Libraries Make CNN

Check it out - the President of the American Libraries Association (ALA) wrote an op-ed on the importance of libraries. She focuses mostly on community libraries rather than on school libraries, but her points are still applicable.

Sort of.

First of all, its a good article. It's emotional and nostalgic about libraries while also arguing that libraries have a special place in our communities as they continue to provide resources and access to new skills and technologies that most people might never get without the library.

But, it also doesn't really address why thats so important. What kinds of jobs do people who use their public libraries end up getting? Do their new skills translate into a better job? And while its nice that 27% of public libraries allow people to check out e-readers, where are these libraries? I'm fairly certain they aren't in inner city libraries.

I understand those are hard facts to find out - and require an expensive multi-year study. I know, I know.

But, I do often get frustrated at the arguments for libraries that simply involve, "well, it would be sad without them..." Yes, I agree, or otherwise I wouldn't be working on Library Build.

BUT, to convince the federal government, state governments, local governments, funders, investors, and grant-giving organizations, you need to provide them with more than "wouldn't you be sad if...." Because, lets face it: they wouldn't be sad. They have the money, and I'm pretty sure they can buy themselves e-readers, their kids go to college, and they can buy themselves any book they want.

So how do you convince them?

Those of us who support libraries - public or school - need to increase the level of our conversations to provide an outlook of what it would look like if there were no libraries. And in fact, you can start with school libraries - look at what has happened to Philadelphia youth who haven't had access to school libraries for over 20+ years - graduation rates hover between 50 to 60%.

Emotional pitches have their place, but lets tell it like it is.

What will America be like without libraries?