April is National Library Month – Here’s How You Can Help
April is Library Month!
Library Giving Day, April 4
National Library Week, April 23 – 29
We need your help to raise support for the 12 Long Beach Public Libraries! The Library’s dynamic literacy programs, STEM workshops, and one-on-one homework help are needed now more than ever to help kids succeed and thrive. Recently released student test scores show the pandemic’s continuing impact on student achievement. More than half of LBUSD students failed to meet state standards last school year, with about 52% failing to meet the standard for English and about 67% failing to meet the standard for math. Your support helps get them back on track!
Help us reach our $10,000 fundraising goal for National Library Month, which includes Library Giving Day on April 4 and National Library Week April 23-29. You can help by hosting your own fundraiser on Facebook or through email. We recommend setting a personal goal of $250 or more. You may inspire your friends to give if you kick things off with a donation of your own.
Please note that Facebook does not charge any fees for donations and, in fact, covers the credit card fees so the total amount donated directly supports the Library Foundation.
Facebook Fundraiser Toolkit
This toolkit includes:
- Step-by-step instructions to create a Facebook fundraiser
- Suggested copy for posts when sharing your fundraiser
- An email template if you choose to fundraise by email instead
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Creating a Facebook Fundraiser
If you choose to create a Facebook fundraiser, we recommend that you set it up by April 1 so that you can fundraise for Library Giving Day. This will give your friends and family time to see your fundraiser and help you reach your goal.
Sign into Facebook and click the link below to get started.
https://www.facebook.com/fund/LBPLFoundation/
- The window below will appear with “Long Beach Public Library Foundation” automatically set as the organization you are raising money for.
- Scroll through the “Details” section on the left and:
- Enter $250 or more for “How much money do you want to raise?”
- Enter April 30 for “When should your fundraiser end?”
- Add a message for “Why are you raising money?” such as:
April is Library Month! As a Long Beach Public Library cardholder and patron, I call on you to join me in supporting free educational resources for the Long Beach students and families who need help getting back on track.
The Library’s dynamic literacy programs, STEM workshops, and one-on-one homework help are needed now more than ever to help kids succeed and thrive. Recently released student test scores show the pandemic’s continuing impact on student achievement. More than half of LBUSD students failed to meet state standards last school year, with about 52% failing to meet the standard for English and about 67% failing to meet the standard for math.
At the 12 public libraries, the Library Foundation funds many early literacy programs in English and Spanish including Dive into Learning and the annual Summer Reading program. The Library Foundation also funds the Family Learning Center program which provides one-on-one tutoring for students of all ages and job search support for their families.
I hope you will join me in celebrating Library Month with a gift that will make a difference for Long Beach families! Visit LBPLfoundation.org to learn more about the programs your donation will support.
- Click “Create.” The fundraiser will automatically be shared on your Timeline.
- Invite your friends! This is the best way to tell all your friends about your fundraiser. Facebook gives you the option to invite either all of your friends or to select individual friends to donate to the fundraiser. Those who have been invited will receive a notification.
- Share your fundraiser and re-share throughout April to get more support.
Suggested copy for posts when sharing your fundraiser:
- Post on April 4: Today is #LibraryGivingDay and I am proud to support the 12 Long Beach public libraries as a library lover and patron. Help me reach my fundraising goal!
- Post on April 23: Today is the start of #NationalLibraryWeek and I am proud to support the 12 Long Beach public libraries. Help me reach my fundraising goal to support our libraries!
- Happy #NationalLibraryWeek! I’m fundraising to support the Long Beach Public Library Foundation’s work to provide resources to students, job seekers, families, and everyone who depends on the Library.
- Celebrate #NationalLibraryWeek by supporting the Long Beach Public Library Foundation! Our public libraries and their free programs are needed now more than ever.
Suggested Email
If you prefer not to use Facebook for your fundraiser, we encourage you to email potential supporters asking them to donate on our website or to send a donation through the mail. You might say:
Hi _____,
Happy National Library Month! As you may know, I proudly support the 12 public libraries in Long Beach. This week, I call on you to support free educational resources at the libraries by helping me reach my $250 (or more) fundraiser goal.
