This Is Why Librarians Aren't Obsolete

I love it when people look me in the eye and tell me that I soon won't have a job because "everything is on the Internet." Yeah, a bunch of crap that isn't true is on the Internet.

I hate to get riled up about this, because honestly everybody's heart is in the right place - but before you forward an e-mail, do a little homework people. The latest to make the rounds (and I've seen it on all my e-mail loops and some blogs) is to send holiday cards addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier" to the Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Don't do this! From the Walter Reed web site:

Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include packages, letters, and holiday cards addressed to 'Any Wounded Soldier' or 'A Recovering American Soldier' that Walter Reed cannot accept these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense.

In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting "Any Service Member" or "A Recovering American Soldier" letters or packages. Mail to "Any Service Member" that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered.

Instead of sending an “Any Wounded Soldier” letter or package to Walter Reed, please consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families listed on the "America Supports You" website, www.americasupportsyou.mil

Other organizations that offer means of showing your support for our troops or assist wounded service members and their families include:

http://www.usocares.org/
http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers/
http://www.redcross.org

For individuals without computer access, your local military installation, the local National Guard or military reserve unit in your area may offer the best alternative to show your support to our returning troops and their families. Walter Reed Army Medical Center will continue to receive process and deliver all mail that is addressed to a specific individual.

As Walter Reed continues to enhance the medical care and processes for our returning service members, it must also must keep our patients and staff members safe while following Department of Defense policy. The outpouring of encouragement from the general public, corporate America and civic groups throughout the past year has been incredible. Our Warriors in Transition are amazed at the thanks and support they receive from their countrymen.

So the next time you get an e-mail of this nature, no matter how thoughtful and genuine it might seem, it's always smart to check it out. If anything, everybody should have the fabulous web site Snopes bookmarked just for this sort of thing.