I Love Libraries

Who doesn’t love their library?

Public libraries are held in high regard by most people. A new Pew study shows that over 90 percent of Americans older than 16 think that public libraries improve the quality of life in a community, are important because they promote literacy and love of reading, and play in important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed by providing materials and resources. Closer to home, a similar number of residents (94 percent) rated the Iowa City Public Library as excellent or good in a recent community survey.

My love affair with libraries goes back to the east side Carnegie library building in Waterloo, Iowa. The Children’s Room was in the basement with its own separate entrance. It was like walking downstairs into a treasure room with a little basement smell, the smell of books and Miss Kelley (she didn’t smell), who kept me in reading material for many years.

Modern Children’s Rooms are much more lively and colorful with programs (book babies, reading to dogs in the library --who would have thought!), collections (downloadable books for kids, movies, toys!), and technology quite a bit more advanced than a stereopticon (iPads, AWE computers) not even dreamed of back then.

The more things change the more they stay the same – the public library still supports education and entertainment while providing a safe place and free access for people of all ages and from all socio-economic ranges. However, providing library services is not free and, in addition to our tax support, we rely on private gifts to help us provide the services you know and love.

This month we have a special challenge – for every library lover who makes a first time donation to the Friends Foundation a generous donor will match gifts up to the first $1,000. Please help us meet that match. Go to Love Your Library  and make a donation today.

Enjoy all of our Love Your Library special activities