What a year, indeed!
2024 started out with a huge win that changed our lives and operations in unimaginable ways. We were granted a significant donation that allowed us to lease an office and consolidate our storage and entire operation into a shared space. We now have a place to prep for events, hold meetings, and host our book clubs. It is a space that brings us immeasurable joy, and we are so grateful for the generosity of our donors for this gift that truly keeps on giving.
We started out the year strong with three events in January. This is notable because we once believed that our giveaways would be limited to outdoor events. But as word got out about our organization and our work, the invitations started pouring in. We made it to the Jesup library, held a pop-up in West Des Moines, and participated in Lobby Day at the State Capitol in the first month of the year. Things only got busier from here, and we wrapped up our year with 29 banned book giveaways, seven of which were outside of the Des Moines metro. This was the first year that we were able to make it to Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Pella, Indianola, and Dubuque. We are humbled by the continued invitations from organizations and individuals across the state. We only wish we didn’t have to make tough decisions and turn some down due to our limited time and resources.
We are also humbled by the recognition we received this year, one from the Iowa Library Association, the other from Progress Iowa. In March, we were thrilled to learn that our President, Sara Hayden Parris, was named the recipient of the Marcia Nichols Progressive Advocate of the Year Award. Then, in October, the ILA honored our work with the Outstanding Library Advocate Award. These awards mean the world to us, and we are truly honored to be recognized by such distinguished organizations.
An other proud moment was the opportunity for Sara to attend the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. in September. It has been wonderful to collaborate with a number of organizations who all cherish and fight for our freedom to read. As such, we also joined Every Library which offers us access to resources and connects us with other like-minded groups who share our cause.
As we reflect on the year, our hearts are full. We are proud of our accomplishments and look forward to an even more productive and fulfilling year ahead. Of course, we cannot close this year without thanking you — our supporters and fellow book-lovers. We could not do this work without your support and encouragement, your thoughtful notes of thanks, your donations large and small, and the incredible community we have built together over the past two and a half years
We know that the next year (or four?) will be full of obstacles and challenges. But we are not afraid to take them on, and we hope you will continue to follow along to see what the future brings.
Here is to a 2025 filled with friends, allies, and good books!
