#support your library

[tacocatreads]

People of Tumblr,

Please take the time to read this.

Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order to reduce the federal funding of the Institute of Museums and Libraries (IMLS).

This means that libraries and museums across the United States are at risk of losing all federal funding---which is very critical for many to stay open. According to the 2024 School Librarian Investigation report, 3 out of 10 school districts in the United States don't have a full-time or part-time school librarian.

Trump's reasoning for signing the executive order, he claims, is to eliminate any federal funds he deems "unnecessary."

IMLS funding in 2024 was $266.7 million, which is 0.003% of the federal budget, and 75 cents per capita.

It is also important to highlight that libraries provide more than just free books: they host free classes, tutors, provide internet access, printing, and can provide free meals to low income people.

So what can we do about it?

The single easiest bit of activism you can do; the absolute bare minimum is to support your local libraries. Get a library card if you don't already have one (it's free). Check out some books, CDs, games, or movies. It's literally free. Show up and show the Trump administration that libraries matter.

[californiastatelibrary]

Libraries draw people together! This National Library Week we're sharing photos from public libraries across California to show all the ways people are drawn to our libraries and find things at our libraries. What do YOU find at your local library?

[ahb-writes]

"Anyone who does not support your art, your life, is not worth your time."

— Clarissa Pinkola Estés

[blogthebooklover]

This guy hits THE NAIL on the head about why we need to support public libraries now more than ever.

[weerd1]

Checked out a Star Trek audiobook to listen through on my morning walks through Libby (yes, that’s a library app pitch- please check it out and support your local library). Fun book set in the TOS era.

What’s interesting is as Robert Petkoff reads it—and does a fine job—his delivery is making me picture different versions of the TOS crew all together. Here’s the cast my brain is using for this book:

Have not heard Scotty yet, and M’Benga has had a name drop but not yet had any dialogue. They also mention the USS Shenzhou at one point which is nice.

Oddly though, every grumpy alien, and there have been at least three just in the first two chapters sounds like this guy:

Kind of enjoying seeing this cast together!

[goodomensjail]

Is my local library Heaven??

(Answer yes but not the Good Omens kind, the good kind filled with librarians who are angels on earth)

[saffity]

Big thank you to the various people who wrote about wanting/having a summer reading program for adults at libraries.

I checked mine out this summer and not only did it have reading suggestions and points for reading, but it had missions to get more points that gave me ideas to do with my kids. We did so much more than I would have because of this missions and had a blast.

Then to top it off….

I won the gift basket!!!

I’m picking it up tomorrow and it has a bunch of stuff from local businesses. So looking forward to seeing what new places we can check out!

[jazzhaaaands]

Libraries are beginning to remove their language learning software because of these things! 

Go check them out or inquire about it

If anyone was wondering, Duolingo just got even worse.

[laughroditee]

"She's so beautiful! I bet she goes to the library."

- my 7 year old daughter

[wickedjr89]

Library Haul: Outrage, A Classic, and a Memoir

[apricityillustration]

Every day I read the news and feel a little worse. But I remember all the help and hope I've gotten from my library. Community in the form of book clubs, knowledge in the form of workshops, and, of course, access to thousands of books without ever having to open my wallet.

[showmethecrowfacts]

This is why.

[the-book-queen]

Yes, he does exactly what the shirt says 😉🥰❤️📚

The Fiancé and I walked down to my library's book sale today, and well . . . I left with two full bags of romance novels for $5 😅😎

A quick look at my haul of romance novels and his few books and DVDs.

[thebibliosphere]

I've had a couple of messages over the last few days from folks saying things like, "Sorry, I can only afford to get your book through the library," and I need you to know I am gripping you by the shoulders, I am shaking you gently, and I am begging you stop apologizing for using library services.

After Amazon and Payhip, the quarterly checks I get from Overdrive/Libby are my biggest and most reliable source of income.

My readers have been nothing but feral in their quest to get Hunger Pangs into as many libraries as possible, and while library lending pays an exceptionally modest amount, if enough people do it (which many of you evidently are), those pennies add up.

I am guaranteed at least $20 a month in library lending royalties. That might not sound like much to some folks, but to me, that's my b12 supplements covered for the month. That's the thing I need to keep me alive paid for.

I will never resent anyone who uses libraries instead of buying books.

I'm a disabled author who lives month to month at the mercy of my medical expenses. Even though I have incredibly generous patrons and supporters, I know what it's like to not be able to afford things.

Use the library. Please.

Use it guilt-free. You're helping the library and the authors, probably more than you realize.

And if you're in the US and haven't signed up for a @queerliblib free library card yet, you should! it doesn't matter what state you're in, the Queer Liberation Library offers free access to their catalogue of queer media across the US.

And if you've got the means, maybe help them out with a little donation. They're only able to expand their collection via the support of their patrons, and the work they're doing is hugely important.

[anotherpapercut]

yesterday I went to a little meeting at my local queer community center and I was admiring their bookshelves and mentioned that I work at the public library and someone said "well I bet they don't have any [LGBTQ+ books] at our library" and I was like um. yes we do. we have tons of them. half of our employees are queer leftists so they said "oh well I bet they don't in [nearby rural county]" and I was like uh once again yes they absolutely do. gay people live and work there as well

so here's a quick reminder that if you don't think your local library has enough queer centered materials you should actually check before assuming, and if you're not satisfied with their collection you should submit a request for more such books. I don't know what the political landscape of libraries looks like outside the us rn, but within the us no matter where you are, I promise you there are employees at your library fighting for inclusion and intellectual freedom and they can't win without vocal public support

[esthersroleplayhud]

My local library also has activity bags you can check out. They are themed duffel bags and will include a couple of movies, a few books, and (depending on the topic) even some activities you can do. Last time I was there, I even saw one you could check out that had a "romantic date" in a bag. I think it had everything except consumables. And all you needed to check out these bags was a library card!