Once a year librarians from across our great state descend upon the Alabama State House for Library Legislative Day, giving us the opportunity to meet our representatives face-to-face and garner support for our libraries. This year Legislative Day was Tuesday, Feb. 18. Liz Reed, Director of the Baldwin County Library Cooperative; Wendy Congiardo, Director of the Thomas B. Norton Public Library; and I traveled to our state capital to participate in the legislative festivities.

We were transported via shuttle from Alabama Public Library Service to the Alabama Department of Archives and History where we attended the ceremonial signing of the Declaration of the Right to Libraries, in support of its aim to, “declare and affirm our right to quality libraries – public, school, academic and special.”

This event included several speeches, one of which was given by Jeff Simpson of the Alabama Library Association who spoke to the importance of libraries in the lives of the citizens in the communities they serve. Simpson, who is a reference librarian, gave some interesting statistics about libraries, including the fact that 1.5 million Alabamians don’t have Internet access at home and that there are more libraries in the United States than there are McDonalds.

Ron Leonard, who represented the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries, spoke about the importance of the Alabama Virtual Library. If you are not familiar with the AVL, then please visit avl.lib.al.us to take a look at this invaluable resource – everything from online encyclopedias, dictionaries and almanacs to newspapers, medical information, e-books and even automobile repair can be found there. This free resource is not just for K12 and college students, but also for anyone who wants to research career and job resources or is interested in any of the information available for whatever reason. It’s a fascinating resource waiting at your fingertips.

Elizabeth Hester, with the Alabama School Library Association, took to the podium to emphasize the importance of school libraries in the lives of students. And lastly, Rebecca Mitchell, Director of the Alabama Public Library Service, thanked everyone from attending and encouraged us all to “keep up the good work!”

Following the rousing speeches, everyone was invited to add their John Hancock to the library Declaration. The Declaration for the Right to Libraries was written in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and lists 10 rights and how they positively impact individuals and communities.

I. Libraries Empower the Individual – libraries provide free access to information to everyone not only through books and ebooks but via the internet thanks for free public access computers.

II. Libraries Support Literacy and Lifelong Learning – libraries offer story times, summer reading programs, book clubs and other opportunities to learn. The Bay Minette Public Library is also fortunate to be the home of the North Baldwin Literacy Council which offers free volunteer tutoring for adults who want to learn to read, learn life skills, get their GED or learn English as a Second Language.

III. Libraries Strengthen Families – libraries are welcoming and comfortable places that offer a wealth of information to help them “learn, grow and play together.”

IV. Libraries are the Great Equalizer – Libraries don’t discriminate. We provide information to everyone regardless of age, ethnicity, education or income level or physical ability.

V. Libraries Build Communities – “Libraries bring people together.”

VI. Libraries Protect Our Right to Know – Librarians and libraries defend and protect our First Amendment rights.

VII. Libraries Strengthen Our Nation – “The economic health and successful governance of our nation depend on people who are literate and informed.” Libraries support this basic right.

VIII. Libraries Advance Research and Scholarship – “Knowledge grows from knowledge” and everyone depends on the expertise and knowledge that librarians and libraries offer.

IX. Libraries Help Us to Better Understand Each Other – “Libraries provide programs, collections and meeting spaces to help us share and learn from our differences.”

X. Libraries Preserve Our Nation’s Cultural Heritage – “Libraries collect, digitize and preserve original and unique historical documents that help us to better understand our past, present and future.”

John Adams, the second President of the United States and one of the strongest advocates for and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, said “the more one reads, the more one sees.” Or, reading is the gateway to knowledge and the prosperity that is built upon it. And libraries are the guardians and preservers of that knowledge, keeping its invaluable resource open to all and to every generation.

Joanna Bailey is the director of the Bay Minette Public Library. She can be reached at baileyvolumes@gmail.com