Get yourself over to the local library

Some weeks ago, I made a commitment to myself to write about serious topics more frequently. Since then I have mentioned the development of my own prejudices, injustice related to an American Marine Muslim, death and grief at Parkland, Florida, sexual harassment and motives for murder.

I have decided to deviate from the chaos and pathology of daily life to mention an environment that offers me peace, serenity and sanctuary. It is simply the local library. This past week was National Library Week, April 8-14.

A few days a week, I leave the gym and walk across the parking lot to the local library in East Greenbush. I am greeted by knowledgeable and friendly workers who seem really interested in helping me find some obscure audio book or almost anything else. They are part of my support system in an often challenging world.

I sit down and read the local papers for free, search the thousands of DVDs and music CDs that I can take out. During my visit I feel relaxed, probably like my friends who meditate or medicate. It doesn’t matter how I get there, but the outside world filled with responsibility and conflict is absent.

I guess I am starting to sound unbalanced so I will share a few quotes from librarians.

Joe Nash is with the Sanford library in Colonie. I met him when I did a presentation there to promote my book, “War, Sacrifice and Coming Home.” He states, “I didn’t realize what a librarian did until I started working as one (this was before the internet). It took a while to really get what librarians do and what libraries provide. After 30 years I can say that I have been part of a profession that has been around for a few thousand years and will still be around a thousand years from now, because humans – especially citizens of free societies – will always need access to all kinds of information; in fact, they will demand it. Hopefully people will still want to read for fun, pleasure, and leisure too, and librarians will always be ready to recommend books or assist in finding books (in whatever future format) and getting them into their hands!”

Tom Testo did his librarian work primarily in the prison system. Here are his comments, “I used to delight in reminding the inmates that were leaving for home to greet the kind and knowledgeable person who was sitting behind the reference desk in every public library everywhere. There they would happily, and at no cost whatsoever, provide information on every resource existing in the entire community and to assist them in every way they could! Where else could you go to find a deal as good as that?! All you need to do is ask!” Tom added, “I’m worried for libraries and for all of arts and humanities as well! The pendulum has surely and sadly swung in that direction and with some increased rapidity in these recent years. It won’t always be dark. I think a day is coming when we’ll move in another direction. The light will shine, and most will again see the value in broadening their horizons. Tom concluded with, “Isaac Asimov, the famous science fiction writer, saw it coming way back in the nineties. When he read about the way library funds were being cut and cut he said, “I can only think that American society has found one more way to destroy itself.”

I must mention that my local book tour also included presentations in the Clifton Park, Waterford, and Troy libraries. These institutions all provide a respite for weary souls from the loneliness, moodiness and confusion so prevalent in the real world.