#Support libraries

[grandhoff]

Remember folks: your library has MUCH MORE than JUST books.

Many have the following:

- seed banks so you can grow food and flowers

- videogames

- language learning materials

- puzzles

- boardgames

- magazines

- general use household items like cake pans, small appliances

- accessibility devices to borrow

- magazines

- instruments

- telescopes

There is always something new at a Library, so never be afraid to go in for a browse or ask the workers at the front desk for a tour!

love the library. there's no risk. you can take out a book and go "wow this sucks" and just give it back. and when you do that you're still making the library's Number Go Up so you'll be able to roll the dice on even more books. all for the low low price of free/you already paid for it with your tax money so you might as well use it

[skatesfullofsunshine]

Putting books on hold at the library has the same thrill of ordering books online, but with the added benefit of not losing any money over titles I might not enjoy.

10/10 would recommend.

[laddersofsweetmisery]

I don't see enough people mourning over the slow death of physical media. And I don't just mean TV shows, video games, or movies--which don't even get me started about how we don't really 'own' anything anymore. It includes notes, journals, and letters to one another...so much of our history is lost when we lose a password, a website goes down, a file/hardware is corrupted, or a platform disappears. History that doesn't seem important until you no longer have access to it. Physical media does a lot for memory recall. How many memories will we lose because we don't have something tangible to tie it back to? Something to hold in our hands and stir up those memories we thought were once lost? Sometimes I wonder what the difference between burning a book and losing access to physical media is when someone can pull the plug and remove your access so easily.

[lesbxdyke]

I would like to again big up libraries as safe spaces for people of all types!

I had a psychotic episode in my local library while I was in there working and had convinced myself that I was in a bubble dimension and if I left the library I would die, and that being what had happened to the librarian because I hadn't seen them in an hour (it's a small, local library. You can see the librarians desk from where I sit to work)

Now obviously they weren't dead, they were just in the little office that I couldn't see into.

I'm also lucky enough to be a very self aware psychotic, so I reached out to my support network to make sure I got home safely. But none of them could actually get me OUT of the library and I was still absolutely certain that if I stepped off the carpet and onto the tile, I would die.

So I got up, I made my way to the desk, I found the librarian and I said "I need your help. I'm having a psychotic episode and this is what I currently believe. Could you please come out from behind your desk and stand on the tiles so I can see it won't kill me?"

And they did. They didn't shame me, or laugh, or tell me it wasn't real. They said "Yeah, that must be scary." And thanked me when I admitted I'd thought them dead and been really upset about that because I liked them.

And then stood there on the tile, while I stood on the carpet, for ten minutes while I chatted shit and tried to build up my courage to step on the tile, just in case. Including telling me that if this happened again and I needed to call someone, to disregard the usual 'don't call people in the library' rule and just do so after I promised I was going to be calling my husband the second I was on the tile so he could safely walk me home.

(& so no one worries: my husband got me home safe, and a friend came to check on me a little while later and brought me food and I'm fully Cognizant and out of it now)

I cannot imagine another place where I could approach someone and say that and not get the police or an ambulance called on me. Neither of which I needed or would have been helpful.

I cannot imagine another place where a member of staff would stand somewhere for ten minutes to make sure I felt safe enough leaving.

I cannot imagine another place where I would not only be explicitly welcomed back, but be told "If this happens again here, disregard our normal rules to take care of yourself."

I cannot imagine another place on this earth that I would feel safe enough returning to, 3 days later, after an episode like that.

Libraries are a fucking Godssend and should be protected at all costs!

[nostalgicore]

Public library ❤️

[booksinmythorax]

Some of my library's most successful adult programs so far basically boil down to "come do things you could be doing at home, but in a Place with Other People".

Right now it's silent reading parties and writing clubs - what other kinds of stuff fits into this category?

[batuuan-artist]

When I check out 8 books at once

[rainbowofcrazy]

ATTN LIBBY USERS

If anyone is interested in digital manga/Japanese books, the Japan Foundation offers their digital library via Libby for anyone in North America!

US: https://www.jflalc.org/libby Canada: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/library/collection-and-services/

It may take a few days to receive your email. I got mine within 24 hours.

Spread the world and happy reading!

[reasonsforhope]

"In neighborhoods across the globe — yes, even in Antarctica — it is not uncommon to find a Little Free Library, or a book-sharing box filled with a collection of free books to take, share, and enjoy.

If a location on the South Pole wasn’t enough, Little Free Library is celebrating a major milestone: Its 200,000th box. 

The nonprofit that manages these 200,000 mini libraries works to increase access to literacy in urban, suburban, and rural communities all over the world. This includes programming to expand access to books among BIPOC communities, as well as efforts to fight book bans across the United States.

In sticking with this mission, the landmark 200,000th library was donated to and installed at Benjamin E. Mays IB World School, an elementary school in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

The donation also marks the first of 200 Little Free Libraries that will be given to Title I schools across the U.S., in an effort to expand access to books in low-income areas...

The 200,000th library is exclusively for students and is designed to resemble a one-room schoolhouse. This pays homage to the very first Little Free Library, built by the organization’s founder Todd H. Bol in 2009.

“The future where all of us, no matter our age, economic status, or residence, have the opportunity to readily access a book that can inspire, motivate, and empower,” Metzger continued. 

“Working together locally as a community, a community connected through Little Free Libraries, we hope to make this opportunity a reality for all.” 

The worldwide network of Little Free Libraries spans all 50 states, 128 countries, and all seven continents. 

