multicultural
does not describe me fully
it is where to start



Saturday, March 20, 2010

A library-loving blog challenge. You comment. I donate.


Today, I join other bloggers who have chosen to promote awareness of and raise funds for local libraries. For every commenter on this post between now and March 27, 2010 12:01 a.m., I will donate $1 to my home town library: East Chicago, Indiana Public Library, up to a total amount of $200.

My hometown’s libraries were an oasis for me when I was young. There, I met great thinkers from centuries past as well as the popular writers of the day. Today, my home town suffers from significant economic hardship due not only to general economic woes, but also because much of its industrial base has left. A substantial portion of the town’s residents, predominantly African American and Latino, live below the poverty line. The East Chicago Public Library once helped me to dream. I’d like to help others do the same.

The challenge is easy. If you comment below, I will provide the East Chicago Public Library a gift. If you don’t know what to say in your comment, “I love libraries” will do.

Note that my pledge is “per commenter”—so if a single person leaves 50 comments, that still only counts once! But you can do more by spreading the word ... please link to this post, tweet about it, and send your friends here so they can comment and raise more money.

If you’re moved to make a flat-fee donation to your library, or to start your own challenge, you are quite welcome, and please leave that information in the comments.

The official time period for this challenge is March 23-27. You may find a complete list of participating bloggers (or other sites where you can help libraries just by leaving a comment!) at the following link:

http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/


UPDATE: 65 wonderful people left comments. Thank you! I increased my contribution to $2 per commenter and have sent the East Chicago Public Library a check for $130.

68 comments:

Nevine Sultan said...

Well, what a nice thing you're doing for your local library, Judith! I'm sure they will appreciate it, as will the patrons of the library. Have a lovely weekend!

Nevine

Harvey said...

May you raise lots of money for your hometown library. I know how much reading means to you.

Esperanza said...

Inspiration from your hometown runs through everything you write, Judy. It's good that you're giving back to the source.

Judith Mercado said...

Thanks, Nevine, Harvey, and Esperanza for your good thoughts and contribution to the blog challenge.

Judith Mercado said...

Bill Young has asked me to leave his comment, which is: "Comment."

I hope this still honors the spirit of the law in this challenge.

Jennifer R. Hubbard said...

Here's my comment toward your goal! Thanks for joining in!

I'm having an OpenID error here, so I can't post under my LiveJournal ID, but I am Jennifer Hubbard, aka writerjenn.

Judith Mercado said...

Thanks, Jennifer Hubbard and Bill Young.

A Cuban In London said...

Oh, marvellous blogland synchronicity. When I'm away I will be uploading a selection of posts from my almost three years as a blogger and one of them will be about libraries in the UK. I pledge my support to your initiative because like you I believe in the power of local libraries. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

wcloister said...

Wonderful and admirable cause. Congratulations!

I am a library lover myself. I paid my dues to my hometown library by volunteering on the audio book recording service. I miss those days.

Anonymous said...

Comments my support! :)

jama said...

Yay for libraries!

Unknown said...

yay for libraries!

Disgruntled Bear said...

Libraries!

Jennifer Rummel said...

great cause - yea for libraries

Carrie Clevenger said...

Thank you for doing this.

cleemckenzie said...

Here's another comment for your library blog challenge. A lovely challenge indeed. I just posted mine.

Mollie said...

This is great! Most libraries are in dire straights right now! I know the Ohio libraries can use all the help they can get!

Anonymous said...

Libraries are an awesome resource. All children need access to them. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Good for you! This is a great challenge :)

Janet Fox said...

Congrats to you (my earliest library was just outside of Chicago...) :)

Nathan Bransford said...

Hooray for libraries!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with your challenge!

Selestial said...

This is a wonderful thing you're doing. Good luck! :)

Margo Rowder said...

Thanks for participating, Judith!
My library-supporting blog entry can be found here: http://bit.ly/ilovelibraries

Ashley @ Book Labyrinth said...

An amazing thing to do!

Sydney Salter said...

Hurray for libraries!

Shannon Morgan said...

Love libraries!

Anonymous said...

“When people who can read and write start fighting on behalf of people who can’t, you just end up with another kind of stupidity. If you want to help them, build a big library or something somewhere, and leave the doors open.”~Terry Pratchett, Interesting Times.

Taffy said...

Hi library-loving blogger! I wish my library was bigger so it could hold more books!

