I could easily devote thousands of words to the subject of reading. It has played a significant role in my life. I don’t remember a time without books, as my earliest memories involve me toting around my little trove of golden-spined treasures, plopping down in the middle of the floor and trying so hard to unlock their mysteries. I was approximately 18-months old. I spent a lot of time at libraries. Going to the public library was a huge treat, better than dolls or Hot Wheel cars or ice cream sundaes. When I started kindergarten, I became doubly lucky: schools have libraries, too! I was, as it turns out, even luckier than I suspected: my family read to me whenever I asked, took me to check out books whenever I begged and, just as importantly, I went to a good school with a properly funded library of its own.

Personal circumstances aside, the latter is not a luxury; it’s a much-needed and highly important necessity that should be available to every child. Reading changes lives. It’s one of the most important paving stones on the road to success that begins, for most of us, at our local school library. As of this moment, 17,645 signatures are still needed. If you’d like to sign the petition, go here. A special thanks to Cassie at ‘Books and Bowel Movements‘for the FYI.