National Library Week
It’s National Library Week, that annual celebration of the transformative power of libraries in our society.
This year’s theme is “Welcome to Your Library,” which the American Library Association describes as promoting “the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building – and that everyone is welcome to use their services….Whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer opportunities for everyone to explore new worlds and become their best selves through access to technology, multimedia content, and educational programs.”
Hear, hear. As fantastic as Google and the Internet are, they don’t provide access to the everything for free – the highest quality resources have a price tag. What’s more, the online experience is intended to fence you in to the “stuff you like,” ensuring that your exposure to new ideas and differing opinions is limited.
Contrast that to a library, where you can check out books you’d never pay for, to explore ideas you haven’t encountered anywhere else or with that thorough coverage, all without the fear that someone is going to jump down your throat for even daring to consider alternative views. At the library, we provide the resources that allow you to make your own decisions and understand your neighbor/family/”other side” better. We support democracy and build community.
We do it all at a huge cost savings to you. A study in Ohio revealed that for every $1 spent on public libraries, residents received an average of $5.48 in economic value. So libraries give more than a 500% return on investment. Let that sink in for a minute.
This week, we encourage you to take advantage of a resource that many people in many other countries would give their right arm to have. Here are some ideas:
- Request a book at RVL.info and pick it up curbside at your nearest library branch when it’s ready. It’s quick, easy and convenient.
- Follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Like, share and post comments to share the love of your public library.
- Encourage a friend to get a library card. It’s their free pass to a world of ideas, and a way to show support for one of the few places where everyone is welcome.
- Install the Libby app on your smartphone, and check out an ebook or eaudiobook to enjoy “on the go” (like that special trip your family is taking during spring break).
- Call us and ask for help with a question or topic you’re exploring, when Google just isn’t getting you the depth of information you want.
- Read a few pages of a book, any book. Imagine what your life would be like if you could not read, and take a moment to be grateful for this skill that gives you a huge leg-up in our modern world.
At the library, we’re honored to serve our community in a capacity that can change people’s lives for the better. Celebrate with us during National Library Week!
~ Julie Phillips, Director
Botetourt County Libraries