The Library’s dynamic literacy programs, STEM workshops, and one-on-one homework help are needed now more than ever to help kids succeed and thrive. Recently released student test scores show the pandemic’s continuing impact on student achievement. More than half of LBUSD students failed to meet state standards last school year, with about 52% failing to meet the standard for English and about 67% failing to meet the standard for math.
At the 12 public libraries, the Library Foundation funds many early literacy programs in English and Spanish including Dive into Learning and the annual Summer Reading program. The Library Foundation also funds the Family Learning Center program which provides one-on-one tutoring for students of all ages and job search support for their families.
I hope you will join me in celebrating National Library Month with a gift that will make a difference for Long Beach families! Visit LBPLfoundation.org to learn more about the programs your donation will support.
I hope you will join me in celebrating Library Month with a gift that will make a difference for Long Beach families! Visit lbplfoundation.org/donate to make a donation of any size. To support my fundraiser, please enter my name in the Comment section of the form. You may also mail your donation to Long Beach Public Library Foundation, 200 W. Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802. Please include a note with your donation to have it applied to my fundraiser.
Thank you for making a difference for our Libraries and the people they serve!
This is just one way you can help support our public libraries this April during National Library Month! Our Foundation has a goal of $10,000 and we hope you can help continue to ensure library programs like the Family Learning Centers, The Studio Maker Spaces, the Adaptive Center for Technology and the Dive into Learning programs continue to serve the Long Beach community.
To donate directly to our Foundation and these programs, please click here.
What’s happening in The Studio in March
The Studios are community workspaces where people can meet, socialize, innovate, and collaborate using technology and resources. There are currently two permanent spaces – The Studio inside the Billie Jean King Main Library and The Learning Lab at the Michelle Obama library, plus a mobile Studio available at all 12 LBPL branch locations on a rotating monthly schedule.
Your generous donations help make these programs possible. Learn how you can become a donor.
Check out this month’s Studio events and workshops:
A design thinking workshop series specifically for 7th and 8th graders! Do you know of a middle schooler interested in creative thinking and problem-solving? Do they love collaborating and working with others to come up with a unique solution to a challenge? This series is for them! In 10 weeks they will learn new strategies to designing a life that inspires them.
The Studio is made possible by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation through grants from the Rudolph J. and Daphne A. Munzer Foundation, the Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation, the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation, Edison International, and more.
The Mobile Studio is made possible by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation through grants from Marathon Petroleum Corporation, the LGA Family Foundation, and the California Resources Corporation.
Library Event: Virtual Author Talks
March has an exciting line-up that you won’t want to miss! Join the conversations about the life benefits of being a generalist, some delicious Southern cooking, and travel back in time to the Nazi resistance in Brussels. Don’t forget about the live Q&A after each talk where you can join the conversation with the authors. The events are held on the dates listed below and will be recorded, so sign up and submit your questions even if you can’t attend the live session!
David Epstein, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
Monday, March 13 @ 10 AM PDT
Join the Library for the conversation with New York Times bestselling author David Epstein as he chats about his most recent book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.
Generalists are those who often find their path late and juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They are usually the successful ones, not the specialists who tend to have an early start and unwavering focus. Generalists arealso more creative, agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see.
David Epstein examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters, and scientists. He discovered that in most fields—especially those that are complex and unpredictable—generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel.
Send your questions in for David Epstein and check out Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World and his other books.
Jernard Wells, Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours
Tuesday, March 21 @ 1 PM PDT
Yum! Join the Library for this delicious conversation with Celebrity Chef Jernard Wells about his newest cookbook Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours.
Delicious and inventive recipes that remix the traditional flavors and classic dishes of Southern food and celebrate African-American culinary contributions to tables worldwide—from the host of CLEO TV’s New Soul Kitchen. After growing up in Mississippi, Jernard Wells brought the familiar dishes and bold flavors of the South along his culinary journey to become a chef, restaurateur, and TV host. With Southern Inspired, Jernard continues his journey—retracing the steps of generations of African American cooks whose creations have contributed to global kitchen tables since slavery. Southern food defines American food at large, and Chef Jernard takes it to a whole new level while still honoring its roots. Chef Jernard also brings in flavors from the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, always with his signature Southern flair. This cookbook shares 100 recipes that are approachable for both beginners and more experienced cooks.
Send your questions in for celebrity chef Jernard Wells and check out Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours.
