When I told my daughter about the Mint Hill Library closing down, she was confused. I told her due to budget cuts, they had to close many libraries in our community. She started to cry. I started to cry. We both cried together as she yelled out, “Why is the government taking away my books? Don’t they know children love to read!?!” That kind of reaction surprised me. She’s only seven! I explained that it is not their intention to take books away from children, but then after thinking about it… that’s exactly what they are doing. Bottom line, it does take away from the community.

After crying, she took a deep breath and remembered a story she told to me about the children’s book character Arthur and what he did to voice his opinion. It was a story about a scary book that parents wanted to take away from the kids. If it worked for Arthur, surely it would work to help save our local library, right?

The very next day at school and with help of her teacher giving her the supplies needed, she gathered her friends together at recess and made this poster. She went around to teachers and students to sign her petition to help save the library. When I went to pick her up after school, she held this poster high above her head as she marched out to me never letting the poster down once.

Poster by Susan Marder's Daughter

I didn’t realize how much this meant to her. I didn’t realize what it means to a little girl who is about to lose the very thing that brings joy to her world. Unlimited books to take her mind on journeys of learning and fantasy helping her expand her imagination as well as her intellect.

I’ll be honest and say I don’t fully understand why it is the libraries are the first thing to cut. Why must we sever an educational tool as well as many positive things that the local libraries provide to our community? It just doesn’t make sense. We are both still confused and deeply saddened, but that will not stop us from traveling just a little further to fill in that need for new stories to be read.

Her school acknowledged what my little girl did by honoring her with a perseverance award recently on their morning school TV announcements. That did bring a smile to her face and she thought she had a victory in being a very small part in supporting what she believes in fighting for and I am very proud of her. I am sending this in to help further the support we feel as a family in voicing our belief in not shutting the door to these libraries. Thank you for letting us share.

Susan Marder
Mint Hill, North Carolina

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