People love to support causes!

Libraries lead the way in literacy and life-long learning.

Libraries meet the needs of their local communities in ever-expanding ways.

Here's an example of what we mean:

The Public Programs Office of the American Library Association launched a campaign last spring to create the Cultural Communities Fund, an endowment to support local libraries in establishing community and cultural programs. The first of its kind, the fund will help libraries of all types develop and host programs in the arts, humanities, and civic discussion in diverse communities across the country. ALA's immediate goal is to raise $300,000 by July 31, 2005 in order to receive $150,000 in matching funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The long-term goal is to raise a total of $5 million for the endowment by 2010 to support an ongoing annual schedule of training and programming. Make an online donation or print a mail-in pledge card.

The Libraries matter. campaign offers librarians the opportunity to post specific funding needs, such as the one above, on this website where multiple library causes are aggregated.

There are many folks who would like to help improve the literacy rate in America or who wish they could make a difference in the lives of senior citizens and students.

Hectic schedules may not allow everyone to volunteer directly, but they can achieve a level of personal satisfaction by donating to library programs that meet these very aims in their own community. People love to support causes!

Place your wristband order today and we automatically post your cause on this website.

As the American Library Association says repeatedly, "Libraries cannot live on love alone."

Grace Stuart Orcutt Library

The purchase of Libraries Matter bracelets began as a simple initiative to Celebrate National Library Week and culminated in an overwhelming response from students coming to the library asking for the Library Matters bracelets. Initially I gave the bracelets to students and faculty on my Library Advisory Committee. However, as soon as the bracelets became noticed the requests were non-stop. When I ask students, why the high level of interest they tell me, because Libraries Matter!

Jean E. Fournier
Library Director, Grace Stuart Orcutt Library

Carthage Public Library

Twenty-seven teams participated in Carthage Public Library’s Community Spelling Bee on April 11. Although the Library’s team, the Bibliobabes, came in 3rd in the fundraising competition and did not make it to the final round of spelling, the Library was still the big winner because the event raised more than $4,000 for the building and furnishings fund.

Libraries matter. Theme at Parlin-Ingersoll

Parlin-Ingersoll Library in Canton, IL has adopted Libraries matter. as its theme for Customer Appreciation month. Pictures highlighting patrons using various library services are situated throughout the library, illustrating ways in which the library matters to its users. Weekly prize drawings will be held throughout the month, and free coffee is available on Wednesday mornings and afternoons in the library's new bistro section. Director Randy Wilson reports that since re-opening the new facility, library circulation and internet use are both up, and applications for new library cards are up 24%.

Read the full article in The Daily Ledger.

Carthage Public Library Featured on WGEM News

Congratulations to Susan Hunt and Carthage Public Library! Your segment on WGEM's ten o’clock news February 10th was a great promotion for "Libraries matter." Navoo Public Library and John Wood Community College were also mentioned in the broadcast.