Worlds Connect @ Your Library
posted 04/15/2009
You'll have to bear with me this week. I'm going to write about some of
the ideals that inspire and motivate me. It come off as cliché, or somehow
false. But it's not. I love being a librarian. I am a librarian because I
believe in the values libraries hold true. I believe libraries make the
world a better place. I believe libraries strengthen and transform
communities. I believe in the intellectual freedom and equal access to
information that libraries actively protect and defend everyday. I am
proud to come to work.
I'm writing about this because we are in the middle of National Library
Week. This week is set aside as a time to celebrate the work of all types
of libraries and to promote library use and support.
A bit of history from the ALA:
In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less time
on books and more on radios and televisions. Concerned that Americans were
reading less, ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit
organization called the National Book Committee. The committee's goals
were ambitious. They ranged from "encouraging people to read in their
increasing leisure time" to "improving incomes and health" and "developing
strong and happy family life."
In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on
the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and
use libraries. So in 1958 the first National Library Week was celebrated
with the theme "Wake Up and Read!" National Library Week has continued
ever since.
In 2009:
Library use is up nationwide among all types of library users. People
across the nation are discovering libraries as places for opportunity,
education, self-help, and lifelong learning. People are using resources at
libraries to help in job searching and to learn new skills. People are
finding free resources including books, magazines, DVDs and computer and
wifi access. People are getting connected at libraries, using our spaces
to come together and our resources to keep connected to events and people
around the world.
Now that is something to feel good about. And to celebrate. I encourage
you to visit our library this week and take advantage of what we have for
you!
Laura Tretter
San Juan Island Library
360.378.2798
ltretter@sjlib.org
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