Library-Lovin’ Blog Challenge Starts Today!
Posted in Libraries on 03/28/2011 09:08 am by jess
Welcome to the second annual Library-Lovin’ Blog Challenge!
Who doesn’t love a good library? All those books lovingly wrapped in plastic, and free. All those quirky librarians, making your day just a little more interesting with their banter and going out of their way to help you find resources. All that programming, without which many families would find themselves bored and disconnected, and all that technology to help people find jobs, houses, and internet boyfriends. That’s all thanks to public libraries, but it ain’t free.
YA author Jenn Hubbard (The Secret Year, 2010) came up with this great idea that during the first week of April, kidlit writers and bloggers would donate money to their favorite libraries based on the number of comments they receive. For every person who comments on this blog between now and Saturday, April 2nd, midnight EST, I will donate $1.00 to the Louisville Free Public Library, which has kept me in books, in company, and out of debt more than I can say. And I promise to post more often so that you actually have things to comment on! Today’s comment question: What do you like best about libraries? I’ve put some options in the poll to your right, but if you want a library to earn money from your opinion, editorialize in the comments below.
In addition, whomever among you comments the most will win a copy of my middle-grade novel, Nice and Mean, either to keep or ask me to donate to whomever you choose.
Finally, this link will connect you with other bloggers who are participating in the challenge, so if you are feeling particularly swoony about libraries, you can read even more and quintippleipple your impact (quintippleipple is to multiply something by 50. If you don’t believe me, look it up.) And please! Spread the word about this challenge–on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, whatever. The more comments, the more money, the more our beloved libraries will be able to do the things that make us love them.
So stay tuned for love songs about libraries (stories, too), and if you don’t have a blog but want to guest-post about your love for libraries, let me know in the comments!
03/28/2011 at 12:48 pm
I love just about everything about libraries, but one of the things I love most is the happy energy you can feel when you walk into one.
I also love watching kids browse the aisles of the kids room, with an armful of books that are so high and unstable they have to hold them in place with their chins.
Love the library lovin’ challenge!
03/28/2011 at 1:25 pm
Oh, I so agree, Erin! There’s always something happening at the library (maybe Simon and Garfunkel should have sung about *that.) And yes, I love seeing people returning piles and piles of books, especially families and kids!
03/28/2011 at 4:10 pm
I love rediscovering books I loved in middle school. Thank you libraries, for keeping my childhood for me, and thank you, Jessica, for doing the challenge!
03/28/2011 at 4:50 pm
Thank you for joining in, and for devoting April to this challenge too!
(And um, yeah, I’m totally voting for the books. Not that the other things aren’t great, too!)
03/28/2011 at 6:15 pm
I love that my library has been rooting for me as a writer for years. It was one of the very first places I went when I sold my book. *heart squish*
03/28/2011 at 7:10 pm
I love the books. And the peace and quiet. And all the book lovers.
03/28/2011 at 7:40 pm
Such a good point, Sarah–I love finding those gems from my childhood! I visited my elementary school library and swooned to see THE SHIP THAT FLEW and O, THE RED ROSE TREE–books that were probably old in my time but we all still read and loved. I’m all for updating collections, but I also hope that libraries keep the odd oldies on the shelves!
03/28/2011 at 8:06 pm
Yay Jessica! Hope you’re feeling well. Go libraries and come comment on my site too!
03/28/2011 at 9:34 pm
Back at you, my library-loving pal!! hugs – j
03/28/2011 at 9:59 pm
I am making an even 10! I love libraries. They save me so much money. My old library in Eureka, California was small and underfunded and was stocked mostly with pre-90s books. It gave me a love of eighties children’s books! Go libraries!
03/29/2011 at 10:05 am
Libraries are the best!
03/29/2011 at 8:29 pm
Hooray for libraries! My favorite thing about our current library is Miss Elizabeth, who leads a rockin’ story hour. She is the biggest celebrity in my daughter’s life, and I get a little nervous around her, too. In a good way.
03/30/2011 at 9:16 am
As a life-long lover of libraries (and subsequently a librarian), I want to thank you for participating in this challenge! Whenever I hear news reports of cutbacks to funding for public libraries – or closing of libraries due to the downturn of the economy, my heart breaks. When times are tough, the community needs libraries more than ever!
03/30/2011 at 8:15 pm
I love the way libraries smell!
03/31/2011 at 10:35 am
Hello Jess’
I love how librarians love to help me find stuff. Really, anything. Amazing people.
03/31/2011 at 11:37 am
Thanks for participating, fellow library-loving challenge taker!
Margo
03/31/2011 at 4:39 pm
I’d love to win a copy of your book. You’re doubly generous with this library challenge. I’m participating for the second year and enjoying it again.
03/31/2011 at 6:20 pm
I love the chance to borrow a book that’s not my usual read–something I wouldn’t buy–but might pick up off a library shelf & read & fall in love with.
Yay, libraries!
04/01/2011 at 9:33 am
I love taking my kids to the library. I love getting to read them all the stories they want that we could never afford to buy. And I love having to return the books that I’ver read to them so many times I’m almost brain dead.
04/01/2011 at 4:09 pm
My favorite thing about my public library is the hold shelf! I love looking up a book online, reserving it, having it delivered from another branch to my own branch, and then having it wait for me on a shelf by the check-out station. Greatest thing ever.
04/01/2011 at 9:44 pm
Wonderful, wonderful idea – I would be a wreck without my local library. Thank you!
04/02/2011 at 1:32 pm
Libraries are a wonderful thing. Who can argue with free access to books?
04/02/2011 at 4:47 pm
I am living in Costa Rica, a land without libraries or books in general. You are so lucky to have a library and most people take them for granted.