Sunset, Kailua-Kona, The Big Island, Hawaii, March 11, 2024

Sunset, Kailua-Kona, The Big Island, Hawaii, March 11, 2024
Sunset, Kailua-Kona, The Big Island, Hawaii, March 11, 2024

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Libraries - Tues., April 14, 2015

Since this is National Library Week, it's appropriate to use the "L" word to honor libraries and librarians. On a personal note, I love libraries.

San Antonio Public Library
When we were kids, my mom took us to the library in La Mirada, California. It wasn't a big, fancy library, but it opened up a whole new world of reading and using my imagination. I graduated pretty quickly from reading all the Nancy Drew books I could get my hands on, to reading Daphne du Maurier and Gothic romantic-suspense novelist, Mary Stewart, who died last year.

Mary Stewart made the biggest impression on me and I read Gothic romance novels for years. I especially enjoyed "Wildfire at Midnight," "The Moon Spinners" (which was made into a movie starring Hayley Mills), and "Airs Above the Ground," (about the Lipizzaner stallions).

In high school and college, I worked in the libraries, mostly as a page (shelving books), but also was responsible for creating the window exhibits each month. In college, I was responsible for sending periodicals out to be bound. At one point, I wanted to become a librarian. Unfortunately, I did not. I would have enjoyed it immensely.

Libraries in general have been a mainstay in the free lending of books, music and movies. Now, most libraries offer free internet connectivity as well. A wealth of knowledge, entertainment and education awaits at the public library.

While it's true that a majority of people have the internet, that is not always free. It's great to have libraries as an alternative choice for online browsing.

Libraries usually have many newspapers, magazines and reference materials available to read while you're there. Most libraries offer free adult lectures and children's programs as well.

It remains to be seen how libraries will fare with so many Kindles and e-readers in use. I have not had a library card since we lived in Hawaii. Bob has a San Antonio library card and uses it regularly to check out audio books he can listen to while he drives to and from work.

Our local library is in charge of "drive-in movies," at a refurbished, historic drive-in movie theater. Only thing is, at this drive in, you walk in with your lawn chairs, snacks, drinks and a blanket. The ground is now grassy lawn, but the movie is still projected up onto the drive-in movie theater screen. The movies are shown monthly in spring, summer and fall.

In honor of National Library Week, kudos to all the librarians who make learning such an enjoyable experience.


15 comments:

  1. Hello Sue.
    Wow, I can smell the books while reading your post. How bizarre is that? The internet in this country (South Africa) is certainly not free, I spend about 25% of my monthly income on data bundles, quite a lot.
    Funny that they should call someone arranging books (pages) on a shelf a "Page," very funny. No more drive in theaters in this country, they disappeared long ago, good memories.
    I still have my Milnerton Library card, don't use it now that I live 1000 kilometers away, long commute :) Anyway, nice to read one of your posts again.
    Blessings from a rather turbulent Johannesburg, South Africa, Geoff.

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    1. Geoff,
      Good to hear from you. You don't have free internet at libraries in South Africa? Libraries here do offer it.

      Old books do have a familiar smell.

      I didn't even think about the pun of the "pages." Good on you for thinking of it.

      Nice to hear from you from around the globe.
      Susan

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  2. When I was little, I wanted to be a librarian. The library has always been my most favorite place in the world! I love the smell of books and I don't think anyone else understands my weird obsession with libraries lol

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    1. I totally understand your weird obsession with libraries.

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  3. Funny because I drove by the Kenosha library branch today that I used to drive an hour to get to for their selection and I thought about how a library is not something I use anymore. But, when we were young and poor it's where all our entertainment came from. The Kindle sure changes things. I have the card# still and have checked a few e-titles out but they are so woefully behind getting those copies that I now find myself actually buying books for my Kindle. I put holds on some books almost two months ago that still haven't come up for me and they weren't even new releases by any means! Still a great place to keep giving the "working poor" access to reading and of course they always are inventive in getting kids interested in books, I just wish the schools put in as much effort to get kids reading as the libraries do, but alas it's all about testing instead.

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    1. Our local library branch in Hawaii was always busy whenever I went there for books, movies or lectures. Bob has great luck getting books on tape and movies for our local branch here.

      When I visit my mom in Oregon, I take my computer to the local library there to log on. Then mom can stay connected to her computer. Gives her private time and I can stay on as along as I like without bothering her computer time.

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  4. I love a good library and we seek out many on our travels around the West. Durango< CO has a nice library where you can even sit out on a balconey with views over the river. I love how some towns repurpose historic buildings for the library, such as Ashland, OR or Fredericksburg, TX.

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  5. I just finished sending a text to my husband, letting him know that some items I've had on reserve at our library are now in, so he can pick them up for me (he works near there). Then I came here to your blog and read about libraries. Great timing!

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  6. I really enjoyed your post. Ten years ago when we moved into our home the first thing we did was check out the local library. It was a wonderful place to go when you had small children and I enjoyed it as much as they did! I hope libraries are not phased out by technology. They are much more than just books.

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    1. Thank you. I appreciate your comments about the local library.

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  7. Libraries were my L too. I could just live in one if they'd let me.

    Good luck with the A to Z Challenge!
    A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
    http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/

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  8. Here from the A-Z and I love libraries too, and am a huge fan of Daphne du Maurier. I haven't read any of Mary Stewart's books, sounds like they are worth exploring.

    Best wishes for the rest of the challenge,
    Nilanjana

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    1. Do explore Mary Stewart's books. They are excellent. I may have to re-read them since it's been so long.

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