A few years ago, a student essay contest was hosted in New York City with the topic “A World Without Libraries.” More than 50 students from elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools submitted essays sharing their views about what the world might be like without libraries. Some of the students’ observations included:
1. “A library is a need in our community. That is what I’m trying to explain to you. A library has knowledge and we can never get too much knowledge.”
2. “So a world without libraries would be a dump. People won’t find as much information. People’s education will decline. A world without libraries? Well the world will be upside down!”
3. “I love reading and without libraries I would be super bored. Libraries connect us to books. Life would be horrible without libraries.”
4. “Libraries make the world go round. They keep the little sanity we have left here.”
5. “The world without libraries is like a cone without ice cream.”
I find it pretty amazing that these statements were written by kids. It is exciting to think of how much the library meant to them at such an early age and I wonder if some of us who are of an older age feel the same.
This week we celebrating National Library Week. This 57-year-old tradition began in April 1958 after research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios and televisions. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizen’s organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. One of the committee’s goals was to encourage people to read.
National Library Week was developed based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. The theme for National Library Week in 1958 was “Wake Up and Read!” This year’s theme is “Unlimited Possibilities @ your library.”
Libraries today are more than warehouses for books. Instead, libraries and librarians are change agents within their communities – transforming lives through innovative educational resources and forward-thinking programming. Libraries are doing their part to close the digital divide and level the playing field by providing free access to information and technologies that many in their communities would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Libraries help promote democracy by providing service to all regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic status.
The library has always been a place of unlimited possibilities. Whatever your interest or need, the library and library staff are here to provide you the resources you need to accomplish your goals and dreams.
It is difficult to imagine there not being a place like a library in the world or in our community. There would certainly be far less to do in Green River as the library always has something going on for children, teens, and adults. Next week alone the Green River library will have poetry on Monday night and live acoustic guitar music on Tuesday night. There is toddler time on Monday morning and story times on Tuesday and Wednesday.
At the core, however, a community without a library misses out on the opportunity to connect with the world. Through books in various formats – audio, digital, print – we discover new places and new ideas. DVDs entertain and education. Computers provides access to genealogical research, online courses, and the ability to communicate with family and friends.
Thankfully we do not live in a community without a library, so take some time this week to discover the unlimited possibilities at your library.
Happy National Library Week.
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