I worked in various types of libraries most of my adult life, and I saw how important they are to everyday people, workplaces, and anyone who researches any topic. Whenever I wanted to learn about anything, I went to the nearest library growing up. Libraries are still my lifeline even though I'm homebound because of home access to databases through the Internet. No matter how many sources are on the Internet, there are physical paper resources in libraries that aren't accessible online.

Every item that comes to a library needs a catalog record to make it findable. OCLC is the organization that maintains a database that should include every book in the world. We need to fully fund OCLC and every library's membership in it so that every person can get access to every book and document in a library's holdings through Interlibrary Loan or online. Information is power; if a person needs to know how to repair something or wants to learn about a topic, libraries and free access to them are vital. Especially in this day and time when college is too expensive for many.

Many libraries have unique resources that are not online. Valuable historical resources are literally crumbling to dust because libraries lack funding to store them in favorable conditions. There needs to be funding for staff to scan these resources so they will be available for future generations. They need to also be cataloged.

This funding needs not to have any kind of sunset provision. Academic Libraries always have to fight for funding for subscriptions to journals on which hinges their schools' accreditation.

At one library, when I was a library assistant, we had to contribute our used paper clips to a fishbowl to avoid ordering new ones. Book trucks caused employees to get carpal tunnel because they didn't roll easily. The cost of new wheels was almost as much as a new book truck. Prices in library supply company catalogs were exorbitant. This important issue needs to be addressed. Companies that service libraries should not be allowed to overcharge them.

Also, basic wages at libraries need to be increased. In the 80's, most of my fellow employees had to have roommates to be able to afford housing. These were not college-aged people, but all ages. I put up with the low income to get healthcare insurance I could afford, but even that is not true now. Library employees are state employees. They need a living wage.

There needs to be flexibility in this funding to account for each library's specific needs. An academic library might need journals in a school's major for accreditation, while a special library might need funding for items related to its parent institution's purpose, and a public library needs items popular with its patrons.

Libraries' funding has historically been neglected because of biases against females. Once a mostly-female job, today's library workers are from all groups, and these jobs are hard to get. They require detail-oriented people and the work is often tedious. I think the love of reading ties all of them together. Their mission is vital, to provide information to the masses. Especially for those with low incomes, the library can lead a person to a higher-paying job or give a necessary skill. Support a library and you support people of all incomes, all minorities, and all groups.

Funding for this should not be political, yet politicians seem not to know how important the library is for every community in the United States. Libraries are not partial to Democrats or Republicans or any party. They try to serve all of their patrons, including those of small groups. Books should not be banned and there should be a provision for freedom of thoughts and ideas. Parents should go with their children to the library if they are concerned that their child might see a particular book that they do not want their child to read. Library staff do not provide free babysitting, nor should they.

Sign this petition if you believe in supporting our libraries with essential resources!