Give a little bit

Newly inspired by the Goo Goo Dolls and National Library Week, I wanted to talk about how a little effor from you can go a long way in helping your public library.

• Talk it up. Do you love your library? More specifically do you love the books, audiobooks, Internet, and videos and DVDs that you can receive at little to no cost to you? They're not free services so much, but are provided through taxpayer dollars as well as the local government. If you love your library and like what it does for you let people know. Tell your neighbors, or write to your Congressman about how your library has changed your life or made your day a little brighter. 
• Purchasing cast off books: a Win-Win. Some profits for libraries come from used book sales. I admit I have very little money to spend being a graduate student, but I always find myself at the library scouring their cast-off or recently donated book shelves. At 50 cents to a dollar a book you really can't go wrong.
• Volunteer: This isn't only the best way to accrue experience for library students, but it also helps libraries be able to have programs they wouldn't otherwise be able to without paid staff. It also gives you that warm fuzzy feeling from helping someone in your community. Currently I volunteer at the Hyattsville Public Library's weekly Conversation Club. Through this program I run sessions with community members helping them exercise and improve their English language conversation skills. It's not strict, lesson plan teaching but very off the cuff hour and half sessions that help me get to know the students and their abilities better. For them it provides a safe, non-judgmental environment where they can receive advice and practice their conversation skills. Most of the program attendants are from South American or Mexico, so I in turn get a little help practicing my Spanish as well.

There are thousands of ways you can help support your local public library that don't require a massive donation or months of your time. Call you local public library today and find out how you can help. If we don't spread the word about how important libraries are to the community, who will protest when their hours and staff are cut or worse, their doors are closed?