A couple of days ago, a friend and I were talking on Facebook about the closing of her local library and the disruption it’s going to cause in her schedule. You see, she doesn’t just use the library for checking out material and doing research, she and her son walk to the library when the weather is nice and they use that time to talk and just enjoy each other’s company. They also like to stop at the local park so her son can play while she reads or catches up with other mothers in her neighborhood.
The library has become a “memory holder” for my friend and her son. As her son gets older and the mother~son moments become fewer, they’ll always be able to look back and remember their walks to the library, the stops at the park, the book reading at night, etc.
For many parents, the library is more than a place to find books, it’s one of the first places their children learn to connect with other kids ~ through story time and other children’s activities. The library is the place that preps their kids for school. Think of all the things children get introduced to at story time:
- Listening and vocalization
- Use of the imagination
- Connecting stories and crafts
- Fine motor skill development
- Big motor skill development
- Following rules
And, for some children, the local library is the only place where they have access to a computer. Libraries provide the foundation for a solid education.
These are the things that the powers that be don’t know when they make the decision to cut services at or close libraries. By removing these services from our communities (or cutting back on the hours these services are available), a disservice is being done to the children and the parents in our communities.
What would losing your library cost your community?
To save your library, consider joining grassroots organizations like Save Libraries or I Love Libraries. Or, better yet, go to your local library and become a friend of the library.
