Library Activism

Two things this week. First, a note that the Queens library system in New York City has announced that it stopped buying new books in December. Here's the story from the NY Daily News. I don't know that there's anything you can do about it, but consider - the Queens libraries typically buy 8,500 books a year. What does cutting that player out of the book buying market do to publishers? Especially as the trend spreads. Cutting library funding is stupid and short sighted.

Something that you CAN do - the community of Slave Lake*, in Alberta, Canada, was hit by a massive wildfire  early in May; the fire destroyed 40% of the town. (Here's the story from the CBC) Among the buildings burned was the local library. They are asking for donations - of money, certainly, but of books, new and very nearly new (nothing older than 2 years old) and in good condition. Here is a link to their website, with more information.

*Slave refers here to the Slavey nation, and not to slavery. Wikipedia explains it all, sort of.