Flickr user: Library of Congress

To everyone who visited this website, Tweeted, liked our and other support pages on Facebook. To those who wore “Ask me about the library millage” t-shirts and Support CADL buttons. To those who handed out flyers, postcards, bookmarks and brochures. To those who understood that communities without libraries are not communities we’d like to live in. To the 71.45% of voters who turned out yesterday to vote YES to keep Capital Area District Libraries OPEN. To CADL employees, families and friends who support Ingham County libraries daily. We are proud to have stood with you in this year’s primary election. Congratulations, you all helped save our libraries.

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

It’s the day we’ve been working toward for … well, for a while. And it will all be for nothing if you don’t fulfill your civic duty and head to the polls by 8 pm today. Not sure where to vote? Check out this website. Just enter your name,birth month and year, and zip code to discover your voting location. It’s really pretty simple! Just remember that the CADL ballot question is on the BACK of your ballot, and please vote YES to keep Capital Area District Libraries open. (Remember: if the renewal fails, all CADL branches will close January 3, 2011!)

If you’re really in to supporting CADL, head out to Kelly’s in Downtown Lansing starting at 5 pm to watch the results come in with Support CADL volunteers and CADL staff. If you can’t make it to Kelly’s, keep your eye on the Ingham County Clerk’s website beginning at 8 pm to watch the results come in – just remember to refresh the webpage every half hour or so .

With the election only five days away, it is time to take the final action to ensure that your CADL library remains open to provide vital services to the residents of its service area.  Many of you have already given generously of your time, and for that Support CADL is more appreciative than we can say.  In these days leading up to the vote, try taking these simple steps to participate in the final advocacy push before the election:

-  Participate in our Change Your Status drive coming up this weekend on Facebook. Starting Friday 7/31, update your status to read, “Support CADL by voting YES this Tuesday, August 3 to keep Capital Area District Libraries OPEN!”

-  Tell at least three other people you know who vote what the library menas to you, and why they should vote yes

-  Make sure you know where you should go to vote.  If you’re not sure, check out this link, or call your local library and ask them for help finding out your voting location.

-  Mark the election on your calendar, or write yourself a reminder note.

If you love your libraries, then please take a few moments to put these final steps into action.  Stay tuned to our blog, Facebook, and Twitter; we’ll be posting every day until the election!

From Flickr User: Library of Congress

When I was at the grocery store the other day, I overheard a couple of grandparents having a conversation:

Grandpa: What are we going to do with the kids all week?
Grandma: You sound like you are not looking forward to having your grandchildren stay with us.
Grandpa: Sally, it has been a long time since we ran after three young kids.
Grandma: Don’t worry – I already ran by the library and checked out movies, some books and a book on CD for the drive to Lake Michigan on Tuesday. The library also has a magic show on Wednesday and storytime Thursday night.

Kind of makes you smile doesn’t it? This conversation illustrates everything we love about libraries. Our public libraries have something for everyone! Andrew Carnegie recognized the far reaching appeal and overall community resource that the library represents – it is evident in the very design of his buildings. The library is the heart of the community. Think about it. What other building in our community do you observe both curious toddlers and esteemed seniors sharing resources with both a sense of purpose and camaraderie? The library brings people together by providing resources that are enjoyed by all ages, genders, races, and religions.

Libraries of today provide a central place for information, entertainment and community activity. You can see it when you attend an author presentation, a travelogue, cooking demonstration, story time or stop to admire an art, culture, or craft display. It is one of the most community responsive fundamentally unifying public institutions still standing. We urge you to support this institution by voting YES for the CADL renewal on the August 3 ballot.

Have you ever used CADL to do the following things?  Please share this with your friends.  Ask them if they have used CADL for these reasons and encourage them to Vote YES! And if they haven’t used the Capital Area District Library before, let them know what they’re missing!

Have you used to CADL to?

Check out a book
Check out a movie
Check out a magazine
Check out a comic book
Check out a video game
Ask a librarian for resources for your homework
Ask a librarian for Mapquest/Google Maps directions
Ask a librarian for tax forms
Ask a librarian for a book recommendation
Ask a librarian for a movie recommendation
Ask a librarian to put an item on hold
Ask a librarian to help you with the computers
Ask a librarian to help you find an item
Ask a librarian anything!
Access the Internet
Use Microsoft Word
Use Microsoft PowerPoint
Use Microsoft Excel
Use Microsoft Access
Use Google Picasa
Use the computers to upload your photos to the Internet
Use the computers to play Farmville
Use the computers to connect with friends and family using Facebook
Use the Catalog to find a book
Use MelCat
Find a job
Take your kids to see a summer reading entertainer
Take your kids to see movie
Take your kids to attend a craft time
Take your kids to a story time
Take your kids to an early literacy playgroup
Take your kids to sign up for their first library card
Take your kids to be tutored in the library lobby
Participate in the Summer Reading Program
Use a community event room
Use one of CADL?s databases
Crank the wheel on a microfilm machine
Use the Local Archives in the basement of the Downtown Library
Take a Computer Class
Attend a gardening program
Attend a finance program
Attend an author visit
Attend a craft program for adults
Participate in Capital Area Reads
Participate in a Book Discussion Group
Read a book
Read a magazine
Read a newspaper
Use a reference book
Take a test for a university or a local college
Obtain materials to learn how to start a business
To meet your friends
Use the copier machine
Print something off using the computers
Use a computer to download music
Use a computer to shop online
Get shelter from heat, cold, rain, lightning, hail, sleet, snow, or high winds.
Attend a video game tournament
Attend a graphic novel club
Take your kids to a Youth Advisory Meeting
To work with your peers on a project
Use a computer to apply for financial aid
Use a computer to file for unemployment
Use a computer to check your e-mail
Use a computer to schedule college classes
Download e-books or e-audiobooks for your MP3 player
Post something on the community board for non-profits