Pam Jenoff, Code Name Sapphire
Tuesday, March 28 @ 4 PDT
Join the Library for an exciting trip through time as we chat with New York Times bestselling historical fiction author Pam Jenoff about her newest book Code Name Sapphire.
In Code Name Sapphire, a woman must rescue her cousin’s family from a train bound for Auschwitz in this riveting tale of bravery and resistance.
It’s 1942 and Hannah Martel has narrowly escaped Nazi Germany after her fiancé was killed in a pogrom. When her ship bound for America is turned away at port, she has nowhere to go but to her cousin Lily, who lives with her family in Brussels. Fearful for her life, Hannah is desperate to escape occupied Europe. But with no safe way to leave, she must return to the dangerous underground work she thought she had left behind.
Send your questions in for Pam Jenoff and check out Code Name Sapphire and her other books.
Your generous donations allow our Foundation to support the Library, including this virtual author talk series.
Ryan Ballard, 2022 Board President
Ryan Ballard has served on the Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board since late 2017. He has contributed to the growth and success of our organization and led efforts for the Board of Directors to better reflect our diverse city as VP of Board Development in 2019. Ballard is also an Advisory Board member of the African American Firefighter Museum, a former Den Leader for Boy Scouts of America, and a former board member for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as its Western Region Assistant Vice President. He has served on the pastoral staff of First Church of God-Center of Hope in Inglewood, CA as the Youth Director. In addition to his work with nonprofit organizations, Ballard is a Resource Specialist Teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
A Letter from Our Board President
Dearest Library Supporters,
“We aren’t your grandmother’s library.” That’s a quote I heard around the time of the opening of the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library in North Long Beach in 2016. It’s a nod to the fact that libraries are no longer a quiet place to simply check out and read books or a place to do homework. Libraries represent so much more, and the vast amounts of free resources available to patrons make them centers of information, community, learning, and growth. (See Palaces for the People: Library as Community Builder)
Gone are the days of scrolling through library card catalogs, or being “hushed” for breathing too loudly. Our libraries have become one-stop interactive hubs for providing services to their visitors. From free access to computers with internet access to our Family Learning Centers which provide one-on-one homework, job support, and computer use assistance, Long Beach’s public libraries are becoming institutions we can’t live without. I’ve often said that libraries are the great equalizers; housed within them are the keys to a brighter future with the resources that provide a direct pathway to success. For instance, the Library’s Career Online High School gives a second chance to adults seeking to obtain an accredited diploma.
To be fair, I have pondered the pros and cons of our library system and what public libraries, in general, provide to communities. I was stumped, as I could not think of anything negative to say about libraries. Although the word most associated with libraries is “books,” I continue to be amazed that this age-old institution has evolved into a safe space that addresses the unique and myriad needs of our community. I guess that’s the beauty of a library…it sparks creativity which has no bounds.
In keeping with the mission, the Long Beach Public Library Foundation provides support to enhance our libraries. At our core is the promotion of literacy and education for all members of the community. We do this good work thanks to your large and small contributions to support this worthy cause. We cannot do this alone. Please join us in our relentless pursuit to expand the reach of a library system that is improving the world one book and one service at a time.
Together we can; together we must,
Ryan Ballard
2022 Board President
Educational Resources Funded in 2021 Thanks to Your Donations
Thanks to your support, the Library Foundation made the following resources possible in 2021 to help many in Long Beach get their lives and livelihoods back on track. You can give those who depend on the Library even more reason to celebrate in 2022 with a tax-deductible donation to help us support library programs, technology, and resources. Every dollar makes a difference!
Family Learning Center Program
This program provides one-on-one homework help, job search support, and computer training. It continued in 2021 with the reopening of in-person centers and through its online component, Brainfuse, that all library cardholders can access 24/7. The Library Foundation has funded this program since its inception in 1999.
Dive into School Launches
This new program made possible by donations to the Library Foundation includes virtual and in-person workshops designed to teach age-appropriate language, literacy, math, and social-emotional skills that children should acquire before entering kindergarten. Workshops are available in both English and Spanish.
Celebrating Our Heritage
The Library has a long history of promoting inclusivity and diversity by highlighting the many cultures represented in Long Beach. This year, the Library Foundation was proud to fund educational events to celebrate Black History Month and Latino Heritage Month with support from F&M Bank, and to start our Fund for Asian American & Pacific Islander Voices.
