January Cause: Your Local Library; UPDATED JAN 12, 2009

[Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder]

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

• 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.

[Jan]

what a great idea Cami - I love books and reading too. I'm going to see what assistance my local library needs

[Kim Latour]

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.

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

My nearest library is less than 2 miles from my house, I think the kids and I might go this weekend, and see what we can volunteer to do :)

[Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder]

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.

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

I made a wishlist on this weeks Member Giveaway Raffle that, if I win, will go to the library down the street :-D

[Sarah P]

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.

[Joie Grandbois]

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!

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

Just a note to all of you... if you DO go volunteer or donate otherwise to your library, it would rock if you could let us know by posting a little note on this discussion string.

[Gini Diane Collinson]

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.

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

I'm glad the Cause runs for a month, I've been so busy I haven't managed to do anything for my library yet - but I LOVE the bookmark event, I think that's what I'll be doing :)

[Trisha]

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.

[Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder]

great idea... to have a book drive at work.