LibraryRunner

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!  All sorts of interesting things will be happening on campus, and the library will participate with a display of literature and history.  We've also got a curated online collection in the catalog for you to explore.   Come on by and take a look at what we've got to offer – and take a book home with you to enjoy.  

Are you looking to find a new hobby before summer? What about trying a new craft? Worried about the cost of trying something new before making a commitment? The library can help! The library has lots of both introductory and more advanced books on a variety of hobbies and crafts. Sample topics include knitting and crochet, embroidery, sewing, drawing, language learning, woodworking, leatherworking, 3D printing and of course reading for fun. Check out our curated collection of craft and hobby books. For language learning we have a program called Mango that has over 70 languages to choose from including ASL, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and English.

Last week was National Library Week, so we talked about what libraries are for: offering access to information for everyone, and protecting American freedoms, along with many other things.  This week, let's talk about the concrete benefits of libraries!

College libraries are one of your best tools for doing your academic work efficiently and well.  It's been shown over and over again that using a college library improves student engagement and GPA.  Butte College data has shown that our laptop and hotspot loan program improves grades!  But don't just take the statistics' word for it; ask the students who come in and use our databases, books, and study rooms.  We usually get good feedback, and when a teacher surveyed her College Connection students last spring, the library and CAS were students' two favorite things.  So if you've never used library resources for your classes, come on in and take a look around.  From our friendly reference librarians who help find needed information, to our study rooms that provide a quiet and private space to work, we're always working to support you.

How about public libraries?  Public libraries have been proven to have great benefits to communities, so much so that businesses looking to build in a new location look for places with strong libraries.  A simple measurement of benefit is ROI, Return on Investment; that is, for every dollar invested, what is the economic benefit to the community?  Public libraries give an ROI of (on average) $4-5, which is an impressive number.  Libraries generate this benefit by helping children and families improve literacy, helping elders stay connected and active, running plenty of educational and helpful programs, and even providing free lunches during the summer (as the Oroville Library has been doing for a while now!)

Finally, how can libraries help YOU?  One big benefit is saving money!  At either the college or public library, you can get lots of things for free:

• Books to read, for yourself or your kids!  We love the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program, which encourages great literacy skills.  Nobody can afford to buy 1000 books for their kids, but the library will lend you an endless supply for free.
• Access to online resources, from job searching to free New York Times to academic databases
• Streaming movies!  Why pay for streaming when you can get it from your friendly neighborhood public or academic library?
• Tools and equipment!  The Oroville Library now has a Library of Things.
• E-books right on your phone or device
• State Parks passes  (no really!)
• A place to gather and build connections

This weeks TL;DR: libraries are great and will improve your life while saving you money and time!

In celebration of National Library Week, here are a few facts about the importance of libraries:

• Libraries are about access for everyone!  Access to accurate information, technology, education, and other resources, so that everyone, regardless of income or background, is able to connect to the world and find what they need.  Librarians are here to guide you through.
• Your First Amendment right to read and write freely is the core of the library mission.  American freedom depends on a populace that can access all information.  Libraries offer a wide range of ideas and viewpoints so that everyone can find knowledge without restriction.  Libraries don’t tell you what you should read; they create collections to serve the needs of all members of the community.  
• Libraries work to preserve privacy in an increasingly data-tracked world.  What you learn is your business and should not be subject to scrutiny.
• Citizens need to be able to keep an eye on what their government is doing.  Libraries gather and archive accurate information about local and national government activity.
• 54% of American adults cannot read and write at a 6th-grade level, which limits them from getting good jobs and from understanding their own finances and health care.  Libraries not only help children to learn to read well, they also offer adult literacy tutoring so that people can improve their lives.
• Public libraries function as community centers, offering free activities to all age groups and interests.  In our increasingly atomized and isolated society, libraries are one of the last cost-free places to go and connect with others.
• Libraries connect people with local resources that can help with:
  • Job searching
  • Starting a business
  • Finding legal help
  • Caring for family
  • All sorts of things!
• Libraries are considered second responders, acting as support in times of crisis. For example, in summer, libraries are a free place to cool off.  After the Camp Fire, libraries helped people find the resources they needed.

TL;DR: libraries are for everyone, and they should be as free as possible. You shouldn’t have to pay money to find out the information you need to know.