In Praise Of Libraries

In 1971 the public library in Troy (USA) opened its doors. To celebrate, the librarian wrote to many famous people, asking them to write a letter to the children of Troy about their thoughts on books and the importance of libraries. You can find these online – letters from people such as Neil Armstrong, Isaac Asimov, or Dr Seuss!
I wonder what the response would be today? Books are easily accessible online (I have an extensive list of ebooks, which I haven’t quite got around to reading…), but there’s nothing quite like picking up a paperback and snuggling into bed on a cold day. Or walking into a secondhand bookstore, where there’s that faint smell of old books, faded leather, and possibly a whiff of the glue that holds the pages to the spine…
I’ve always loved the library. As a child I would ride my bike there on a Saturday, to return or take out my quota of books, or just to spend time surrounded by my literary friends, in the hush of the stacks, forgetting about the outside world for a time. In my mind I still have a clear snapshot of that library.
I love books!
Anyone who has walked through our door knows this to be true…

I can remember buying the latest Trixie Belden mystery with my pocket money, back when they were 50c, then 75c, then $1.50! I still have those books. And what about those brochures you got at school every so often, where you could order books, then get them in a package delivered some time later? What an adventure – such excitement when they arrived! I can’t remember if it was the Scholastic book club – it was a long time ago – but that’s what seems to be the school book club now.

During coronavirus lockdown, the libraries were closed. Even now, activities are restricted. We can get new books, but can’t stay in the library. Before the lockdown libraries had a full range of programmes, which included storytime, makerspace, and various tutorials. The library of today has had to diversify to survive, and that’s OK – it’s great to have so much choice. I’d hate to see the basis of the library concept lost in the mists of time, though – real, live paper books, that you can hold in your hand, and feel the weight of – there’s nothing else like it! 😀
Libraries as we know them – freely accessible public libraries – are still necessary. Not only do they provide a place for people who may not have the means to access a variety of books, or have a quiet place to study, but they are generally staffed by knowledgeable, enthusiastic and helpful people. If you don’t know where to look or what to look for, ask a librarian! They can point you in the right direction, or order the book you need if it’s not already available. I’ve got books reserved at the moment that I wouldn’t have been able to buy, I’ve asked for the library to order books that they didn’t have, and I’ve been able to “try out” books in a series, which I later bought because I knew I liked them.
Quite apart from anything else, without libraries, and library sales, I wouldn’t have all the books I have on my shelves!

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