Letter from the Editor: Support your local library

By Courtney Warren

When I was young, we lived in a super small town in Georgia. My mom was a stay-at-home mom, also lovingly known as a stay-in-my-business mom. She was all about all the things. Because of this, my brothers and I were never bored. She drove the church van, the soccer van, she subbed at our school, she ran VBS, and she also always supported the local library. 

The Hightower Memorial Library was a place of magic. It was absolutely huge–a brick building that sat on a hill with giant white columns and large windows letting in plenty of sunlight. I remember walking through the stacks and through the sunlight, watching the dust dance when I finally found a good spot on the floor. 

Looking back, taking us to the library was probably a great way for mom to get a little rest, peace and quiet from the three of us. But those were some of my favorite days.

The library was divided into two sections. The left side was children, and the right side was adults. I used to feel like such a rebel, quite the grown up, when I walked over to the adult section to sort through the titles. Mom sat at a central table with my youngest brother and read while I explored. 

I still love the library. I love the way the books smell, I love the way the pages turn, I love the way the plastic crinkles on the hardbacks. Did you know Lemuria sometimes sells books with the crinkly library plastic? I will buy one sometimes for solely that reason.

When Berit and I moved here, the first place we sought out was the library. I didn’t know anything and felt so lonely, but I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would be able to find peace within those stacks. I’d feel at home while she played with the train sets and the picture books. I could take a deep breath. 

I will never forget the day she got her first library card. She was a few months short of the age requirement, but the sweet librarian (and I’m not telling you which location, so you can’t fuss at her – that woman is a SAINT!) looked at my little girl and said, “I’m never going to keep a child from reading books.” 
We walked out that day with a handful of books and now check them out regularly. 

As I’m sure you know, our libraries are underfunded. With recent changes in D.C., that has become even more apparent. Some libraries are the only place people have access to the internet, to fax machines, to copiers. Some libraries are the only way senior citizens get opportunities to socialize. Some libraries - and librarians - are the only reason children are off of the streets and not getting into trouble. 

Did you know that the entire genre of young adult literature was started by librarians? It’s true! Give Anne Carroll Moore and Maragret Scoggins a Google. They are the reason we even have those sections and genres in our libraries and bookstores to begin with! All because they wanted to ensure everyone had something to read, no matter their age. 

Libraries are the reason that people with learning differences have the ability to listen to audiobooks for free. And some libraries, most libraries, give readers a soft place to land when they’re lonely or need a break. When they’re a new mom desperate for interaction but too scared to go anywhere in public, so they stroll their newborn a block down the way and walk into the library, taking the first real breath they’ve taken since the birth of that newborn. 

But Courtney, you say, I don’t read. What do I need the library for? Libraries, at their core, are about social equity. Everyone is the same in the library. Everyone matters. Everyone is on an even playing field. Where else can you find that? In the Bible Belt we’d love to say “church!” as our imm
ediate answer…but are all churches like this? I wish they were. 

What do you need the library for? Did you know that a lot of teacher professional development is funded by our libraries? In the 2024 fiscal year, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded about $270 million in grants to museums, libraries and states — funding that supports statewide databases, interlibrary loans and other resources that impact K-12 schools. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants have often gone to teacher professional development workshops run by museums and nonprofit institutions. 

Now, you may not be able to name your favorite library to support, but I bet you can name a teacher that impacted you. 
Thank a library. 

Support your library. 

Go check out a book. You know I always have some to recommend.