Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Libraries + Booksigning = Funding ?

This week I’m preparing for my first signing. I decided to hold the event in my local library located in my small town. The library is tiny and has tried to raise funds in order to expand to a larger building for more years than I can remember, without success. Think one room school house and that’s my local library. Part of the proceeds I'll generate through book sales on Saturday will go back to them. It’s my way of saying thnak you since they're giving me the opportunity to reach readers.

I tell you this not as a way of bragging, but to make you aware libraries are struggling to keep an ever revolving inventory of paperbacks on their shelves and also to keep current in the technological age by offering computers for use to those who have a need. I’ve read a sttement somewhere this past week (I believe it was one of my chapter mates, Cathy N. who is a librarian) that libraries are looking at how they could loan out e-readers. Imagine the cost in volve to make this happen.

The concept of the Public Library was Ben Franklin's idea. He believed all had the right to knowledge. In Ben’s day if a person could read, the ability lifted them up in status among their peers.

Did you know that over half of the funding your local library receives comes from your local government, by way of a percentage of local taxes collected and parking tickets? Federal and State funds make up another portion and the rest has to be procured through grants or private donations. I know my small community, and I’m sure it’s like a majority of others, where government officials work on a budget each year making tough decisions as to where the greater need is. With the sky-rocketing costs today and after guaranteeing safe water, waste management, power and road maintenance for the residents, how many funds can be left for other programs? I’m quite sure police and fire departments out rank the libraries, and I’m by no means saying they shouldn’t. When it comes to funding, libraries get not all the crumbs, but a few.

More and more teachers are posting homework assignments on-line for parents to double check. Homework and research needs to done on line. Reports and essays need to be typed and sent back to teachers via email. Sadly, there are still many families who can’t afford computers and or printers and supplies—a pieces of equipment as necessary as a phone in today’s society. Libraries give them access to them and after school hours.

There are many avid readers who are on a fix income and can’t buy every book they long to read. Libraries are there for them.

Many libraries offer children story times, opening small minds to great possibilities.

Libraries are not only a place to enjoy and work, but they are a place where you can transform yourself into the person you long to be.

Now, ways you can help your library simple. Become a friend of your library. Donate a dollar for every book you check out. If you're an author donate your book to the library. It’s one less they’ll need to buy and think of the readers you'll garnish for your next book. Donate the books you've already read. Many libraries rise funds by having book sales each year. When the Friends of the Library envelopes come in the mail, don’t trash it. Send it back with a donated and remind family members to do so too. Speak to your librarian about how you can help them with fund raising. Simply having a signing in house could bring people into the library who haven’t entered the doors in years. You know the old adage; You can’t see the problem if you don’t look.

Question: Can you share a way you've helped a library?

Next week I’ll report on my book signing. In the meantime, don’t forget to follow me. My August contest is whining down. One lucky new follower will win an e-copy of Obsessed By Wildfire.

18 comments:

  1. Excellent post, Autumn. I'm a big fan of libraries. I'll have to donate more of my books to ours.

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  2. Even in this day of technology everywhere, I still love the feel of a book in my hands. The library is one of my favorite places to visit. Always has been!

    Great post.

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  3. Thank you for your excellent post. As a librarian, a reader and an author I try to promote libraries whenever I get a chance.
    Libraries offer audiobooks (a great way to read more and get exercise) and more are providing ebooks.
    Authors need to get to know their librarians and donate copies of their books. Writers can help by offering to help with press releases and event planning.
    Good luck with your signing.

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  4. Thanks, Beth. My librarain was thrilled to meet with me and discuss a signing. I'm really looking forward to it. Even if it's just me and her, I might gain on reader and the library will definitely get my next book too!

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  5. Me too, Debra. B&N and Borders have the scent, but the library is different. I love scanning books written decades ago, reading the romances wriiten then.

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  6. Good to meet you, Amber. How are the libraries in your area handling e-books?

    As far as promoting, I gave my library and poster of my books and myself with date and time of signing. The next week I stopped in to drop off brochures, I'd made up and they ahd a very AWESOME display made up with my book and poster. I felt like a star. Anyway the local newspaper then did a nice article on me and the mention the upcoming signing. Hopefully it will help draw people. I think I need to make a library donation bucket for on my table too!

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  7. I've posted about libraries recently too at http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com and how they've really become multi-media centers not only loaning books, but also movies and music, plus outreach programs and classes and computers and more. This heralds an expansive role but as you say, funding is needed. I donate my used books to the library book sale and will be a speaker at their Spring fund-raiser luncheon.

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  8. I am a member of friends of both the local library and the University where I graduated (which is local).

    I also donate my unwanted books to the library. If they can't use them, they sell them at their annual sale. I also,of course, go to said annual sale and buy more books. :)

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  9. This was a good reminder for all of us. I have always loved a trip to the library. They are all suffering for funds now and some cities in our area are even closing them part of the week. Fortunately, in my small town, the library is doing as well as can be expected in this economy. Very thought provoking post.

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  10. That is awesome, Nancy. I'll have to see if our library is connected a luncheon, maybe county. Thanks for adding that.

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  11. I know about supporting through buying books, Beth. I take a bag and bring a bag. I find more new authors that way. Oh, wish I had the time or the ability to speed read everything I picked up.

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  12. Thanks, Caroline. Call you librian and see if the two of you can brainstorm.

    I'll let you know next week how this went and if we came up with any other ideas.

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  13. I have to tell you how disappointed I was when I visited our local library.
    There were hardly any books. It was more like a video place, with a kids area, (they had book), there were four small isles of books. And about twenty desktop computers for people to use. It this town the library has gone the way of the bookstore, any bookstore. There are none any more.

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  14. Great post. I spent many years in my youth at the library. Loved that place.

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  15. Mary, that is so sad. Did you ask them why? I don't know your area, but could it be funding issues or are they going in a different direction?

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  16. Thanks, P.L. I idin't get to go the library as a youth. Back then we were very rural. One car to the family and it was use for Dad's business a lot. Mom brought a few books during school sales and I read a lot in school.

    I think I was junior high before I knew what a real library was. It was like a new world opened up for me. I amde sure all my children had library cards.

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  17. Hi, Autumn, i enjoyed the post and am a new blog follower. :) -laura

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  18. I got you, Laura. I'm glad you stopped by. Is you tomorrow when I tell all about my book signing.

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