Save Our Libraries!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAeKbfw6MuA

Library Petition on change.org

https://www.change.org/p/require-federal-funding-for-libraries-oclc-subscriptions-and-basic-needs?recruiter=1340264102&recruited_by_id=5086dc10-21d9-11ef-bc0c-4fdea37820d7&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard_share_modal&utm_medium=facebook

Libraries need funding! Is your library listed on worldcat.org? If it isn't, maybe your library system can't afford to be a member of OCLC, the nations database of catalogued books and documents. OCLC saves a librarian's time, which is sparse, and saves your taxpayer money!

For those of us who can't afford to buy books, or as many as we want, the local library is a godsend. With a free library card, we can access many books in electronic form from Galileo.org or other online sources. Ebooks on every subject you can name, electronic versions of your favorite magazines, all of this is free for every person with a library card.

Government funding has always been low for libraries, and pay low for their workers. When I worked in libraries, I was a government employee and had great benefits, though pay was a lot lower than I would have made at a similar job for a private company. Now, government employees might suddenly have to take a day or a week off WITHOUT PAY because of government furloughs. Back in the 90's, most library workers I knew had to have roommates because their full-time jobs didn't pay enough for them to live by themselves. It's worse, now.

Please sign this petition. Libraries and the people who work in them are important. Your taxes pay their salaries and buy the books and databases in them. If you enjoy libraries, please let your government representatives know you think they are important!

Things you can learn in your local library:

Value of antiques you might have in your attic

Manuals to repair your car

Enjoy reading a popular magazine

Newly-released bestsellers

Classics

If the library you visit doesn't have the physical book you want, you might be able to order it via Interlibrary Loan for a small fee.

Local files of interest, including resources for family history researchers that aren't on the Internet yet!

Did you know there are many interesting things that aren't scanned and therefore, aren't on the Internet? 

Many of these resources for researchers and family history researchers are crumbling to dust. Literally. Library workers are the ones to save this material for our posterity! The average library worker is very busy, so things like scanning materials in the archives aren't a high priority.

If research is important to you, please sign this petition! Write to your local senator and representative, and tell them how vital your research is and how it benefits people.

The video in the link above was made with Canva and Clipchamp by me.

#books

#libraries

#books & libraries

#cataloging

#national archives

#digital archives

#OCLC

#library funding

#petitions

#important

#call to action

#Youtube