Amelia Draws

The world is a mess. Many of us are overwhelmed, struggling and others are deeply suffering from the state violence of war and poverty.

In Australia 48 Billionaires hold more wealth combined than the bottom 40% of our population. That’s obscene. That’s more than 11 million Australians who all together have less than this small group of over wealthy people. Many of us feel powerless when faced with those figures, but there is one little thing you can do: Join Your Library

FIVE REASONS TO JOIN YOUR LIBRARY

1* Libraries are stalwarts that protect our freedom and our right to knowledge – something the ‘free thinking’ internet doesn’t do anymore. Libraries are havens of play, information, curiosity and community. They are calm, nurturing, safe places.

Join Your Library, the balm in the face of overwhelm.

2* Libraries are free – this is so important in this age of capitalism, where so many of the services we interact with have hidden costs or flagrantly too many.  Capitalism doesn’t like us having free things and has convinced many that things have no value unless they are paid for. 

Join Your  Library, throw your middle finger up at Capitalism.

3* Libraries are caring and nurturing. Not many places can claim that any more. Libraries offer safe places for children to play and learn. They offer quiet, comfortable spaces for the elderly to sit and read the newspapers. During Australia’s recent heatwave libraries kept their doors open into the evening so people could find respite from the heat.

Join your Library, they are like a big hug.

4* They make you return what you borrow. A super important and underrated aspect of a library is that you return what you take. We are swamped and swallowed by stuff and by things. Consuming and consumed. Knowing that you are returning the large book about the Middle Ages, is liberating. You no longer need to find space for it. Getting things like distraction and escapism for free, but not forever, is a light feeling. It’s also a great lesson for kids, and us all, to remember that we are sharing our books with many other people.

Join Your Library, blow raspberries at Stuff peddling Capitalism.

5* When I say safe places, I mean it. Libraries promote the voices of marginalised people, showcase points of views with free talks and don’t ban books. Libraries give us drag queen story time. When you borrow a book the author gets paid, you can support authors by requesting their book. You can meet community through craft groups, book clubs, conversation groups and so much more.

Join Your Library, because libraries ward against Facism.

I said this earlier, but it bears repeating. Libraries are free. This means you have no excuse. It’s the lowest hanging fruit.

Open your browser, check out the wonderful array of services and sign up. You can do it on your phone for many libraries – it’s that easy.

And when thats done, join your local No More Billionaires group with the friends you met at the library’s game afternoons and English conversation meet ups.