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Tuesday, June 13th, 2006
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12:15a - A Favor
Go here. Look at the wish lists for the libraries. Spend money. Send books.
Does it work? Hell, yes. Whatever your opinions on the Damn Hell Ass Kings masterminds, you've gotta admit that they do a lot of good for charity - and for public libraries in particular. And it's working this year, too. In ever-increasing numbers (thanks to ever-decreasing acquisitions budgets), libraries are discovering the power of online wishlists at places like Amazon.com. They're able to communicate their needs to people all over the world, and they receive their items more efficiently than waiting around for someone to donate just the right book in just the right condition.
And the need here is even more fierce. Because children's collections are usually on the first floor of a library, Katrina's floodwaters destroyed those in greater proportion than adult collections. These areas, in addition, are economically underserved, with high poverty rates. By and large, these kids aren't going to get books if not for the public library system. Those collections not destroyed in whole by Katrina cannot grow; normal public funding, to replace damaged books and buy new materials, is needed more drastically elsewhere. So even if a library has not been significantly damaged, it, too, is suffering the effects, as are all of its patrons of any size and age.
This is what I would urge you to do - go to the wishlists, find a couple of kids' books, and maybe a favorite of yours from adulthood, and send 'em out. They'll join My Pop Pop and Me, by Irene Smalls, and Please, Baby, Please, by Spike Lee, both of which are going to the Saucier Library in Mississippi. And go tell 'em what you did at the Dewey Donation System.
(comment on this)
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