National Library Week for Geeks!

From CafePress.com (also available as a coffee mug, t-shirt, etc.)

National Library Week kicked off yesterday and continues (shockingly!) all week. Dates to note are Tuesday, which is National Library Workers Day (just so you know, Zombrarian loves chocolate and works in a library, no pressure…), and Thursday, which is Support Teen Literature Day (remember, lots of classic Sci Fi/Fantasy started off as teen literature).

I can talk a lot about what your library can do for you. I can point out that most libraries have fairly extensive Sci Fi/Fantasy sections. I can mention that many libraries also have movies, e-books, music, graphic novel collections, and video games, ALL FOR FREE. However, other people have made far more eloquent statements on this topic. Of particular note are: author Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials), actor Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory),  and author/activist/blogger/MyHero Cory Doctorow.

Since it’s National Library Week, let’s be reminiscent of JFK and ask not what our libraries can do for us, but rather what we can do for our libraries.  Your library will have its own individual needs, which you can ask about when you go in to do one or more of these things:

1. If you already use your library, let them know you appreciate them. Librarians are people too, and they’d like to hear from you.
2. Tell them what you want! Librarians are not omniscient (see above re: librarians are human), and sometimes there just isn’t someone who knows a lot about a subject. If there’s a book/movie/graphic novel/whatever that you think the library should have, let them know. Better yet, donate a copy!
3. Are you a gamer? National Gaming Day (Nov 12 this year)  is sponsored by the American Library Association, and your library can participate! Let them know that you think it would be neat if they had a program. Volunteer to run a shortgame RPG, offer to bring your favorite board game and teach others to play, or just show up and participate.
4. Use your library! The more you go to the library, the more it helps the library.