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"If we have any chance of rebuilding a better society, social infrastructure like the library is precisely what we need."
- Sociologist Eric Klinenberg in the New York Times, September 8, 2018
Our Library Foundation is always busy, but fall is typically the busiest season. Verse & Vino and EpicFest are in six short weeks, we're working on plans for a new Main Library, and dozens of new and ongoing Library initiatives and events swirl around us.
But last week, something else was also swirling, and it made us all slow down. Hurricane Florence, with her high winds and torrential rains, reminded us to take a breath and remember what matters most. Days without power were an opportunity to spend time with loved ones unencumbered by screens or deadlines. Sharing food, flashlights, books(!), laughter and tears with our neighbors or volunteering to help strangers reminded us we all are vulnerable, and just how much we depend on one another.
Florence also reminded us of the importance of libraries as the heart of communities. Refugees from coastal towns streamed into our branches last week to use computers, entertain their children, and find a few hours of normalcy. Your Library waived fees and welcomed displaced families with smiles and assistance with everything from securing a shelter or filing an insurance claim to enjoying a storytime. This is what libraries do.
A recent opinion piece in the New York Times described libraries as the last best hope for society. As we dry out, rebuild, and help one another with renewed perspective this week, I'm filled with gratitude and optimism.
Thank you for supporting your Library, and one another.
Warmly,
Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE
Executive Director
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