Public Library Love
This Great Idea is inspired by Yes! Magazine’s articles, We’re All Responsible for Protecting Public Libraries, by Amanda Jones, and Library Love, by Sonali Kolhatkar.
Kolhatkar reminds us that in the wake of Covid 19, public libraries across the country dropped their late-fee charges – and saw hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of books returned, along with tens of thousands of new or returning patrons. She goes on to talk about the negative influence a consumerist model had had on library policies up to that point, and how the loss of the late-fees has increased librarian morale, patron appreciation, and more.
Jones describes her courageous engagement with book banning efforts in her Louisiana community, providing us all with a ‘blueprint to battle book censorship in public libraries’.
As a non-profit-funded lending library, I can appreciate the love, the risk, and the desire to support and affirm the work of our public libraries: these are enormously important resources in every community where they exist.
Many congregations can empathize with the librarian’s reality of being under-funded, overwhelmed by the need for change, and demoralized time and again by folx who deem what they have to offer verboten.
Why not partner up?
Public libraries do all sorts of great things that intersect with the values and mission of congregations. Rather than duplicate offerings, why not put our mutually limited resources together to support things like:
- reading time with children
- community events – arts, crafts, learning
- author visits for all ages
- activity time with kids (shout out to Granite Falls UCC and their Legos-with-kids partnership with their local library!!)
- see our Life-Giving Landscapes Great Idea for outdoor options
Oppose book bans – together – and invite neighbors to talk about book bans (and other dicey topics!) in a civilized space: this could be hugely beneficial for generations to come, not to mention the library and congregation(s) involved.
See our Graceful Conversations five-video series (share it with the whole community – at the library!!) and/or our Courageous Spaces Toolkit for tips on engaging difficult discussions – and tools to equip the whole community healthier ones!