Tech To-Go
In April, the Library launched its new Tech To-Go Chromebook and pre-paid wifi hotspot lending program to help local families bridge the digital divide. One in four Long Beach households lacks a reliable internet connection. The Library Foundation is proud to be a part of the community benefit partnership with Verizon that launched this program.
Makerspace Studio
The Library’s most innovative resources made a comeback this year. The Library Foundation-funded makerspace studios at the Billie Jean King Main Library and the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library reopened this summer and resumed offering in-person instruction in 3D printing, graphic design, robotics, and more.
Early Literacy
Promoting literacy in Long Beach starts with raising the next generation of dedicated readers who are prepared to succeed in school and beyond. This year, the Library Foundation funded several virtual literacy programs for families including Dive into Reading, Circle of Stories, the Young Readers Club, and the Summer Reading Program.
We also partnered with Léeme un Libro (Read Me a Book) and, with funding from the Long Beach Community Foundation, made it possible for more than 1,200 new Spanish-language books and 2,700 craft packs to be delivered to migrant children sheltered at the Long Beach HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) site this summer.
The Library Foundation Stands in Solidarity with the Asian and Pacific Islander Communities of Long Beach
The Long Beach Public Library Foundation stands in solidarity with the American Library Association (ALA), Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), and the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities of Long Beach in condemning anti-Asian hate crimes.
As the ALA Executive Board recently stated, “Such bias and bigotry are not new, but they have found fertile terrain in a country beset by disinformation, discrimination, xenophobia, Sinophobia, and white supremacy.” We couldn’t agree more. That is why we remain firmly committed to promoting literacy and education in Long Beach. Education is a powerful tool in fighting these social ills.
We are now proud to launch our Fund for Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices and encourage you to donate any amount to support library materials that promote the voices, narratives, and histories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This fund will also support resources and programs that educate the public on the origins of white privilege, white supremacy, and other forms of institutional racism and human rights issues that plague our society. Support this fund at https://www.lbplfoundation.org/aapi. Whether you donate $5 or $500, your gift will support educational tools in the fight against racism and injustice.
The Library Foundation remains committed to fighting for greater equitable access to the Library by advocating for significant increases to the Library’s structural budget. The City should provide the Library with sustainable funding that would allow it to be open more hours and provide more resources in Khmer, Tagalog, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish, and other languages spoken in Long Beach homes. If you agree, please contact your Councilperson and ask for greater structural funding for the Library.
The Library Foundation will also continue our efforts to diversify our Board of Directors, so our leadership adequately reflects Long Beach’s diverse community. In the past three years, we have transformed the makeup of our Board to include more people of color. We have seen how inviting a diverse set of voices—those from various racial, cultural, geographic, age, and economic backgrounds—has strengthened our organization and boosted our community impact and exposure, allowing us to promote literacy at every economic level.
Libraries play an instrumental role in educating the public, and they are often the only place left in society where the public can access truly free educational resources. They are often called the great equalizer. That is why it is important to strengthen this institution.
Learn about all the Long Beach Public Library has to offer at https://www.longbeach.gov/library.
Thank you, stay safe, and keep learning.
Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board of Directors and Staff
Voter Guide for Library Supporters
The Long Beach Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library, two nonprofit organizations that raise funds and advocate for the city’s 12 public libraries, have jointly created a Voter Guide for the November 3, 2020 General Election. The guide, available at lbplfoundation.org/voters, allows voters who recognize the critical role libraries play in Long Beach’s literacy and educational efforts to make informed decisions when voting for candidates running to represent City Council Districts 2, 6, and 8; Long Beach Board of Education District 2; and Long Beach City College Board of Trustees Area 4.
10 candidates participated in the Voter Guide by submitting a brief statement outlining their views about libraries in Long Beach and, if elected, their plans for the future of local libraries.
The Long Beach Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library are 501(c)(3) organizations and, as required by law, will not endorse or advocate for any candidate. The responses from the candidates appear exactly as they were received, without edits. This guide is an educational piece without commentary.
These Candidates Participated
The Long Beach Public Library Foundation Unequivocally Affirms that Black Lives Matter
The City of Long Beach, and the world, have experienced an extraordinary uprising in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board of Directors and staff have taken this time to listen, learn, and analyze our own role in upholding systemic racism. As an organization that has long advocated for equity in education and literacy, we unequivocally affirm that Black lives, indeed, matter.
