others. - Jim Davis

“A couple of springs ago during my Lenten discipline of paying attention, I specifically attended to listening while outside in the world. I thought to hear birdsong primarily, & I did & loved the music. But among the unexpected delights was hearing how the wind blowing through the trees sounds different depending on the tree's leaves. A magnolia tree with its stiffer leaves, the smooth & skinny bristles of a pine tree, the soft green of new leaves on many trees in spring all offer their unique tones when the wind blows through. Wind symphony indeed! The trees' songs indeed! And I was lifted up by the music, a lifting up we likely all need just now.” Mitzi Minor