The latest episode of our “How I Library” podcast features actor and author Max Greenfield. Greenfield’s TV acting credits include “New Girl,” “The Neighborhood,” and “Bob’s Burgers.” He is also a successful author of books for kids. He joins us to discuss his writing career, the inspirations for his latest book, “Good Night Thoughts,” and, of course, his love of libraries.
My sister recently texted me, “The local library near the park just reserved a room with internet connection for me even though I’m not a resident. LIBRARIES ARE AMAZING!”
She had been arranging a road trip to introduce her first grandson to members of the family, which included stops in multiple cities across the Midwest. Breaking the long car ride up with a stop at a national park seemed like a solid approach for keeping everyone, but most importantly, a 3-year-old in good spirits. But how to accommodate the daughter-in-law’s scheduled online class? Local library to the rescue.
Now, the fact that libraries are amazing is a commonly held belief in my family. We are all lifelong prolific library users. But my sister was genuinely surprised that a small-town library was so accommodating to someone who wasn’t even a local resident.
When you think of a library, the first thing that likely comes to mind is rows upon rows of books, waiting to be explored. And while libraries are indeed sanctuaries for book lovers, offering everything from the latest bestsellers to timeless classics, they have evolved far beyond their traditional role as mere repositories of literature. Today’s libraries are dynamic community hubs, brimming with resources, services, and opportunities that cater to the diverse needs of everyone in the community. If you haven’t visited your local library lately, you’re missing out on a treasure trove of offerings that extend far beyond the printed page.
During Library Card Sign-up Month, we’ve been asking people to try something new at their library and tell us about it. Here are some of the responses we’ve received so far.
“I checked out a pickleball kit with my library card. My daughter and I played pickleball for the first time and loved it! I love my library!”
Beth from North Carolina
“Our Library started an a.maz.ing collection called “But wait there’s more!” that includes power tools, games, musical instruments, household and tech items and more! I checked out a cricut machine and got a tutorial from one of our crafty librarians and used it to create labels for glassware. So proud of myself! Def will not quit my day job to become a crafter but thrilled I could see what all the fuss is about. YAY Libraries!”
Elizabeth from New Jersey
“…we went traveling utilizing VR glasses. What a trip…visited Florence, London and New York. A library is more than just books to this lifelong learner and my Library Card is my most valuable possession.”
Sandra from Wisconsin
“I took my first knitting class, it was so fun!”
Tina from Massachusetts
“I tried something new- checking out seeds to plant! I got some lavender and some vegetables. If planting/harvesting go well, the library only asks that we dry some seeds and take those to the library. So neat!”
Katelyn from California
Some library lovers told us that they checked out an audiobook for the first time, streamed music, tried chair yoga, and attended Zumba sessions. Others took classes in coding, Portuguese, how to use the library’s 3D printer, and more. We don’t know what your local library offers, but we think it’s worth exploring. Libraries today have programs, services, and some seriously cool stuff – all designed to make your life better in so many ways.
Have you tried something new at your library? Tell us about it during September for the chance to win!
Photo credits:
1. Pickleball Courts 2021 by Marilyn Stone. for Montgomery Parks, MNCPPC. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
2. Cricut machine by factorf2, used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license (CC BY-SA 2.0)
3. Florence, Italy. Photo from Jonathan Körner jonko, CC0, Wikimedia Commons, posted under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
4. Learning to Knit. Photo courtesy of Tina from Massachusetts.
5. Seed library at Baraboo (WI) Library by Jessamyn West. Used under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic ( CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 )
“Libraries are pretty dope places, especially because you can read comics for free,” said Eisner Award-nominated comic artist Jorge Corona (Transformers, No. 1 With A Bullet, Big Trouble in Little China) in a special message recorded for us to celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month.
It’s Library Card Sign-Up Month! This year, we’ve teamed up with the TRANSFORMERS to encourage people everywhere to roll out to their library and sign up for a library card. Here are a few ways you can participate.
At the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival session “American History is Native History” on August 24, American Library Association President Cindy Hohl received a warm welcome and enthusiastic response when she asked panelists to speak about the importance of libraries in researching Native history.
A city in Texas now has a library thanks to its mayor—who used to be a school librarian.
Episode eight of the “How I Library” podcast features actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery. Howery has appeared in films such as “Get Out,” “Free Guy,” and “Judas and the Black Messiah,” and in the TV shows “The Carmichael Show,” Rel,” and “Eureka!” And now he’s back on the big screen in the film version of Crockett Johnson’s beloved children’s book, “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” starring as both the animated and life-action versions of Harold’s friend Moose. He joined us to discuss bringing Johnson’s book to the screen, the power of imagination, the intricacies of playing a moose, growing up in Chicago, and of course, his love of libraries.
Have questions about the I Love My Librarian Award? We have answers! Check out some of the most common ones here.
The classic children’s book “Harold and the Purple Crayon” is coming to the big screen! And star and library lover Lil Rel Howery is encouraging everyone to visit their library to discover exciting new worlds, both real and imaginary, in books, comics, games, and more.
ALA’s Annual Conference is the largest library conference in the world. It’s 2024 event, held June 27–July 2 in San Diego, was my first, and I was honored to be surrounded by librarians from around the world as I promoted my debut middle-grade novel, “All Mixed Up.” Librarians have always been special to my family and me. Since the days of accompanying my mom to our local branch, I’ve felt a sense of acceptance and encouragement within library walls. And now, I was able to see up-close how libraries are innovating their spaces and serving their communities.
Proud Sponsor of the ALA Public Supporter Program
American Library Association • 225 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1300 • Chicago, IL 60601
