It’s National Library Week! Libraries are near and dear to me (and it’s not just b/c I am a librarian!), libraries fuel our communities more than most realize. There’s a bunch of evidence to show that libraries are vital and essential, yet library budgets around the country are being slashed.

Need more reasons to support libraries?

• Neil Gaiman says so. 😉 He is the Honorary Chair of National Library Week, and he’ll be speaking tonight, April 12, 6-8 pm, about libraries and censorship via a live stream talk. Check it out here.
• The Geek the Library campaign says it all: “whatever you geek, the Library supports it”  and get your geek on: http://geekthelibrary.org/getyourgeekon/geekgear.html
• Keith Richards wanted to be a librarian – that  recent little tidbit should amuse you enough to support libraries.  Check out the article here.
• Librarians have trading cards: http://librariantradingcards.blogspot.com/ and we have our very own society: http://thelsw.org/ – we support each other!
• Another great example of activism among librarians/libraries, please check out:  http://savelibraries.org/

Need the hard facts about libraries? Click through the following links:

• “77 million people used library computers and Internet access in past year” – Want more data?  Read the first-ever study about the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at  U.S. Libraries here.
• Read the State of the Libraries Report to see how important library funding truly is, click here.
• Please take action and show support,  I Love Libraries has a nifty map of all 50 states, with links to state library associations to give involved with legislation and advocacy.  Click here to get started!