bloggers library-loving challenge!

~ jama


IF YOU LOVE LIBRARIES, PLEASE COMMENT!!

For as long as I can remember, libraries have been my second home.

In my life, they have served as a safe haven for a latchkey child, a cool spot to hang with friends, an invaluable resource for study and research, a meeting place for like-minded folks, and a venue for attending awesome literary events, like hearing Ann Beattie read from her novels, or Nikki Giovanni recite her poetry.

I have given presentations at the library, tutored a literacy student, volunteered, and even joined my first critique group there a few years ago. It is truly one of the few places, outside my home, I have always felt comfortable.

That’s why I was so excited when I heard that Jennifer R. Hubbard was organizing a Bloggers Library-Loving Challenge. As she points out, libraries all across the country are hurting from the economic crisis. Branches are closing, programs are being eliminated, staff are being let go, and fewer books are being purchased. All this at a time when people need (and are frequenting) libraries more than ever — to borrow books, CDs, or videos instead of buying them, to attend free programs, and to access the internet.

None of us are asking for money today — just your library loving support! Each participant has pledged a per unique commenter amount, and the total will be donated to the library of his/her choice.

Chantilly Regional Library in Fairfax County, Virginia, has been my touchstone for over 20 years. I’ve spent countless hours there doing research and browsing the stacks. It is where I taught Roberta, a custodian for a local elementary school, how to read. We came from such divergent backgrounds, but our love for words made us into lifelong friends (see my post about Roberta here).

For every comment received on this post between now and midnight (EST), March 28th, I will donate $1 to the Friends of CRL, up to an amount of $100 (but if you swamp me with love I’ll dish out even more)!

 

How easy could it be? You comment, I cough up the money, the library gets a gift! If you don’t know what to say in your comment, “I love libraries” will do. 

 

Note that my pledge is “per commenter”—so if a single person leaves 50 comments, that still only counts once! But you can do more by spreading the word … please link to this post, and send your friends here so they can comment and raise more money. For a complete list of participating bloggers (and to visit other sites where you can help libraries just by leaving a comment!) visit the writerjenn blog. 

Thank you veddy much in advance!

Of course, you get a cupcake — chocolate with vanilla cream cheese frosting:

photo by Glorious Treats
 

Read more about my Library Love here.

Edited to add: The challenge is now closed, and I’ve reached my goal!

116 thoughts on “bloggers library-loving challenge!”

  5. Libraries

    Elaine M.

    Great idea, Jama!

    My special library was the one in the elementary school where I was a teacher for many years. We had an outstanding librarian who taught me so much about children’s literature. I spent many hours in the library looking for resources and for recommendations of books to use in my classroom–which was literature-based.

    Later, I became the librarian in charge of this wonderful “room of books” in the center of my school. It was the perfect job for me! It was like I had died and gone to heaven. I loved sharing books with children of many different ages and working with teachers to help them bring all genres of literature to their students. And I loved doing book selections and adding wonderful new literary resources to the library collection.

    Up with school libraries and school librarians!!!

    Like

  8. Nothing’s more delicious than a good book, is it? Although…that cupcake looks very tempting!

    Thanks for treating us so hospitably–and for your donations to Friends of CRL.

    Like

  9. Commenting!

    I’m fortunate that our local public library is (for now) doing ok. In fact, they’re currently raising money for a planned expansion, turning upstairs storage space into a new bigger-and-better children’s room, and turning the old children’s area into a teen lounge. I’m not participating in the various fundraising activities, but I did make a direct donation for their project – that way, ALL the money will go toward it!

    Like

  10. I LOVE LIBRARIES!!

    Our metropolitan library system issues educator cards that allow us to check out 50 books (above and beyond those on our regular card) and come built in with forgiveness for one lost book per year and a bit of overdue fine covered.

    Many a research project and author study have been possible because of this generosity! THANK YOU CML!!!

    And thank you, Jama, for raising awareness about the wonderments of libraries!

    Like

  14. I LOVE LIBRARIES! And I love that you taught someone to read. I keep wanting to volunteer to do that. What a nice reminder.

    Jules
    7-Imp

    Like

  16. Libraries

    I love libraries. I have always loved libraries. I will always love libraries.
    Barbara B.

    Like

  17. Library love

    I love libraries!!! I’m going to talk to my kids about how we can contribute to ours.

    Cindi

    Like

  18. Libraries are so cool. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a Library that was a B&B? My house is filled with books, but it will never be as cool as the library.

    Like

  22. Considering that my husband is a librarian (just started his first professional library job after a few years in high-tech), and I took the Wienermobile to two libraries a few years ago and had Oscar Mayer donate money to them… I obviously love libraries! And unfortunately, the library system my husband works for is having serious budget cuts, having to cut book and magazine buying by a lot right now, and not being able to fill their open children’s librarian position–eek!

