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Unlike Leslie Knope, Amy Poehler Loves Libraries

Phil Morehart on February 26, 2020

As Parks and Recreation fans know, the usually-upbeat government official Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) has one big sore spot: libraries. As she explains in one episode, library workers are “mean, conniving, rude, and extremely well-read, which makes them very dangerous.” We have to disagree-and apparently, Poehler does too.

“Libraries were a big deal growing up,” Poehler shared in a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “We have to support our libraries.”

During the same interview, Clarkson surprised Poehler with a live video chat with a librarian from Bexley Public Library in Columbus, Ohio. BPL was nominated for a 2018 Leslie Knope Award, which honors exceptional public spaces across the country, including libraries-despite its namesake’s vendetta against librarians.

“We have a big bone to pick with Leslie Knope about her opinion about libraries,” joked Bexley librarian Leann, a Parks and Rec superfan. “But no, for real…thank you so much for all the support for libraries and local government and education.”

We’re so glad to know the star behind Leslie Knope loves libraries after all! Watch the full clip now:

In case you missed it, Poehler’s Parks and Rec costar Nick Offerman recently also shared the library love with this awesome video from the Reaching Across Illinois Library System-check it out now.

Nick Offerman Explains Why Libraries are More Important Than Ever

Phil Morehart on February 19, 2020

In a new promotional video from the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), actor Nick Offerman stars as the Wizard of the World Wide Web, convening an emergency meeting of the “elders of the internet.”

In the video, avatars representing pop-up ads, social media, and other fixtures of online life have assembled at a “secret internet headquarters” to discuss a grave matter: humans have realized that libraries are even more powerful than the web.

Offerman explains: “Libraries have real people. They get to know you and offer reading recommendations more personalized than any algorithm. They can even tell the difference between real and fake news.” He continues, “Libraries have all the information that anyone could ever need, plus real spaces, fun educational programs, meet-up groups…you can even get a flu shot at the library.”

Love libraries? Find out how you can support library funding by subscribing to the American Library Association’s advocacy alerts.

‘Empathy Centers’: Chanel Miller on Libraries

Phil Morehart on February 3, 2020

Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name, joined library workers from across the country at the American Library Association’s 2020 Midwinter Meeting, where she spoke about activism, literature, and her love of libraries, which she described as “places of unquestioned peace.”

In addition to sharing inspiring remarks with attendees, she also created a comic about her hometown public library and the power of librarians just for the occasion.

Read on to see Chanel’s illustated ode to libraries:

Welcome fellow bookworms. I loved libraries growing up! I remember seeing the librarian slipping the index card out of the back pocket of the book, pressing the stamp with the little numbers into the ink pad and stamping the due date. Old people will remember these times. I loved libraries growing up! I remember seeing the librarian slipping the index card out of the back pocket of the book, pressing the stamp with the little numbers into the ink pad and stamping the due date. Old people will remember these times. I loved the agency and adulthood that came with owning my own library card. A young Chanel Miller puts her card on the desk and says, ring it up on my card; my car is waiting. But most of all, I loved the window at the end of the cookbook aisle. A yellow window sits between two bookshelves. The window that looked out on the boys little league baseball team. Through the window, four boys play baseball. I had this fantasy that one day on of the boys would look over and say...'who is that beautiful girl reading in the window? A boy in a baseball uniform looks over to see young Chanel sitting with a book in the library. I imagine he'd be so in love he'd be too distracted to play until his friends would sit him down and say, 'your heart's not in the game anymore. You know where your heart is & you must follow it! The boy continues to gaze at Chanel through the window, then sits sadly while two other baseball players attempt to reason with him. But that never happened. Probably because I was only 10. Chanel walks along with a thought bubble depicting her and a baseball player dressed as bride and groom. Still, the library remained my sanctuary. Other appropriate names for 'library' would be 'empathy center,' 'brain feeder,' 'heart shelter.' I believe that books heal & books save. Which means I've always known librarians to be the healers and savers. Librarians are the leaders. The community builders. The welcomers, to people of all backgrounds. They keep our minds ripe and help us find what we need. They make the vulnerable feel safe and the young ones feel wise. Three librarians wear golden crowns. And I know librarians have a reputation for keeping things quiet & peaceful......Librarians at a desk and behind a bookshelf say "shhh." But I secretly hope that when the kids go home, and the doors are locked up...Walking feet and a padlock are shown. You all are secretly wild and crazy. Librarians dance and hold drinks under a disco ball in the library. And if you're not partying, you should be-knowing that the world has been made kinder, safer, and brighter because of the work that you do. Thank you. The end. Young Chanel holds up a book at the library. And I know librarians have a reputation for keeping things quiet & peaceful......Librarians at a desk and behind a bookshelf say "shhh." But I secretly hope that when the kids go home, and the doors are locked up...Walking feet and a padlock are shown. You all are secretly wild and crazy. Librarians dance and hold drinks under a disco ball in the library. And if you're not partying, you should be-knowing that the world has been made kinder, safer, and brighter because of the work that you do. Thank you. The end. Young Chanel holds up a book at the library.