Here is my challenge:
http://taffyscandy.blogspot.com/2010/03/library-loving-blog-challenge.html

Michelle said...

Yay, libraries! I just joined in at my blog, too:

http://michelleknudsen.blogspot.com/2010/03/library-loving-blog-challenge.html

Lara Zielin said...

Hooray! Hometown libraries rule, and so do you!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for helping your East Chicago Public Library, for all dreamers!

holly cupala said...

Wonderful challenge! I'm doing it at my blog, too, Holly Cupala, Tell Me a Secret!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for doing such a great job at helping your library!

Unknown said...

Good luck with the challenge, Judith! Warm fuzzies for your local library!

Kristen said...

Great challenge! I love the ongoing support for libraries!!! THey rock!!

Jessica Lee Anderson said...

Lots of library love! We're doing the challenge as well: http://texassweethearts.blogspot.com/2010/03/library-loving-blog-challenge.html

Anonymous said...

Thank you for participating and donating to your library!

Judith Mercado said...

Thank you so much for joining in my library challenge. I am in the process of commenting on your blogs as well, but am running into computer problems. Be patient. I'll get there before the 27th.

Anonymous said...

Hooray for libraries!

coll

Kristin Tubb said...

Great idea! Thank you for supporting your local library!
-Kristin Tubb

Kimberly Sabatini said...

Libraries are the best! Thanks for commenting on my challenge too.

http://kimberlysabatini.blogspot.com/2010/03/library-loving-blog-challenge-2010.html

Tracy Loewer said...

This is wonderful. Thank you for doing this.

Anonymous said...

I love libraries and I love challenges.

Deanna Gibbons said...

I love libraries! I start taking my kids from the time they are babies and we go almost every weekend!

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed reading your post, particularly in the way you described libraries as a safe haven for some folks. That is so true, and often overlooked. As a child, I loved the library for that reason. It was not only a safe haven, but also one of discovery and wonder. All of these books, for free?! What a treasure. Libraries need and deserve our support, especially in this economic climate.

Denise Jaden said...

Yay for libraries!

Unknown said...

I love my local library! And I love books so much that my house is like a library. LOL!

(This is the third blog I've commented on. That's $2.00 plus £1.00 donated for libraries!)

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

I think it's great that you're participating in this comment pledge drive! I'm near you in the Chicagoland area, and I'm glad you're helping the local library!

Erastes said...

a good cause!

Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads said...

I'm participating as well as I feel it's very important to support our local libraries.

Kathleen said...

I wish I had the money to participate in this. At least I can help by commenting!

Erin said...

Yay! Libraries! Thank you for your support!

JulieDD said...

Great idea! I love libraries!

Becker said...

Thanks for supporting libraries and all the doors they open!

Ishta Mercurio said...

Every town, no matter how small, should have a library.

My post is at www.ishtamercurio.blogspot.com

Thanks for doing this!

Brodie said...

I think it goes without saying, I love libraries. So generous of you and everyone else participating in this challenge! :)

Heidi Rabinowitz said...

Such a mitzvah. Thanks for supporting your library!

Marla Warren said...

Libraries are the one place where you can get something even if you don't have any money. You can check out a book and discover a whole new world.

Marge Loch-Wouters said...

No, thank you! We out in libraryland REALLY appreciate a challenge like this. Thanks!

Jenny Schwartzberg said...

Thank you so much for your support of your library!

From a neighbor and a librarian,
Jenny Schwartzberg

Jessica Spotswood said...

Good luck with your challenge! All this library love makes me so happy.

JR Van said...

I love libraries!

Judith Mercado said...

I want to thank everyone who has participated so far and want to apologize for not being able to make the rounds of all those who so graciously left comments. In an unlikely confluence of events, both computer problems and a family health emergency have kept me from reading the blogs of those who commented and/or participated in the challenge. Thank you for your comments which will result in a contribution to the East Chicago Public Library.

Brimful Curiosities said...

Thanks for making a difference! We are also participating: http://www.brimfulcuriosities.com/2010/03/2010-library-loving-blog-challenge-you.html

MTeacress said...

There better be libraries in heaven. Woot!

Catch My Words said...

Thanks for supporting a library.

cleemckenzie said...

I'm always excited about this challenge and this is my second year to participate. So far the turnout to support libraries has been super. Yeah!