My love affair with libraries started the first time my mom held my hand, and we walked into a library. Since that introduction, libraries and librarians have been a positive force in my life. No matter where I have traveled or lived, librarians have helped me through difficult times.
It has been my pleasure to serve on the Library Board of Trustees in McCall, Idaho, for six years now.
I was on the board in 2020 when our first bond to expand our 1973 library failed.
Our community did not give up. In 2021, we returned with another bond, which received a 79% yes vote. Weathering a pandemic and construction price increases became challenging, but we never gave up on the dream of building a new library. Our dream became a reality with unanimous commitments from our city staff and private donations.
On May 18th, 2024, our community celebrated the opening of our new library that will serve our community and visitors for 50 years or more.
But while we have a new library to celebrate and the support of the majority of our community, where libraries have always been inviting places for everyone to enjoy, we have been challenged by our State legislators who passed bill # 710. The bill is a callous bill that discriminates against the LGBTQ community and seeks to tell the public what they can read. Undoubtedly, the Idaho Library Association will challenge this thoughtless bill that will harm our library, especially rural libraries, which lack the resources we are fortunate to have in McCall.
"If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men [ she/her/hers he/him/his/they/them/their] reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty."
― John F. Kennedy
Over 700 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and I am pleased to share the City of McCall Public Library with video, photographs, and words.
David Gallipoli May 2024
What stands before you is a tree of knowledge, are rings of story, is a living continuous source of learning and sustenance for years to come.
-CMarie Fuhrman Keynote Speaker
We step inside this building, and we enter one of the most unprivileged, most democratic of all spaces, outside the wilderness, that we have as people.
-CMarie Fuhrman
When I first started as a librarian, I used to be really fond of saying libraries build communities. But after ten years, I also realized it takes a community to build a library.
-Meg Lojek Library Director
The short history of library
from the Latin liber
meaning, book
from me,
sanctuary
the first-time hand in hand
with my mom
picture books
learning to read
the first time alone
a house converted into a library
the scent of books
on summer days
go to the check-out desk
with a stack of books
Pearly May slides another book
across her oak desk
"you may like this too."
hiding in the library
Ms Chenney
tells me I need to go to class
and hour later
we make eye contact
two hours later
she smiles
home from the military
an angry transition
Mrs. Smith recommends
books
veteran groups
I place a name on
what bothers me
PTSD
to the library
with a friend in need
librarians
comfort a
swollen face filled with tears
who has had enough of life
calls to the clinic
one year later, he lives
bill # 710 is callous
a few to tell the many what to read
that discriminates against
the LGBTQ community
my sanctuary threatened
how do I save
what saved me.
David Gallipoli