Day 59: Library Lovers' Month

Since the founding of our nation, libraries have played a key role in our society and culture; this is particularly true today, as libraries offer everything from books to Internet access to job-search resources. Libraries have contributed to children’s learning to read. They have been and still are places for families with children to gather and experience reading together.  Libraries are free to use.

Library Lovers' Month is a month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries of all types. This is a time for everyone, especially library support groups, to recognize the value of libraries and to work to assure that the Nation's libraries will continue to serve.

Library Lovers' Month encompasses libraries of every type, from the small home library to the New York Public Library. This month-long focus is particularly important for public libraries around the country today; with the ongoing recession hitting local economies hard, many public libraries face the stark reality of reduced staff, reduced operating hours, and even closure, all at a time when usage by citizens has increased dramatically.

The Friends of the Library of Hawaii is a nonprofit organization whose primary objective is to maintain free public libraries in the State of Hawaii, to promote extension of library services throughout the State of Hawaii and to increase the facilities of the public library system of Hawaii by securing materials beyond the command of the ordinary library budget. Other objectives are to focus attention on libraries and to encourage and accept, by bequest or gift, donations of books, manuscripts, money, and other appropriate material that can enrich the cultural opportunities available to the people of Hawaii. The Friends of the Library of Hawaii was founded in 1879 by Honolulu's business leaders, merchants, and Hawaiian royalty as the Honolulu Library and Reading Room . The illustrious members of the original organization included King Kalakaua, Queen Kapiolani, Queen Emma, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Sanford B. Dole and James Campbell.

The Friends of the Library of Hawai'i exists to promote and support Hawaii's public libraries. The primary objectives of the Friends of the Library of Hawai'i shall be:

To assist in maintaining free public libraries in the State of Hawai'i
To increase the facilities of the public library system of Hawaii by securing materials beyond the scope of the ordinary library budget
To award continuing education and scholarship grants
To focus attention on all public libraries
To encourage and accept by bequest or gift, donations of books, manuscripts, money, and other appropriate material that can enrich the cultural opportunities available to the people of Hawaii
To promote the extension of library services throughout the State of Hawai'i.

Donation: $5

To support The Friends of the Library of Hawai'i , please visit: http://friendsofthelibraryofhawaii.org/