I ran into someone today in the library, someone who I had known on the surface. by no means were we close friends. We were in the same realm of fellow student or teacher kind of thing. I really knew virtually nothing about this person except what I gleaned during the time our paths had crossed. But you know, you still smile, you still say hello, and are cordial in the chit chat. I imagine we all have these relationships in our lives.
Well I ran in to this person in the library of all places where they confided to me that they had no idea what to read, or what they wanted. My ears of course perked up, and said, well you know they have a review section on their website, where you can see reviews for the past, oh almost thirty weeks now.... and I walked them right over to one of my all time favorite books that I have reviewed for the library (because I happened to be in that section) and said, you should read this, it's a lot of fun.
(Insert Author' s name here) Hmmm Never heard of them.
And then they said something that kind of took me by surprise. 'They don't really have a lot of books here anyway.....'
What followed was a little bit like verbal tennis.
them: there's no books here.
me: well, actually there are. and they can get ills.
them: but i don't know what i want.
me: look at the website for the reviews, there's a ton of them. Wallander; Neverwhere; Jasper Fforde's stuff.... tons of it. all right here.
them: but I could go buy it too.
me: yep you could.
them: but it's so expensive now and things are so tight.
me: yep.
them: and it's only going to get worse.
me: probably.
We parted ways, by walking to a few of our favorite books and recommending them. I took out one that I never would have looked at - it looks like hard boiled murder mystery with characters that my acquaintance said, are just repeated in the series, (along with the storyline - also said by my acquaintance)... and they took home one of my favorites that I read and reviewed under Rebecca's Reviews. (I will not say which one out of privacy and respect for the acquaintance.)
the reason I am sharing this experience is this:
I used to think the library didn't have anything. I thought that for a library it was vastly underfed, and incredibly lazy in its collection (meaning it didn't stretch beyond a few genres for its audience: primarily Bodice Ripper Romances for old ladies, Tom Clancy, and the annoying Generic YA fiction that might instantly induce an up right encore of my dinner).
I used to be one those people that I just met at the library. I am ashamed to say it but I was. I won't get into reasons or whys. But I'll say that for a while I left more often empty handed than when I left laden. I preferred buying my books via amazon.com or barnes and nobles.com. (I still love amazon.com.) I just figured that the library wouldn't have what I was looking for.
But the problem with buying books online is that you can't hold it in your hands. And there's always the chance of buying a book that you really didn't enjoy. There's always the chance that you'll leave the library with a book you won't like - but the difference is you won't be out twenty bucks if you use the library.
So after being burned by a bad book experience - great reviews, bad book, and out twenty bucks - I walked back through the library doors. It had been years literally since I had crossed the threshold. But I took a chance and looked around. And I walked out with a book I was looking for. Pleasantly surprised.
I have been stunned and amazed at how courteous are. I am tickled that when they get to know you, you may find yourself with a book on hold or reserve for you because they have gotten to know your reading style and tastes. (Of course this is only if they know you and you are comfortable with their recommendations) Talk about customer Service!
I am always amazed at the growing collection of books in rotation, and the amount of best sellers, critical acclaim, literary, under the radar and cutting edge books they have in stock, or that they are willing to ILL per request.
I requested a book via ILL about six months ago, and it came in finally. (This was a book that was a borderline, do I buy it or get it via the library first - some parenting book). I had forgotten about it, and assumed the library had as well. But nope. The library got it in got for me. It may have taken six months and had to come all the way from Pittsburgh, but they didn't forget, and it got here.
I am amazed at how at home my daughter is in the library (perhaps a little too at home, but we're working on our Library Manners). She says hello to the librarians, speaks to them. To her, the library is a place of magic and wonder. There is nothing boring about it. It's a place to get new books. It's a place to meet new people, to explore, to find new things. It's just all out excitement.
They people behind the desk aren't just the Librarians, but they are friends, some I have known for years upon years, and others I have only known for about six months. And it's not just me who has the experience of pleasantries with the ladies behind the desk. How many little children come to story hour to be read to by volunteers (and then sometimes plop themselves down in the bean bags in the back to read to each other)? How many people come and do activities in the community room? How many times have I seen people leave the library smiling, laughing, as if leaving a good friend's house after a cuppa tea, and some shortbread?
All the time.
And they do this with a budget that has been cut thrice now - having lost $30,000 in funding. They do it with a smile, with grace and with an air of welcome. They are optimists, whoa re willing to roll up their sleeves because they believe in what the library is and what it can become. And so should we.
The library isn't just a building with books. it's not just a bunch of people behind a desk who check in books, check out books, and send out overdue notices. the library is the people who make it up. it's the patrons. it's the children who run around after story hour, or any other time of the week. it's the volunteers. It's the book. It's a community where everyone has something to offer, something to give and to receive. We are lucky to have such a great library here in our podunk town.
Maybe for some it's a place to check their email and to keep in touch with family and friends. For others it's a place to trace their family history via ancestry.com. Maybe it's a place for studies. Or just to explore.
If you think there's nothing here for you, then go look again. Go talk to someone. Go read the reviews. Go to the New York times Best Seller List, GoodReads.com and type in some books you like - odds are you'll come out with at least a few recommendations. Or go to Page Turners Blog - which is an EXCELLENT blog dedicated to YA fiction (www.pageturnersblog.com). see what else they recommend,
and then go look at the library's online card catalog (www.tunk.com/library) Odds are you 'll find at least a couple hits, with some very amenable librarians willing to go ILL a few for you. They'll probably even give you some ideas if you talk to them.. Perhaps you'll pique their interest to purchase the book you're looking for for the permanent collection. (Librarians do take suggestions - so says the suggestion box back by the two red chairs in the YA section).
In the words of Joni Mitchell: Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got til it's gone. Pave paradise to put up a parking lot.
So from a believer, to a disillusioned 'atheist', to one of the converted, when it comes to libraries, I'll say Amen.
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