You just have to wait
January Cause: Your Local Library; UPDATED JAN 12, 2009
As I was looking for our January Cause of the Month for 29Gifts, I knew I wanted to change things up for this month. I love reading, so I would like to encourage you, for the month of January, to support your local library. I know you have books that you've read and put on the bookshelf, that you'll probably never read again. Why not share those books with your community by donating them to your local library!
One of the institutions we tend to take for granted is our local library. However, most of our libraries are under-funded and in great need of books, donations and volunteer help. Following are some suggestions about ways you can help at your local library. If any of these sound interesting or if you have other talents to offer, please give your local library a call, you can look up the branch nearest you here:
http://www.libraries411.com/gzpsearcher.php
If you do something to help your library this month, please let us know by replying to this string. Feel free to share other ideas you have for helping out too by adding comments.
23 WAYS TO HELP OUT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
source:http://www.volunteerinfo.org/library.htm
One of the institutions we tend to take for granted is our local library. However, most of our libraries are under-funded and in great need of books, donations and volunteer help. Following are some suggestions about ways you can help at your local library. If any of these sound interesting or if you have other talents to offer, please give your local library a call, you can look up the branch nearest you here:
http://www.libraries411.com/gzpsearcher.php
If you do something to help your library this month, please let us know by replying to this string. Feel free to share other ideas you have for helping out too by adding comments.
23 WAYS TO HELP OUT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
source:http://www.volunteerinfo.org/library.htm
- Become an Internet docent: assist library users with connecting to the Internet, basic operations of the graphical browser used by the library (often Netscape), help locate specific sites/URLs that the user wants to visit, make suggestions for those curious about the net. Some basic computer maintenance may be involved as well.
- Repair books to extend the lives of the libraries' resources.
- Shelving books is pretty much self explanatory.
- Delivering books to seniors and housebound persons. Operation Home bound and similar projects need volunteers to help with the delivery of books, magazines, large print, and tapes to persons of all ages who are ill or physically disabled or who cannot get to the library. This work may include the matching of appropriate books for the home bound person and getting to know that person.
- Shelf Reading where someone adopts a shelf section and basically keeps it in order. Choose your favorite subject.
- Video Tape checker/rewinder - someone has to do it!
- Storyteller for the children's section of most all libraries.
- Book washer is what they call those, armed with paper towel and squirt bottle, who clean off the covers of books.
- Friends of the Library is an organization always looking for help with book sales and planning special events.
- Artists are always in demand to create posters for special events, sign and graphics for the library.
- Clerical work may not be glamorous but its necessary.
- Index the obituaries from your local paper.
- Cut out items for story hours.
- Clean up and weed the area around the library.
- Help inventory the library collection.
- Assemble new library card packets.
- Offer to organize a book discussion group.
- Keep the tax forms in order at tax time.
- Send for the free material available from each state's travel bureau.
- Set up a drive to encourage travellers to bring back phone books (not stolen) from their travels.
- Dust the computer screens and keyboards.
- Help with mailing, writing, collating, and stamping the newsletter.
- Call your local librarian for more of the other 77 ways you can help your library.
Tags: January, January Cause of the month, cause of the month, official Cause
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Jan on -
what a great idea Cami - I love books and reading too. I'm going to see what assistance my local library needs
-
Permalink Reply by Kim Latour on -
A great idea. I am sure that librarys around the world will be happy to be the recipients of donations of time, books, and expertise.
-
Permalink Reply by Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder on -
Luckily there's a library around the corner from my house so going over there to volunteer one day this week will be easy for me.
-
Permalink Reply by Sarah P on -
I love this idea. I have always wanted to do something for my library, which is limited by severe underfunding. this will hopefully give me the initiative to finally help out.
-
Permalink Reply by Joie Grandbois on
-
My library has a book swap for folks to bring their used books to. I was planning to cull my book collection and make a donation during my 29 days. Awesome reminder to folks!
-
Permalink Reply by Gini Diane Collinson on -
Erin
I haven't made the trip yet, but I have boxes of books to transport to the local public library. Will post my total when I count them up for my parents.
-
Permalink Reply by Trisha on -
I contacted our local library and we are doing a book drive here at work. The libraries are always looking for newer (recently published) books, specialty books like large print, books on tape.... But also take anything (books, magazines, cds, dvds, tapes), if they do not need it they can pass it on to another library or put it in a donation to another resource or sometimes they have a “Yard/garage/fire sale” and the proceeds go to the library to use as needed.
-
Permalink Reply by Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder on
-
great idea... to have a book drive at work.
-
Permalink Reply by lynn on -
I love this suggestion! I am the president of the Friends of the library at one of my local libraries. We are the group that puts on book sales with the donated books that are received. The money raised goes to help with programs and other things the library needs. As most places in the country, our funds have been drastically cut so we're trying to come up with additional ways to raise funds to help the library.
If you haven't been lately, do get out and support your local library. They are wonderful places!
Another thing you might do to help support the library is to offer to teach a workshop for adults of children. If you have a hobby or interest or maybe what you do for a profession could be something you could give a class or presentation about. If you are a musician or storyteller, they are always popular and your librarians will love to help you schedule something!
-
Permalink Reply by Denise on -
Don't forget libraries also take CDs, audio books and DVDs. When I go on long trips - I often buy audio books. (When I can't borrow them for one reason or another.) After I finish one, I always give it to the library. I won't re-use it and someone should.
-
Permalink Reply by Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder on
-
I'm looking forward to delivering my stack of bookmarks to the library today. Fun.
Support 29Gifts.org
READ THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING 29 Gifts Book
Visit the 29 Gifts Boutique for 29 Gifts Starter Kits and other gifts that give back
Thank You to Mbali Creazzo for inspiring the 29 Gifts Movement
NEW? Please Read First
COMMUNITY EVENTS
IN OUR GALLERY
PINCURL GIRLS
VIEW THE SHOW
Pincurl Girls by Jen Lukas-Landis encourage girls to avoid self-doubt by looking for happiness and expressing their artistic talents.
SACRED CIRCLE MANDALAS
Purchase art at sacredcircleart.com touchstonesofthesacred.com
TELL YOUR FRIENDS
Latest Activity
Let us pray for Frankie, Archy, Jess and Tim... Prayers bring miracles~
Status posted by Deb~ Community Manager
sweetpealarson updated their profile
Lois55 wwt liked Elly Rose-Tech Support's discussion '29 Gifts Nature Walk Gallery'
© 2012 Created by Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder.
