Our family gives an extraordinary number of books for Christmas. During one lazy Christmas vacation day a couple of weeks ago, we discussed the importance of libraries in our lives. We fondly remembered favorite books from our past and traded library stories. We recalled librarians we had known.
I'm a passionate advocate for interlibrary loan. Without that service I could not do academic research. I can locate microfilmed newspapers and obscure documents and have them mailed to my local library. When I heard of library closings or of students doing strictly on-line research I rise up to argue in favor of hitting the stacks.
The problem with using Google or other search engines rather than supplementing with library research is that on-line is too narrowly focused. By going to the library we are free to explore books that would be overlooked otherwise. It's an opportunity to expand creativity and make connections.
During this discussion, my grandson, John Crockett won the prize for library devotion. He's a junior at Colby College in Maine. He reached for his wallet and pulled out his very first library card. He received it when he was in kindergarten and had proudly signed his name.
This will be short tonight as I'm behind on a manuscript, but I just wanted our readers to know that libraries are alive and well and deeply embedded in the heart of America.
I carry a Medicare card in my wallet next to my current library card but I can still see in my mind the corner of my elementary school library with my favorite books were. Libraries will always be one of my favorite places. (Right up there with real brick and mortar book stores.)
ReplyDeleteLD--thanks for the comment. John's mom, our daughter Michele said talked about spending hours with the kids at the library. She curled up with a book, the kids found their own books and everyone was happy during hot summer days when there was little money available.
ReplyDeleteI practically lived at the library when I was in junior high and high school. (I visited the library often before that, but we finally lived within walking distance of it when I was in 7th grade.)
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