To the Journal editor:

It has been wonderful seeing all the positive coverage of public libraries in The Mining Journal during National Library Week. Every library in the Upper Peninsula is a precious gemstone on a necklace; strung together through common goals and shared resources, they make our communities shine.

From the tiny Richmond Township Library in Palmer to the largest in the region, the Peter White Public Library in Marquette, we have a lot to be proud of and thankful for.

We must remember to support these fine fixtures of our communities every day, not just during the spotlight of National Library Week. Did you know that many Upper Peninsula libraries do not have taxes earmarked for them? Libraries like the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library and Negaunee Public Library are at the mercy of their city governments for their funding, and receive only penal fines and state aid per capita for their outlying service areas.

Penal fines per capita (per person living in the service area, based on the most recent U.S. Census can amount to pennies per person each month. State aid per capita is currently 50 cents.

No wonder Negaunee’s library director, Jessica Holman, said that libraries “do a lot for the community on a shoestring budget.”

What can we do to help support our wonderful community libraries? First, get a library card, or make sure your card is up to date if you already have one. Library card statistics are an quick and easy way to show city councils and township boards that residents are using and valuing the facilities and resources.

Second, speak up at city and township meetings, or write to these government entities, to state your appreciation for libraries. Third, get involved – be it by serving on a library board, joining the friends group, attending a book sale, donating directly to the library, or just showing up at the library frequently to be counted as a patron.

Our libraries are a wonderful resource in our communities, and I thank The Mining Journal for highlighting them, and all of the library workers for being there to help everyone.