When you think of your local library and what it has to offer, you may think of simply borrowing books or using a study room to read or work quietly. What you might not realize is that library resources go beyond books and shared spaces; we are a hub for community tools and mutual aid all year long. Our goal is to share things that community members may need through collections, donations, and free resources, always made readily available to patrons and visitors of the library.
Mutual aid is the process of voluntarily offering resources, skills, tips, and items that other individuals are in need of. It’s a community effort – and requires that we know what people need and how to get it to them.
Our library partners with local organizations to host critical giving opportunities such as blood drives, food collections, and more to build resources for community members. We also host swap events throughout the year for puzzles, formalwear, crafts, costumes, and toys to aid the community in moving no-longer-needed items to those who can put them to use. As a library, our role is to provide the space to hold these events and invite others to take part. As residents, your role lies in the sharing you do by donating, showing up, and spreading the word.
We’re pleased to introduce you to our newest mutual aid endeavor in the form of a Little Free Pantry, which will be located right outside the library beginning later this month. Similar to a Little Free Library, the Little Free Pantry will be a resource to community members in need of nonperishable food items. Beginning this week, we’d like to invite our patrons to begin donating to this new, small but mighty resource. In the future, we will be working with local groups to adopt the pantry for about a month at a time, keeping it stocked and refreshed regularly.
“I believe the library should be a public commons where all different kinds of community needs are met — the need for books and information, certainly, but also the need for belonging, for fun, and now, even for food,” shared Lily Wiest, one of our Adult Services Librarians. “I’m very proud to work for a library that recognizes gaps in our community infrastructure and works to fill those needs however we can.”
The world is a little brighter when we share with others, especially our neighbors. We’re so excited
to bring this new resource to you, and to continue promoting sharing in our community.
We are currently collecting donations in our lobby for the following items to fill our pantry:
- Applesauce cups
- Pop-top fruits
- Bean cans
- Tuna or chicken packets
- Nut butter jars/cups
- Protein-rich soups
- Pasta boxes/Mac and cheese
- Rice