Remember the Library?
The best part of being in England was all the traveling I did by myself. Now that I’m back, I’ve decided that its silly to be so comfortable in my own city that I don’t go out and explore alone. On a weekend day recently I found myself with a whole afternoon with nothing planned. Instead of doing something new, I decided I would try something old.
When was the last time you went to the public library?
This is my local library. Interestingly, I actually named this branch. I know, its a boring name, but it was mine. I also rode on an antique fire engine at the dedication of this branch when I was about 15 years old. I can’t believe it took me this long to go back to my library.
Public libraries these days suffer at the hands of the Internet in that there is less urgency to replace the old with the new, so I had a hard time finding any up-to-date books on what I went there looking for. I wasn’t surprised to walk into the library and see every single computer being used. What I was surprised to see were all the people milling in the bookshelves. A lot of people. And more wonderfully, most of them were parents encouraging their children to find an interesting book to take home. Is that even possible?
I guess I just assumed that these days most parents thought it was easier to stick a video game controler in their kids’ hands than to actually encourage them to expand their minds. But here I was, sitting in my library, watching kids who were excited about books. Kids who wanted to sit down right then and there and start reading. Kids dragging their parents to the checkout counter so they could hurry home with their treasures.
While I didn’t get much reading done myself, I know that from now on when I have an empty day I’ll think about going to the library. Sitting in a comfy old chair watching book lovers and book lovers in training over the top of my book is better than a chain coffee house that uses burnt coffee beans and hard chairs any day.
Hey, finally getting caught up on your blog. I have to say I *totally* know what you’re going through with the never-seeing-your-man and sleeping alone business. M was on night shift for the first 2 1/2 years of our relationship, so I only got to sleep in the same bed at night with him two days out of eight, and he was usually awake by 2 in the morning and bored, so we didn’t really wake up together. And I also know those feelings of watching the news and seeing the person you love on there and not being able to do anything about the fact that they may be in mortal danger. So, I just wanted to send a big hug your way and to tell you you’re not so alone as you may feel…
I love libraries too, but I love Barnes and Noble also. There is something SO fun about grabbing a new magazine or book and heading to the Starbuck’s in the store and sitting there for an hour to inhale what you’ve just purchased. Love it.
I am officially on a book buying moritorium. I have too many. Such a life!
I agree with Kell, LOVE the bookstores..(Borders is my fave)..but I agree with you too about the benefits of the local libraries. Our libraries offer incredible resources these days. Now, I can go to a website and peruse the offerings, placing holds on the ones I’d like to come check out. Now they also have something called e-books (which I need to ask about next time I go, because I’m under the impression that you have to sign up for the service).
Now, if we could just get on board with Seattle and create some libraries WITH coffee shops that would be AWESOME…never saw anything like it.. I almost didn’t come home..
Here from Micheles!
Sounds like a wonderful peaceful day!! HOpe you have many more!! TTYL
I haven’t been to a library in years, but I remember that I love how they smell! I know it’s weird, but I think books smell good. (I spent my childhood at the library, with my nose in books.) Hey, how did you get to name your local library, and how about that foreshadowing…you riding in on a fire engine at the dedication?! I noticed that you are reading Lovely Bones, what a wonderful book. I finished it in a day!
I wanted to thank you for your comments on my site, and I saw that you added me to your bloglist! Thanks!
Please see my entry for today…you won my silly little guessing game so I thought I would introduce a few people to you and your site. Have a great day!
Ramona
I was just there with Kaylie. W had to pick out some fun books. She is learnign to read.
Coincidentally, I had just gotten back from the library with our little ones - we got them their first library cards - when I read this entry. We’re lucky to live in a city with a strong library network. The advent of the Internet seems to have spurred the city into evolving the system faster than most other places. It has morphed into a really well-stocked reference center. We use it all the time: this despite the fact that I do Internet-borne research all day at work.
Your blog is an absolute blast to read. I will be back, as there’s so much here to enjoy.
Visiting from Michele’s, but don’t be surprised if I return - often - on my own.