Next, 199 more Little Free Libraries will be installed at Title I elementary schools, and each of these will be stocked with 200 brand-new books.

The donated libraries are sponsored by Books Unbanned and the donated materials come from a 40,000-book donation from Penguin Random House. ..

Schools receiving these libraries and books were selected through an application process, and all students in the schools are welcome to take the books home at no cost.

“Many of our students have little to no books at home, and transportation barriers prevent families from reaching the public library,” a representative from participating school Somerset Lakes Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, said in a statement.

“A Little Free Library will serve as a crucial bridge, providing ongoing access to literature for students, their siblings, parents, and the community.”

Back in St. Paul, the 200,000th library is already set to be well-loved by the 340 students who attend Benjamin E. Mays IB World School. All students received gifted books, and 50 select students who excelled in a recent reading challenge attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Freedom is the road seldom traveled by the multitudes; however, literacy is the gateway to learn one’s past, present, and shape the future,” said the school’s principal, Dr. Kenneth O. Turner Jr. 

“Through literacy, one can travel the world, reading and learning about historical figures who have shaped the world. Literacy can take you into space and travel the galaxies far away. Through literacy all is obtainable.” 

Anyone interested in joining the “take a book, leave a book” movement of Little Free Library can build or buy their own box and register it online to be part of the official network."

-via GoodGoodGood, March 13, 2025

[jessie-lou]

On Friday night, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the nation’s only federal agency that provides funds for America’s libraries. Americans have loved and relied on public, school, and academic libraries for generations. By eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, the Trump Administration’s executive order is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer, including early literacy development, summer reading programs for kids, high-speed internet access, employment assistance for job seekers, braille and talking books for people with visual impairments, and so much more.

What Can You Do?

As library lovers, your voice can make a difference. Here’s how you can help:

Contact your representatives in Congress and tell them to protect our libraries. Our elected officials need to hear why we value our libraries. Share a story of how your library as helped you, and let them know that federal funding is essential for your library to continue providing the essential services that support our communities. Tell them to protect funding for IMLS!

Show up for your library at library and school board meetings and town halls with your elected officials. Now is the time to raise our voices as loud as we can to protect libraries.

Become a supporter of the American Library Association. Your support helps us advocate on behalf of libraries and library workers everywhere and fight for library funding.

[lavalamps-and-ladydoors]

Woke up to this news and im angered beyond belief. Libraries are part of the lifeblood of our democracy and this is pure facsim. Plain and simple.

Im attaching some links below of petitions and emails to send.

Stay informed. Stay alert. Stay strong.

[laddersofsweetmisery]

This afternoon, DOGE fired every employee at the Institute for Museum and Library Services, deleted their emails, and vanished federal funding for public libraries and museums.

They won't be so bold as to burn the books, but they will greatly limit your access. When the good learn, so do the evil.

When you really think about it, it's financial abuse. Institutions are being held hostage financially to bow to the whims of another or risk no longer existing. I don't even know if I feel angry at the institutions that have decided to bow because, at the very least, they are still available and able to help others with the few resources they have left. It's fucked all the way around.

We should bring back independent/community-supported pamphlets. (See: political pamphlets of the 1800's and Jstor's collection of 19th century British Pamphlets) Most of these efforts now exist on social media but are heavily censored via algorithms. What we need is something offline that can't be limited with the push of a button. Something tangible.

You can literally leave them behind anywhere like a lost glove. There's a lot of power in that. We could even offer QR codes on the physical copies so that viewing it online is still an option. I think the internet is too volatile a place at the moment to remain our sole source of information. It's too easily manipulated, the algorithms keep us in a vacuum, and there are too many bots proven to incite rage and prevent productive discourse. We need something people-oriented. I think zines would be perfect. They want the old ways back, so let's give it to them along with all the revolutionary efforts that come with it.

[dzgrizzle]

Very grateful for the librarians.

[leezlelatch]

I work for an Ohio Public Library. Ohio friends, please help. Spread the word. There is so much good libraries do for the world. So much good there still is to do.

I've already contacted these representatives. We're going to fight.

[lakecountylibrary]

That's a nice interlibrary loan service you have there.

Be a shame if something were to happen to it.

If this is the first you're hearing of it, here are more details on what's going on with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and how you can help.

And here's that link from the end card: ala.org/showup

--

[Video Description: A librarian frantically unloading books from a cart full of Interlibrary Loan bags marked Info Express. The clip is sped up to 1.5 speed and "Flight of the Bumblebee" is playing in the background. He shelves books as fast as he can onto the library holds shelf, occasionally fumbling one, while another librarian very calmly and slowly checks the items off on a clipboard.

The music stops abruptly and we cut to a shelf of books with one of the interlibrary loan bags displayed prominently in front. The librarian who was shelving slides the books away so we can see him through the shelf. He says "Lake County Public Library borrows and lends over 800 items a month using our interlibrary loan service - a service only possible thanks to IMLS." He slides the books back into place with gusto.

"Flight of the Bumblebee" resumes as the end card appears, reading Support Your Libraries and Museums! Tell Congress to Save IMLS! Visit ala.org/showup to see how you can help. /description]

Music Credit: Composition: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Performer: US Army Band, Public Domain

[so-many-ocs]

HELLO if your area does not have a public library i would just like to make it known that some libraries offer free cards to people who aren’t in the area! i currently have two cards on Libby, one for my local public library and one for QLL (queer liberation library). search “free out of state library cards” and a few different lists should pop up :)

edit: you can also search “free libby libraries” for digital cards!!!