    Like

  26. If I bought every book I wanted to read, well–there’s not enough money even IF I wanted to go into serious deficit spending! Thank goodness for libraries that feed the habit and keep us sane and healthy!

    Like

  29. Here’s my part for libraries!

    If you can, stop by my blog to leave a comment for my local library!

    Like

  32. I am on a first-name basis with people in the children’s department at our library, and take my grandchildren every opportunity I get, so I share your love of libraries, too. Count my comment to support your library!

    Like

  34. Libraries

    Libraries should never be allowed to go by the wayside!! My early remembrances in Calif. were the summer reading program where we collected paper leaves to cover the paper tree in the children’s section, reading Snip, Snap & Snur and the books about the Norwegian trolls, then graduating to juvenile mysteries by Mary Stewart & Phyllis A. Whitney and finding out that they also wrote adult mysteries. A magical place! ~ Lois

    Like

  36. LIBRARY LOVE

    Magazines, mysteries, the latest CDs…
    Newspapers, internet and DVDs.
    Storytimes, crafts, magicians and mimes,
    Super fun games, and lots of good times.
    Term papers, homework…they’re not really hard
    when you use your hometown library card.
    Well, you get what I mean…absolutely the best “bang for your buck” these days.

    Like

  38. What a novel idea to help out our libraries across the country. Thanks for the cupcake. It was wonderful.

    Like

  39. Jana,
    This is so great! I’m happy to add a comment to help support our libraries. Thanks!

    Bonny Becker

    Like

  50. As a current library science student, I’m here to drop a comment and say “Thank you!” for your lovely words about and support of libraries!

    Like

  58. 🙂 I love libraries!

    Also, I think you are fabulous for doing this–what a fantastic way to raise awareness that libraries need help and to offer some of said same. ♥

    Like

  60. Tanita Says 🙂

    I’m HERE! I’m commenting!

    I loved my first library — the one with wheels that came and parked at the end of my street. That started me on a lifelong love affair with the smell — dry, sweet, subtle — of old books. Lovely.

    Like

  71. LIBRARIES ARE GREAT

    We visited the library every week as a child and I proudly presented my dogeared card to take out the maximum number allowed. Now, libraries provide lifeblood to my work and serenity in the chaos of frenetic lifestyles. Libraries on line make it easier to reach vast quantities of sources across the world.

    Like

  73. Thank all of you so much for this library loving! This is woooonderful!

    yours,
    Jenny Schwartzberg
    A rare book librarian in Chicago

    Like

  81. How did I miss this post?! I still visit the library every week, though now it’s with my son. I love wandering in, sitting down in a section (usually 811) and losing myself in the books.

    Thanks for your generosity!

    Like

  82. What a wonderful connection you have with your local library! That’s awesome. We have a great local library as well that my husband grew up using (he grew up here, I moved here) and he knows almost all of the librarians – who are now sharing books with our son! It’s fun.

    What a wonderful gift.

    Like

  92. Library challenge

    Hi Jama: Thanks so much for doing this! Love the book picture, and that cupcake, well…YUM!
    Linda Covella

    Like

  95. I love libraries!

    Thanks so much for doing this!
    Janet Halfmann, Author
    Little Skink’s Tail
    Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story

    Like

  100. I really love libraries

    Even though I have my own special nook at home…going to the library inspires me far better and hour for hour, the quality of my writing at the library is definitely more productive. Thank you for doing this Jama.
    Maha

    Like

  101. Love libraries too

    I love this idea. I went to an old wooden library – Bibliotheque Bernheim – when I was a kid in New Caledonia (island between Australia and Tahiti). It was a colonial building dating from the 1900s. Lots of lacy wooden work with whitewash. The courtyard had a local nut tree (noix de badame – never had those elsewhere). I remember spending hours cracking nuts after craft hour at the library, sitting in the dirt with a rock in my hand. The craft building was a shiny deep navy blue and I still remember the color – and love it – to this day. Strangely enough, I don’t remember going there for books so much as to hang out with other kids. Knowing my mother, we probably went there for books only…

    Like

  107. libraries rock!

    As a current Master in Fine Arts student writing for children and young adults, my local hometown librarians LOVE to see me coming! Collecting books and filling my library bag full of books for my annotated bibliography deadlines…
    So — not only has it been a place for my children to satisfy their need to feed on books, the children’s room has become my favorite place as well.
    Good luck!

    Like

  110. Hmmmm
    I lerv cupcakes, but I love libraries even more. What a great thing you and your fellow bloggers are doing.
    Well done.

    SallY Murphy

    Like

  113. Libraries = a second home. No matter where my family moved, I always found my way to the library no matter what state or what country. My 7th grade “career” project was about becoming a librarian. Thanks for doing this.
    –BookMoot

    Like

  114. Waaahhh. I am sorry for being so late. :o( *shame shame shame*

    I hope you met your goal! Go libraries!!!

    Tarie
    Into the Wardrobe

    Like

Comments are closed.