Magic takes Money

I remember going to the library when I was very young. It was at the local elementary school, on the second or third floor of a large red brick building. It was probably a “get your kid ready for kindergarten” kind of thing. Anyway, I remember sitting on the wooden floor in a patch of sunlight, tall, tall bookshelves all around, listening to the librarian read a story. It’s a vague memory but no less pleasant for all that.

Now my local library is where I find new mystery novels to read, where I research my own novels, where I can use a computer with a printer, and where I pick up a DVD now and again. My librarians know me; they see me coming and help me with my oversized bag of books. My local library also offers author lecture series, and I’ve enjoyed those over the years. My local library has fundraisers several times a year.

And that’s what I want to talk about. Libraries are magical places: you can get lost in a make-believe world, research a far off country, or look for work to make your own life better. But magic takes money. Where does that money come from?

The state budget.

If you live in PA you are probably aware that the budget that should have been passed last summer was passed only several weeks ago. During that time, the libraries in PA received no funds. Some libraries shortened their hours, and probably very few were purchasing new books and equipment during that time. And even so, the money they get from the state never covers everything.

Now, we can complain that the state should get its act together and value what is important, like education and by extension libraries. We could write to our congressmen and tell them that we don’t want the U.S. House Budget Committee to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which supports libraries and museums around the country though research, policy development, and grant making.

We could do that, or we could make an effort to support our local libraries. Support fundraisers, offer to volunteer at the fundraisers, and donate. (Don’t donate books until you ask your librarian. They may accept books in decent condition to resell, but they often get a better deal on books they buy using funds because they (1) are a library, and (2) need library bindings, which are different than your usual bookstore purchase. So when you donate, money may be preferable.) Check out your local library's homepage for suggestions. Here is Lackawanna County's How to Help page.

You may be an adult who hasn't used a library in years. Easy internet access and Kindles or a budget that allows for purchasing books probably makes libraries obsolete for you. But the children still need the magic of libraries. And magic takes money.