Update on Helping Damaged Libraries

As promised here, I looked into helping libaries that have been damaged by recent storms.  The ALA has organized a web page with contact information: Helping United States Libraries.  There is information for many states struggling to rebuild their libraries after various disasters.

For public libraries, it is especially difficult to rebuild after a disaster without the help of private sector donations.  Our budgets are very tight as it is, and public funds rightfully go to the primary services first.  However, the library is a huge sorce of comfort after a disater.  It gives people a safe place to go, it provides access to vital information, Internet access, and lesiure materials, all for free. So, any donation you can make to a library in need is money well spent to help the people of the affected community.

For those of you who were interested in helping Vermont libraries in particular, here is the specific information from the page:

Vermont

posted September 2011

We have received many calls and emails from people all across the country who want to help our libraries. We are grateful to all of you and want to let you know how you can best help our libraries at this time. For now, please do not send books. Instead, we are accepting cash donations.

For those who want to make donations to assist Vermont public libraries who suffered damage or flooding as a result of Tropical Storm Irene, please send checks to the Vermont Public Library Foundation, c/o State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries, 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05609
Checks payable to: Vermont Public Library Foundation, Inc.

These donations are tax deductible and will be distributed to libraries that have sustained damage from flooding. Funds will be used for repairs, mold abatement, clean-up and replacement of books, furniture and computers. Any funds left over will be kept in a separate account to assist public libraries in future disaster-related events.

For more information, visit the Vermont Department of Libraries at http://libraries.vermont.gov/

Also, here is an article about an especially hard hit Vermont library from American Libraries Magazine