About Save Libraries

Save Libraries is a grassroots effort to compile information and advocacy resources for libraries that are facing devastating budget cuts. We are in the midst of what American Library Association and the Center for Library and Information Innovation at the University of Maryland call a “perfect storm” of growing community demand for library services and shrinking resources to meet that demand.

In a time when people and communities need libraries the most, libraries are reducing their hours or worse closing their doors.

The Story Behind Save Libraries

In March 2010 I watched events unfold at my library where with only 3-months remaining in the fiscal year county officials asked the Library for $2 million back from its budget. While $2 million may seem like a small amount, only 6.3% of the total operating budget for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, the reductions came on the heels of larger cuts during the previous year. With only 3-months remaining in the current fiscal year a $2 million reduction had the impact of a 30-35% overall budget cut.

On March 20, 2010 148 of my friends and colleagues got the call that their positions had been eliminated. I went home and fluctuated between denial, anger and sadness. Finally I realized that I could either cry or do something, and I chose to do something.

Realizing that my library friends in New Jersey and California (and many other states) were facing similarly devastating cuts, I knew that this project had to be a resource for all libraries. I also realized that library closings in one community can easily set a precedent for other communities which is where the tagline “when one library is in trouble ALL libraries are in trouble” came from. A flurry of activity on Twitter and Facebook had the Save Libraries project gaining supporters and volunteers for help within minutes. Robin Blum and Blake Carver of LISHost offered to sponsor hosting of the site. Heather Braum, technology librarian at the Northeast Kansas Library System, stepped up and offered to help manage the site and campaign. Within hours the site came to life. Since then others have become contributors to the site representing their own library or state’s campaign.

Working on this site has helped me focus my energy and remain positive in a time when the future of libraries, especially my own library, is uncertain. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is still facing a 50% budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1.

With SaveLibraries only a few months old, Heather and I are still looking for contributors to the site. Please contact us if you are interested in contributing to the site. If you are contributing through your own blog or social network, please tag your content with #savelibraries or #savelibs to make it easier for us to find.

Lori Reed & Heather Braum

SaveLibraries is hosted by LISHost.org. Special thanks to our sponsors LISHost and In My Book®!