How and Why to Request Library Purchases

Bless your community: Build up your library

BOOKS are a wonderful asset for a family and for a community. While buying books is a great option (especially if you can get a great deal on Thriftbooks.com or Amazon) many of us use our local public libraries. But what do you do if they do not have the book you want?

ASK FOR IT! If you know it is a good book, ask your library to purchase it. This is not selfish – you are helping your librarians identify good books and you are helping your community by making sure these great books are available to others.

While many libraries are filling their collections with books we may not like, I would encourage you to ask for good books that will bless the families in your community. If we ask, they just might respond.

I checked the four libraries in my area (libraries with which I have an account) online and searched for the primary books for the GO GLOBAL curriculum. These books are good for EVERYONE, even if they are not using the curriculum. While each library had 60-75% of the books, they all were missing some real gems. If they did not have them in their collection, I asked them to purchase the books.

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Just this week I have asked libraries to purchase The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond, River Boy, The Story of Mark Twain by William Anderson, The Blizzard’s Robe by Robert Sabuda, Africa is Not a Country by Margy Burns Knight, Fiona’s Lace by Patricia Polacco, Joseph by Brian Wildsmith, and many others. These are EXCELLENT, mostly recently published books that should be in a public library for the good of the public. Asking for good books is blessing and ministering to my community!

Now I am not going to lie to you – this took a bit of time if you are looking for 100 books in each of my four libraries. So perhaps just look for a few at a time! But it is well worth the effort if we can get more GOOD books into our library system. Here are some hints:

1. Ask for books that are still in print. Libraries do not purchase used books. Many also only buy from their vendors which may not carry certain publishers, but you don’t know until you ask.
2. If your mother, mother-in-law, or even a friend has some extra time enlist her help in finding library books and in asking them to order books not available.
3. Check for the books at least six weeks BEFORE you need them. They simply can’t process your request, order the book, and process it through their system any quicker. But even if you waited too long, you can at least get the book for your community to enjoy later.
4. Consider using interlibrary loan. BUT check for fees first. It might be cheaper to buy the book used. Even if you buy or use interlibrary loan, request the book for the good of the other patrons!
5. Become a member of all the libraries in your vicinity. If your preferred library does not have the books. Try other libraries in your area, if possible.

My favored library had over 75% of the primary books in the curriculum. But once I added in the other libraries within a 10-mile radius, I had all but one of the books available. Now that I am requesting these books in all the libraries, I hope that the percentage will be higher for everyone.

Libraries are the guardians of culture where books and knowledge are recommended, selected, and tended; It is where our cultural heritage is maintained and nurtured. We are not average parents – we are parents who read, recognize good books, and care about our own children and our community. Be a guardian of culture – help to fill your libraries with good books.