Update: My challenge ends today, 4/5/11. I’ll donate $5 for new comments and followers!
I’m taking part in this year’s library-loving blog challenge. Last year’s was so much fun and successful, I had to sign up again! For every unique commenter on this post between now and April 5, 2011 at 11:59pm CST, I will donate $1.00 to Evanston Public Library Friends – up to $150. How easy is that? You comment, I cough up the money, and the EPLF gets a gift!
This year’s challenge adds a new component – Twitter followers. For every new follower I get and keep between now and April 5, 2011 at 11:59pm CST, I will donate an additional $1 – up to $100. So if you haven’t already, follow @margorowder for a good cause.
This year, helping the EPLF is more important than ever. Because the city didn’t renew its South Branch library lease, just last Saturday the Friends opened The Mighty Twig, an experimental outpost with books, computers, internet services, and a variety of programming and events. The Mighty Twig runs on a completely honor-based circulation system and it’s managed entirely by volunteers.
Lori Keenan, Evanston Library Board member and Twig enthusiast, says:
The Mighty Twig saw 500+ people check out 300+ books at our Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday. To the Friends, this seems to validate the need and citizen support of our efforts to provide this important community space. We hope this experimental concept can lead to bigger and better things for EPL system as the Library Board continues its Visioning process. The need, energy, and momentum for bringing more library services to various neighborhoods throughout Evanston is alive and well in the Evanston community.
The EPLF needs $150 per day to run The Mighty Twig, so please add your comment below to support this amazing effort.
You can also help this year’s challenge by spreading the word on Twitter, Facebook, or your own blog – AND by commenting on other participating blogs in the blog challenge master list. If you’d like to start your own challenge or donate to your own library, please include the amount and the name of your library system in your comment.
Libraries mean so much more than books. And books mean the world!
Add your comment and follow @margorowder today.
Thanks, library-huggers. I’ll post a follow up soon.
Hey Margo! Very Cool! Go ahead & start lovin’ EPL $1 worth right… n-n-NOW!
Wow, people stepping up to run their OWN library. That is how much we love libraries!
Margoblogsrocksalot. Thanks for sharing the library love!
Thank you for supporting my neighborhood library turned The Mighty Twig! Some people are tree huggers, and around here, we are Mighty Twig huggers!
nice cause.
donate!
Great idea, thank you!
We Love our Library, and value Literacy & Intelligence in our community!~ Thanks you for helping!
For people with disabilities, particularly those with sensory disorders, having a small branch library, which is smaller and quieter is really important. I’m so grateful we still have the branches.
Loving the Library LOVE!!!!!
I love libraries and the spirit that created a community library is awesome and inspiring!
One of my favorite rituals is taking my 3 year old to the library every week. It’s a great way to discover new books and puzzles, practice computer skills, and teach her how to play calmly with other kids. Our public libraries are an essential part of our culture.
The Mighty Twig fills a very real gap in the Evanston library system that developed with the closure of our beloved South Branch. Yay Twig!
We love libraries in all shapes and sizes.
Kudos to you in your efforts! We at my company hope the Mighty Twig thrives. :-)
Ooh, I like the idea of being a library-hugger. Count me in, and thanks for doing this!
This is terrific. And I’ll say it again and again.
Thanks, Henry. Just the one time will count. ;)
Feel free to send your friends over here to comment, though!
yay
I think this is really great! Libraries are such wonderful things-one of the best things humankind has ever done! That and refrigeration…and the lever of course, and the inclined plane, and the wheel, and the screw, don’t want to forget the screw, and the pulley…but I love libraries!
Thanks, Margo…go Mighty Twig!
Great approach to libraries as true community centers!
I heart libraries – yay!
Love libraries!
Hey, Margo! Great idea! Love what you’re doing :)
Thanks for doing this Margo – we love libraries!
Wow; this is amazing! I love the idea and love libraries; I hope that The Mighty Twig succeeds!
I think Lori will need to make you a Library Hero of the Day, Margo!! Thanks for supporting The Mighty Twig (and for being a pretty cool person on top of that)
Even easier than the NPR pledge drive! Pretty painless! Best of luck!
Reading, reading, reading. Let’s not forget access to books and information!
Valuable, and important. Thanks for your support!
Libraries are a wonderful resource for communities. It’s a shame that in these tough economic times – when the community needs their free resources the most – many libraries are experienceing cut-backs and closures. As a librarian, I wanted to say THANK YOU for participating and supporting your local library!
wowzer! love that you’re doing this. my second year and I love doing it.
Another library lover here!
Showing my love here! Love this challenge so much! I made sure to follow you on Twitter and I’ve already tweeted about this challenge from reading it on Jennifer Hubbard’s site :) This world needs as much library love as it can get! <33
Hooray for libraries! :)
Yay for a community so dedicated to libraries that they’re starting their own! I love the name The Mighty Twig.
I just followed you on Twitter, too! (I’m @jessica_shea.)
I love libraries, too! How cool that you might raise enough money to keep your library running for a day.
It’s good to help worthy causes. Good for you.
Here’s my comment! :)
Reading is one of my favorite ways to spend free time! What better place to get a book — the library of course!
Great idea! I’ll have to check out Mighty Twig next time I’m in the Chicago area.
Libraries have always been one of my most favorite places. Thank you!
Wonderful, wonderful idea – I would be a wreck without my local library. Thank you!
Libraries are so important. Good luck to The Mighty Twig!
I am living in Costa Rica, a land without libraries or books in general. You are so lucky to have a library and most people take them for granted.
I think Libraries are a very important thing to have, and love this idea!
Read, write, love, live!
Hey Margo, great cause! My kids plow thru books and then want more–the public library is a great way to get them their fix while not breaking the bank :)
This is a great cause, Margo! Also, way to crowd source your donation amount. Community power :)
This is awesome Margo! :)
Great idea! Way to go!
Hell yeah books.
Nice, Mike. I love what you were going for. Since you’re addressing books, let’s add a comma in there:
Hell yeah, books.
:)
yay libraries!
Comment again!
Love me some library!
I wish people cared more about keeping libraries alive!
Library Love!
I heart Libraries and MARGO!
Aw! Thanks, Jessica.
Writing and reading = primary food! :)