Stories from Everyday Champions

The library continues to be a safe, healthy place to learn and grow. Children who are taught to read and research make better choices as adults during difficult economy times and changing social economics. In this economy, I have adjusted my living and spending budget, however the bigger loss I see is to the families that will be impacted by the loss of library funding.  At my library, I was able to access online the listing for my long time home which I had to put up for sale due to a mistake in mortgage paperwork.

My husband recently became BLIND. Without the services of the NJ State Library Talking Book and Braille Center he would have no way to fill the empty hours since he can no longer read. I do not know how anyone with a conscience can take away these services from the blind. We are senior citizens and he has so many hours that will be empty and the thoughts of this is devastating. Multiply this by the large number of Blind Persons in NJ. Bernice, Belvidere

Seeing that I am slated to lose my job due to the budget cuts in public education, I have had to make many sacrifices. I have had to change my diet due to the rising cost of food. I have had to cut out all extra driving that is not needed for work or errands due to gas prices soaring. I have had to stop purchasing books, movies, and games because I can't afford to spend on such things. I am now unable to pay for doctor's bills. I am barely able to pay rent.

I grew up in New Jersey but later lived over 20 years on the west coast. While in San Francisco, I was able to make use of the entire branch system, searching for materials on the internet and having them sent to my local branch. When I moved back to NJ five years ago, I was so glad to see that Morris County had developed a similar system for member libraries. I have a Jefferson card but actually am able to use the Dover library much more conveniently. The Dover staff have been wonderful (as have those at Jefferson when I go there).

At this time I'm employed in a lower-paying field than usual (and am in a temporary job). So, some of my bills are simply not being paid on time. I'm also buying more discounted food. I'm looking for a new job to start by the end of June. (and hope to find one on my own rather than having to rely on the state of NJ for economic assistance, if at all possible). I use the computers at my library every day to search for a new job. I've also gone to a parenting workshop and some other workshops. Maria, Bloomfield

During the past few years, I have checked out many, many self-help books related to natural health and healing. Being unemployed right now, I am very grateful to not have to spend money buying these books. Most of them have been obtained through the interlibrary loan service. Losing that service would be devastating to me! Claire, Nutley

I lost my job last year so the sacrifices are many. I can not afford to pay for the services my local library and other nearby libraries are providing. While I am out of work I have been doing volunteer work to stay active in my community. My family has basically cut out every luxury and we are now falling behind on our bills. Without the library services my job search will be severely hindered. I attend many job search related networking groups sponsored by the libraries in the area including county libraries.

Recently my family has had to cut down on extra expenses, such as home internet access, phone service and basic cable. Even after we stopped using these extras, we still had to cut down on the amount of food we were able to purchase monthly. It's still very hard for us to make ends meet. I've even decided to stop my pursuit of higher education so I can work a second job to help my family further. The public library has helped me deal with the hard times my family is going through.

I am a library student and part time worker. I have always used the library to borrow books, movies and to use the internet for business an d pleasure. My son has attended story hour since he was 3. He is now 5. The Read to Rover and summer reading and crafts were one of the highlights of summer activities. My son has enjoyed reading to Rover and the many story times. He also enjoyed the movies and Kurt Gallagher. We are not dining out, and we are reading and watching movies at home.

My full-time job has been cut to a single day per week. We pay our bills with partial unemployment but buy almost nothing, including clothes. We go to the doctor for emergencies only. It's been difficult. My library and its staff have been a fantastic resource in my job search and in my attempts to continue my education to increase my marketability, as well as a source of free, much-needed entertainment in the form of books, reading programs and movies.

I am visually impaired and use recorded books EVERY DAY! Jeanne, Whiting, TBBC

With the economy the way it is, we have cut back on a lot of extras. Almost all our books are borrowed from the library. We very rarely buy books, except at the book fair at school! We attend so many of the library’s children’s programs for both entertainment and enrichment. We don't go to movies. We wait to borrow them from the library as well. - Ann, Evesham

Being unemployed I can’t afford Internet access or even a phone at home. I am dependent on the resources at my library, such as the Internet and newspapers, to find a job. - Dwight, Browns Mills

 My library’s resources help with job searches and helps with getting homework done for school. - Traci, Browns Mills

 I am unemployed and have no home computer. I go to the library everyday to pursue my job search on the computer, to research job opportunities and to check my e-mails. This is my only link to changing my current situation. I have no other options for computer use on a regular basis. - Kathleen, Westwood

The library is a place where I can go for some quiet time, get help with my homework and relax. - Stephanie, Browns Mills

My father, who has severe macular degeneration, lost one of his true joys: being able to read. Thanks to the NJ State Library Talking Book and Braille Center, he has found some happiness again by being able to listen to audio books with his supplied digital player. It's been a godsend for him! We've all had to make great sacrifices during this brutal economic situation, which is incorrectly referred to as a recession, but is quite realistically a depression, but should we sacrifice our access to literature, knowledge and resources to aid the unemployed?

 I am unemployed and could not make it without the library systems and its services. - Jennifer, Princeton

My family started using our library for everything. My husband gets audio books for his commute, which makes his hour-long commute go much faster. My children get movies regularly to take on vacation and also to watch at home. Their preferences change almost every month, so I am able to save money by not purchasing the books. I am an avid reader and I request books and utilize the books-by mail service frequently. I request from all of the member libraries. I also stopped going to video stores to save money, because all the movies I wanted were at the library.

As a disabled person, it is very difficult and expensive for me to get around. I am able to borrow books and movies by mail. - Lynn, Pompton Plains