Hello Story Sunbirds,
We’re writing to let you know the good news about “Libraries are Havens”!
And please stay tuned for an announcement about the next Sunbirds Hour—our monthly community meet-up— soon.
Friends, we exceeded our goal!
Because of you, we EXCEEDED our $10,000 USD GOAL for the two IBBY Palestine library communities. IBBY will send money for humanitarian aid for the precious displaced children, librarians, and families. We wish we could do so much more, but we celebrate the help and supplies this represents as well as the love and solidarity of community standing with and supporting these communities.
Final numbers are still being tallied and transfers processed, but last we heard, the donation total is currently at $15,900 USD–and growing!
If you donated, you’ll receive a thank you letter from IBBY International, our partners who are hosting and administering this fund, as well as an update in a few months.
It means a great deal to show tangible care when the children must feel so alone and abandoned. The libraries were the their second homes, their safe havens. Now they’ve lost both their homes. Yet the librarians continue their work with them to keep them strong and stable as much as they can. If you missed it, here’s a video of Abla, one of the librarians, with her testimony.
A big thank you to YOU! Each of you who gave or shared made this happen. We are forever grateful. Thank you!
A big thank you to IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People). They partnered with us and are handling the administration of fundraising and transferring the donations to IBBY Palestine. Thank you, collaborators at IBBY!
A big thank you to Jehan, one of the stewards of IBBY Palestine who’s in contact with librarians Abla and Mahmoud and who orchestrated getting us testimony, photos, and videos. Thank you, Jehan!
A big thank you to Yasuko Toda who created the wonderful artwork for this campaign. Thank you, Yasuko!
A big thank you to the authors who lent their voices. Thank you Naomi Shihab Nye, Kyo Maclear, Katherine Paterson, and Beverly Naidoo!
A big thank you to Salma Ali, a Sunbird, who created a digital illustration for giveaway!
A big thank you to Phoebe Wahl, who gave proceeds from a special limited edition print to the campaign!
“Our children love love, but they are deprived of it."
—Abla, one of the IBBY librarians on May 13, 2025
“Libraries are Havens” details:
GOAL: Fundraise via IBBY Children in Crisis for IBBY Palestine with a goal of $10,000 USD by June 1, 2025.
PURPOSE: To raise money for humanitarian aid: food, water, tents, clothing, hygiene essentials. To support the library communities of Gaza with dignity.
RECIPIENTS: Funds will support everyone connected to the 2 IBBY libraries of Gaza — children, librarians, and families—who experienced them as communities and havens.
We have a resource document available for download to use with kids in libraries, schools, or other settings.