The goal of NASW-Missouri Chapter’s “Adopt a Library” project is to give a copy of this book to
each of the public library systems in Missouri through the voluntary contributions of Missouri social workers. The project started when one social worker (the author of this article) took a non-scientific look at the library catalogs of several public libraries in the state of Missouri to find disappointing and, in some cases, unacceptable social work book collections. Another search of Missouri public libraries found that no public libraries in Missouri had “Days in the Lives of Social Workers” in its
collection. The project was born.

To promote the project, Linda Grobman, the editor of “Days in the Lives of Social Workers”, donated copies of the book for a raffle at the symposium. Three social workers who contributed to the Adopt a Library project were selected as raffle winners: Misty Dodson, a school social worker in Poplar Bluff; Tish Tubbergen-Maglio, a mental health social worker in Kirksville and Rita Webb, the symposium’s keynote speaker from the NASW National office. Other social workers who adopted Missouri libraries at the symposium include: Hal Agler, Marlene Barni, Sharon Benton, Melody Boling, Roger W. Brame, Mary Ellen Buddemeyer, Diana L. Collings, Yvonne Cordeiro, Lori Curtis, Holly Evers, Phoebe Glover, Pat Graber, Jennifer Gundy, Carla Kilgore, Lisa Liberman, Paula Neese, Grace Poertner, Tamitha Price, Karen Rohrer, Kay Simokaitis, Bob Sontag, Jane Sprankel, Margaret Taber, and Sharon Zahner Smith.

You may be surprised to learn that more than 68,000 people visit Missouri’s public libraries each day. A number of these persons may want to learn about social work. It is up to us, Missouri’s social workers, to make sure that the person who visits a Missouri public library to learn about social work can find a good book describing our profession. You can contribute $20 to invest in your profession and possibly inspire someone to choose a career in social work. Consider adopting your own local public library system or a public library in a small rural town. Either way, you will be spreading the news about the social work profession

When you adopt a library, your name will be entered onto a bookplate which will be affixed to the inside front cover of the book. The inscription on the bookplate states “This book is a gift to your public library from Missouri Social Worker (your name) and NASW-Missouri Chapter. “ If you adopt a library to honor someone special (a former teacher, mentor, or colleague), we will inscribe “in honor of” or “in memory of” on the bookplate. The bookplate also provides the web address of both the Missouri Chapter and the national office of NASW for readers who may want to further explore the profession of social work. Also, as an added incentive, the first 100 to contribute to this worthy cause will receive a full-color, laminated commemorative bookmark.

For more information, or to adopt the public library of your choice, please see page 11 or contact the NASW-Missouri Chapter office at chapter@nasw-mo.org or 800.333.NASW(6279) or Chapter Board Member-at-Large, Carla Kilgore, MSW at cakeak@aol.com or 636.583.8087.