Did you know that as of 1914 American women were the ones who established half of the libraries in the United States? In 1933 it was thought to have jumped to 75%.¹ Women’s organizations were influential in their funding, creating, and staffing public libraries.
From Gal’s Guide beginnings as a women’s organization, we were eager to learn from women in history. It wasn’t long before we found the limiting amount of women in textbooks and credible sources. Not only has history been seen through the male point of view in publication and retrospective, but working women before the 1960s were often in their own area with their own elevator or cafeteria and with limited collaboration with their male colleagues. In other words, we are only getting half the story of our history across many fields.
Let’s change that!
Gal’s Guide is seeking to build an independent women’s history library and research center to preserve, collect, share and champion women’s achievements.
We are currently seeking donations of books and materials relating to women’s history.
- We will accept any books about women or written by women. Our focus is on female written autobiographies, research papers, letters, cookbooks, and diaries from women around the world from any time period.
- We will accept book donations at our monthly meetings.
- Book donations can also be mailed to our temporary offices: Gal’s Guide, 1393 Wayne Street, Noblesville, IN 46060.
- We have a wish list on AmazonSmile Charities of specific books we are looking for. (Remember to use your Amazon Smile account benefiting Gal’s Guide!)
We are also seeking funding for a small but mighty permanent facility that will be open to the public as well as an online digital database. We are working on opening our temporary facility to the public. Stay tuned!
Lastly, we are looking for volunteer staff including Book Hunters to help find material and resources for the center. You can be from any corner of the galaxy. Apply to be a volunteer here.
Books we are looking to acquire for the library
- Full Amazon Smile Charity Wish List
- January requested books – women artists
- February requested books – women of Black history
- March requested books – women’s history collections
