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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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The Library Challenge_March 23-26

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I don’t remember the first time I entered a library. If I’d known the important role this place would play in my life when I walked through the door that first day I would have taken pictures or written something in a journal, so I could have a record of the day my life changed.

Since I have no record, I’ll have to imagine the feeling, but that’s not difficult. Every time I enter a library I feel the same. The best way to describe it is appreciative closely followed by excited and complete. I always feel I’m in place of possibilities, a place where ideas are waiting, where words crafted by some of our greatest writers are available for me to enjoy.

Our libraries are feeling the pinch of the economic woes reducing hours, staff, acquisitions, so when I was invited to participate in this Library Challenge I accepted. Here’s how you can help your local library as well as others in the U.S.

1)Between March 23 and March 27 leave a comment here on The Write Game. For every comment I will donate $1 to the Los Gatos Public Library up to $75. If I get more comments I will up that commitment, but I’d rather raise than lower my goal.

2) Follow this link to Writer Jenn where you’ll find an index to bloggers around the U.S. who have joined in this Challenge. Leave a comment on any or all of these blog sites and those bloggers will donate to the library of their choice.

3)I’m adding another small incentive. I’ll choose two random comments with the sentence, I WANT A BOOK, included. To those people I’ll send a signed copy of Sliding on the Edge.
I’ll announce the winners in a March 28th post so they can send me their snailmail addresses and if they have any special requests for what I write in their books.

4)You can also help by sending this link to five friends and asking them to take part in this event.

Thanks to all of you who stop by and help me meet my goal.  Wish me

Comments

  1. Hey Lee, I missed your 3/27 cut off. Sorry! But you know I follow you anyhow ;). Way to support a great cause, and you seemed to have gotten lots of responses.
    bethfred.com

  3. IT'S OVER. THAT LADY JUST SANG. WE ACTUALLY WENT OVER BY 2 IF I COUNT THE FB POSTS, BUT SEEING IT HAPPEN HERE ON THE BLOG WAS THE BEST.
    THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

    AND THE LOS GATOS PUBLIC LIBRARY THANKS YOU AS WELL.

  7. Oooh! You are getting so close! Libraries are so awesome, and so are you for donating! I hope you reach your mark!

    Also, I WANT A BOOK!

  8. C.Lee you nailed it! Everyday I thank my lucky stars that I get to work in a library. I'm one of the few that get to keep their jobs next year, although it will be slightly different. Library are awesome!

  16. Hi Cheryl,
    This is the easiest thing I've been asked to do this week :-
    Kudos to you for your efforts.
    Thanks,
    Edwin

  17. This sounds like a great challenge and I'm glad you are approaching your new and higher goal! Just a few more to go. When I want a book, I go to the library! I live in a small town so I glad that our libraries are starting a loan program where you can borrow books from across the state. Hope you get to 100 soon!

  18. Good luck on the last SIXTEEN comments, Lee! I'm 100% behind this effort – libraries are a vital resource for our society, we simply must support them as much as we can.

    – Mike Jung

  19. Good luck on the last SIXTEEN comments, Lee! I'm 100% behind this effort – libraries are a vital resource for our society, we simply must support them as much as we can.

    – Mike Jung

  20. Well everybody, I made it past my 75 mark and I didn't think I'd do that. This is so exciting and I really appreciate each and every one of your comments.

    I still have one more day on this challenge, so here's the plan. I'll try for 100 and donate $100 if I make it. If you have a friend who hasn't dropped by, send them over. Wish me luck on this last 17 comments.

  21. You're way past your $75 mark, but I wanted to say thanks. I went to get a tax form from my town's main post office and they said, "Go to the Library." It figures. Should have thought to go there first!

  27. Thanks for showing your support to libraries! This is such a great challenge, it's inspiring to see so many people take part 🙂

  32. I remember the first time I entered the mystical, magical world of a library. So many books so little time. I passed the fascination on to my kids. Now, whenever they think,'I want a book,' we head to our nearest library. Unfortunately due to county cutbacks we're losing 12 libraries next month. You're doing a great thing. Yay libraries.

  33. Like you, I have always loved libraries. As a child, I adored the musty aroma of the building, and I was mesmerized by the FREE stacks of books! Thanks for doing this challenge. Libraries need our help now more than ever.

  35. A local TV station recently ran a six hour marathon to benefit our local libraries and there's now a donation jar on the check-out counter. Maybe other libraries could try those things.

  40. I have so many great memories of libraries. With four boys–libraries are a lifesaver.But not only for books. There are great programs, kids activities and speakers (including authors!).One of my kids had his artwork on display at the library. The computers are fantastic and I've used the wireless internet many times. Libraries rock!

  47. Kids want books, and I want a book, too! 🙂
    So sweet of you, Lee, to help out your library like that. I go to my library 2-3 times a month. My kids love the library too!

  50. I applaud you and everyone else participating in such a great cause! It's so generous and shows how much we love our libraries.

    I want a book! Only if that part is open internationally 🙂

  54. Such a great idea, Lee! Where would we all be without our libraries? Ours is the heart of our town.

    Oh, and while we're on the subject of books, I WANT A BOOK!

  57. This is wonderful, Lee. Our library holds a big sale every year on "retired" books, and we always go and spend a lot of money to support them. We need libraries!

    Plus, I also WANT A BOOK!!!

  63. Great idea. With the new town library in the works, they are going to need all the help they can get. Perhaps the money can help expand their talk programs as well as books and librarians. I think my wife and I have donated 100 books for every one we have checked out or bought on the shelves, but I definitely want to read yours.

  64. What a wonderful way to give back to the "institution" that makes reading a pasttime one and all can enjoy. Thanks for letting us be a part of this too! =0)

  66. Oh you are so awesome! I'm an elementary school librarian but have worked at a public library and this is such a fantastic thing to do!!! 🙂 I will definitely be spreading the word! Thanks for supporting the library!

  68. This is such a great idea! I'm so glad Jenn passed the idea around. I know the libraries that benefit will appreciate the extra funds. Thanks for participating. 🙂

    Carol Garvin

  69. This is awesome! I want a book! I don't ever remember not wanting a book… Anyhow, what a cool post and Yeah libraries!! My mother was a librarian! Woohoo! I'm going to go tweet and post this link…

  78. “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.

  79. Former English teacher (though i barely taught to pursue love and life instead:), current undergrad library student, future librarian… libraries are extremely important to me – so anything to help! Will Retweet link.

  86. What a great thing to do for local libraries. They're hurting these days, so every bit counts. My kids love going to the library. I don't remember my first visit either, but I do remember being fascinated by school libraries just as much.

  89. As a former library employee, a salesperson who sells books to librarians, a library volunteer and an avid library user, I can't say enough good things about libraries. They are awesome, wonderful places!

  95. Thanks for stopping by The Writing Cave and good luck with your challenge, too! I just geeked out when I visited your website, the openening page with the books is awesome 🙂

  99. What a worthy cause, Lee. Our local library has had to cut down on acquisitions and hours. I'm going to jump on Bish's bandwagon and enter my name for a copy of your wonderful book which I'll donate to my local library if I win.

  100. Libraries deserve this kind of support! I can't imagine a life without libraries. Even when I can afford to buy–and I buy a lot–I'd often rather borrow. I don't remember my first library but it was most likely on a military base as we moved around. I could always read wherever we were in the world.

  103. Let me be the first to post! This is a wonderful thing you and the other bloggers are doing. I wish I had the extra $$ to donate. What I do is donate books as they come my way, particularly kid books. So if I win a second copy of your book (I won it in an earlier contest)I will donate it to my small but well used local library!