As a kid, I lived in seven different cities, but the one place that stayed the same was the public library. It nurtured my love for reading. Every weekend, I would wander the bookshelves looking for my next adventures. I would plop my giant stack down at the checkout table and force eye contact with the librarian, my proud smile saying, “Yes, I will read all that!” The library was endless possibilities, for free! And somehow I still left feeling rich.

But libraries don’t thrive automatically. They thrive when people use them, support them, and remind decision-makers that these spaces matter. The good news is that supporting your local library is easy and free! Here are a few small ways to make a real difference.

Get a Library Card

A library card is honestly one of the best free entertainment, and parenting, resources out there. Yes, you can borrow books. But many libraries also offer:

• audiobooks and eBooks
• museum passes
• tutoring resources
• homework help
• craft programs
• free events for kids
• language learning apps
• even streaming services

And when people sign up for library cards, it helps show that the community is actively using and valuing the library.

Check Out Books

This one sounds obvious, but it really matters. When books circulate, libraries can see what readers are connecting with and what types of books deserve more shelf space and investment.

I especially try to check out books by historically marginalized creators whenever I can. Diverse books deserve to be visible, celebrated, and easy for kids to discover. Kids need mirrors and windows.

And if your library doesn’t carry a book you want? You can usually request it! Click here to find out how.

Attend Events

Libraries do so much more than lend books. They host storytimes, craft afternoons, cultural celebrations, summer reading programs, teen events, author visits, and community gatherings.

My first-ever event for the launch of Moon’s Ramadan was at my local library. As a library kid, I could not have it anywhere else. And it felt like an authentic shared experience, between me, the library staff, and the attendees.

But beyond that, attendance matters. Showing up helps libraries continue offering these programs and reminds communities that these spaces are valuable.

Leave Some Love

Library staff deal with a lot, and I don’t think they hear “thank you” nearly enough. If your child loved a storytime, if a librarian helped you find the perfect book, if your local branch feels welcoming and warm, tell them. A kind email. A quick compliment. A positive social media post. A handwritten thank-you from your child. Tiny gestures of appreciation can go a long way.

Donate

If you’re able, donations can really help libraries continue offering programs and resources to the community.

That might mean:

• donating money
• volunteering time
• supporting book sales
• joining a Friends of the Library group
• donating gently used books (if your branch accepts them)

Libraries stretch their budgets incredibly far, and community support helps keep programs accessible for everyone.

Vote

Libraries are a community infrastructure. Funding decisions, local leadership, and school policies all affect what libraries are able to provide. Supporting people and policies that value literacy, education, and public access matters more than a lot of us realize.

Libraries are third spaces.

In a world where so many spaces now revolve around spending money, libraries remain one of the few true third spaces we have left, places where people can simply exist, learn, gather, and belong without the expectation of buying something. That’s why libraries feel so important to protect.

In Joy,

Natasha