Save your libraries and bookstores!

[Clover]

Hello nerdfighters! I don't know if you've heard, but here in the UK a great number of libraries are set to close and in America, Borders has announced the closure of hundreds of bookstores.  I find this to be very sad news indeed.  Ever since I was really little, libraries have been my 'happy place.'  Whenever I felt out of place at school, picked on or bullied, I'd escape into the nearest library and into a favourite book.  I used to suffer from panic attacks when I changed schools (which happened a lot) and the only thing that would calm me down was walking into the library.  I love the atmosphere of libraries and the smell of the books.  I love librarians and the idea that all the books are free and available to take home.  Libraries are very special places, I have very fond memories of them as I grew up.  And I think that libraries are important.  It's important to give everyone access to books and the free internet access. 

 

When I was old enough to work, I chose to work in a bookstore.  I started off right at the bottom and worked my way up to assistant manager before I gave it up to have my children.  I still miss it and think it'll be the best job I'll ever have.  I love being surrounded by books, with working with people who love books, I love talking about books and selling books. I loved opening boxes to find out the new books sent from the publishers.  It takes a certain kind of crazy to work in a bookstore and I feel completely home in that crazy world.  I still miss my old bookstore and I can close my eyes and remember what my beloved children's section looked like.  Sadly, my book store succumbed to the poor economy and closed down a few years ago.  Don't let it happen to your local bookstore. 

 

There are things that you can do to help save your libraries and bookstores.  It's very simple: use your library.  Check out books.  Visit your bookstore.  Buy books.  If you value what libraries and bookstores represent, then do what you can. 

 

Use your library's online services to reserve books.  Tell your librarian how much you appreciate the job he/she does.  Fill in one of those comment cards.  Write to your MP or local council and tell them how much you want and need your libraries.  Go to library events or volunteer your time.  Donate your used books to your library, buy books in your library's annual book sale. 

 

For bookstores, buy books.  I aim to buy at least one book a month in a bookstore, an independent bookstore if possible, but do whatever works for you.  Online websites have better prices, but if everyone buys online, bookstores will continue to close.  Checkout the events that are held in your local bookstores.  The bookstores around here hold regular events/book signings with authors or hold monthly book club meetings. Why not go along? 

 

If you're out to promote specific books or authors, say John Green or Maureen Johnson, for example, then here are a few suggestions.

 

Buy their books

Recommend their books to your family and friends (or buy friends and family their books as presents)

Write reviews of them and post them on GoodReads, LibraryThing, Amazon or on other online bookstore websites (WHSmith, Waterstones, Barnes and Noble, etc)

Ask your local library or bookstore to stock your favourite author's books

Attend events by your favourite author

Consider starting your own book blog/vlog and talk about how wonderful these books are

Email or tweet at your favourite author and tell them you loved his/her books

 

Feel free to mention in comments any other helpful suggestions, or just share with us all your love of books, libraries and bookstores.  Help decrease world-suck by saving our libraries and bookstores.  Until next week, nerdfighters, DFTBA!

[Angie]

I can't use my local library but luckily my college has a good selection of books I can pick from. Also I don't know the details at this moment but the HP Alliance is starting up Accio Books again in march and they're planning on building a library!

[Jessie L]

Thank you for the reminder to use my local library. Growing up, I used my card so often I had my membership number memorized. As an adult, I live walking distance from my library, but never manage to go. I think I will try to make it there more often, to show my support.

[Rebecca Ritter]

I love my local library. I think every community needs one. Great post! :)

[Ashley Hall]

They can't shut down Borders. That's my favorite Bookstore. No bueno:/

[Nicole Kump]

that is so sad. and my bleeding heart cries for you and the future of the world. i have always loves going to libraries and bookstores and escapeing inside their pages, but this news is disturbing. i hope all of nerdfighteria fights for the libraries and book stores of the world

[Nate Habetz]

great post, my grandmother is a librarian, so i grew up reading in my nook in the library. i would hate for it to close! If i may i would like to reccomend a book to all of nerdfighteria by one of my favourite authors, Douglas Adams. The novel is called Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. It's brilliant and greatly comical. support your local library and read it! DFTBA!

[Nicole~]

I'm quite glad you brought this to attention! Librares and bookstores are all I really love going to.

[Kenny (TOK)]

I think public libraries represent the pinnacle of human civilization thus far.  They are a statement that we, as a society, think that knowledge is so important that it should be kept in special storehouses, but also that people are so important that these storehouses should be open to all the public to come in and share in the wealth.  The habit of public libraries to offer free Internet is just a further iteration in this trend.

 

I noted upon my personal blog that, when I went home for Winter Break, I felt shocked to discover a library where one had to sign into the Wi-Fi using a library account.  However, this was just my inability to pay close enough attention, because at the help desk they listed guest accounts and daily passwords.  So this library, like every other one I have visited thus far, made its Internet available not only to regular patrons, but also to vagabonds like myself, and restored my faith in humanity.

[Katelyn Carter]

I gotta say, I support both my library and book stores, when I was a kid going to library was a treat for me I loved to get lost in the shelves and stacks just looking at all these fabulous books, I think we need to show kids today how wonderful libraries can really be.

 

1. I am scatter brained and forgetful, and because of this my library tends to get a large chunk of my pay check each month for late fees, which is really ok with me I look at it as my contribution to my local library.

 

2. I love to own books, while I rarely buy new books (I preferred used), I still love to own them. Most weeks I tend to spend too much on books and not enough on other things...like my bills:( Books are amazing and so fun to own and hold and make margin notes if you want to.

Between me and my boyfriend we have over 300 books in our little one bed room apartment and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

I don’t think as many people are reading today as they used to, and this really concerns me not only for local libraries and book stores but for the world intelligence as a whole.

[Cookie]

I don't know what I would do without my library :(. However, I don't think mine is going to go anywhere anytime soon. It's pretty busy, which is a good thing considering the drop out rate for my city is 1 in 3.But the nationwide library closing makes me sad. When I was growing up (and living in another town) the library was THE hangout spot.

There isn't a borders near me, and I think my Barnes and Noble is doing pretty well. I try to support it by going there and hanging out in the coffee shop, and occasionally buying a book when I can afford it (see above with my obsession with the library).