While we are an organization that relies heavily on the power of the written word, we know words are not enough. For too long, nonprofit organizations like ours have failed to take deliberate actions that significantly dismantle systemic racism. Our organization has worked for years to support educational programs and provide resources to all who visit the public libraries in Long Beach. Still, we understand Black people and people of color face crippling inequality in virtually every aspect of American society including housing, healthcare, and education.
Therefore, we have outlined a number of actions we will take to address this critical issue:
- Like our colleagues at the Long Beach Public Library (LBPL), we believe knowledge is the strongest tool we have to fight racism and injustice. Therefore, we will direct financial and other resources to ensure our libraries include widely available books and materials that represent the voices, stories, and histories of people of color as well as resources to educate the public on the origins of racism, white privilege, white supremacy, mass incarceration, and other issues that have plagued our society. We are grateful for our collaboration with the African American Heritage Society of Long Beach and the Long Beach faith community to ensure these resources are widely available at all 12 libraries in the city, in the LBPL online catalog, and as part of LBPL’s African American Resource Collection.
- We will continue to use our advocacy efforts to fight for equitable access to educational resources and programs in Long Beach. This will include ensuring Library services are as available and accessible as possible to all residents of Long Beach, including families who cannot access preschool, those disadvantaged by the digital divide, disabled patrons, LGBTQ patrons, young people who seek educational resources and a safe place to socialize, adults who would like to earn 21st century job skills and seek résumé assistance, those experiencing homelessness, and more.
- We commit to more consistently raising the voices of people of color. This will include raising funds for library programming that focuses on important topics such as cultural appropriation, racism, implicit bias, diversity, community healing, and more.
- We will also continue our efforts to diversify our board of directors, so our leadership adequately reflects Long Beach’s diverse community. In the past three years, we have transformed the makeup of our board to include more people of color. We know how important it is to actively engage all members of our community and ensure more people of color have a seat at the table and hold positions of power within our organization and elsewhere. We have seen how inviting a diverse set of voices—those from various racial, cultural, geographic, age, and economic backgrounds—has strengthened our organization and boosted our community impact and exposure, allowing us to promote literacy at every economic level.
If you would like to learn more about these resources and support our efforts, please visit lbplfoundation.org/aarc.
This is just a start. We know the actions we take today are important but also just the beginning of an effort to truly dismantling the centuries of systemic racism in our society. We will continue to look inward, joining the California Library Association (CLA) in reflecting upon how we have unwittingly perpetuated institutional racism, taking responsibility for challenging racial inequity, and implementing positive change in our organization and the public libraries. Like the CLA, we understand libraries are not only places of learning, but also institutions of social change.
Although the 12 Long Beach Public Libraries are temporarily closed in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Library’s extensive collection of free online resources, including eBooks, audiobooks, and other resources related to the ongoing fight for racial and economic justice are available at longbeach.gov/library/your-library-at-home.
Thank you, stay safe, and keep learning.
Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board of Directors and Staff
The Complicated Role of the Modern Public Library – Humanities: The Magazine of the National Endowment for the Humanities
In her recent article, “The Complicated Role of the Modern Library: Something for Everyone,” in the Fall 2019 issue of Humanities: The Magazine of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Jennifer Howard examines the many important functions of libraries in the communities they serve. Libraries serve as free, shared spaces when many truly public facilities are disappearing and provide a variety of programs that are vital to many families, students, job seekers, older individuals, and those with disabilities.
Read the full article on the National Endowment for the Humanities website. CLICK HERE.
All programs and resources at the Long Beach Public Library are completely free for use. The Long Beach Public Library Foundation is proud to support many programs for visitors of all ages and learning levels. Check out the full list of programs and resources supported by our foundation.
Library Foundation and Friends Celebrate Librarians
Earlier this month, the Library Foundation Board of Directors was honored to work with the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library to organize the annual Librarian Appreciation event. From creating innovative programs to helping thousands of daily visitors find the correct book or use the computer, our city’s librarians transform lives at the Library every day.
Susan Redfield, former Library Foundation Board President, once again opened her home for the celebration. Volunteers from both organizations decorated and organized a delicious potluck.
Thank you to everyone who made this day special!
