Loving the library
Last week, I wrote about my lifelong love affair with books … and the reality that they were gobbling up too much real estate in our home. I offered a few tips on how to approach thinning them out, including one I now live by, “One book in, two books out.”
After I submitted my column, I realized my practice should really be, “One library book in, two out-of-date books recycled.” Why this fine tuning? The topic had me thinking about how the public library could once again become one of my best friends.
Throughout my entire childhood, the highlight of the week was our weekly trip to the library. (OK, those visits may have been tied for first place with our traditional “Friday Pizza Nights.” I mean, what kid doesn’t live for pizza, right? The best of both worlds for me was eating pizza while reading a book!)
My mother introduced us to the library when we were very young. Those were happy trips, mastering the card catalog system then searching the stacks, hoping the book I wanted would be there. We followed the same path with our kids, giving each one of them his/her own library card as a present when they turned 5.
Truthfully, I couldn’t remember the last time I had been in one of our local libraries. Once we had an empty nest, we apparently stopped visiting the library. I know I did the story hour when I was helping get the word out about at the HLOC production of “Mary Poppins.” One night, my husband and I also went to hear an amazing storyteller. (The room was packed!) But to actually checking out a book? My mind went blank.
Silly, silly me! Walking back into our beautiful Eureka library I felt an immediate sense of coming home. Oh, the smell of books, the visual pleasure of seeing well-ordered stacks reaching to the sky, the quiet hum of patrons milling about, and those cheerful, helpful librarians, why had I ever stayed away?
When I returned home, with, by the way, a great detective story under my arm, I pulled up the library’s website. What a resource we all have available to us! Besides the obvious perks, being able to borrow a book (just think about the magic in that statement) there are also countless newspapers, magazines, periodicals and journals to devour. Considering all of this reading material is free, it’s quite a deal, especially for those living on a budget or fixed income.
But the library also offers countless programs and services. Out of curiosity, I looked at its November calendar and was thoroughly impressed with everything the various branches are offering: drop-in literacy help; writing sessions for National Novel Writing Month; Family Fun Night; English as a Second Language classes; book groups; a library crafting feast (that piqued my interest); story hours; beginning sign language; and even a knit and crochet group. (Here’s one more tidbit, I’ve heard the library’s quarterly film series is fantastic!)
Yes, it’s safe to say I have returned to my roots. Visiting the library will once again become part of my routine. Why don’t you take yourself into your local branch and see if you have a similar renewal?
Now, here’s a totally unrelated left turn but I can’t resist. Happy Thanksgiving! And if you can’t be with friends and family, treat yourself to a good book from our wonderful library, eat whatever you darn well please, and enjoy the read!
Tracey Barnes Priestley is a life coach with a master’s degree in community counseling psychology and more than 30 years of experience as a counselor, educator and consultant. She is married and the mother of three adult children, and the author of “Duck Pond Epiphany.” Visit her website, www.thesecondhalfonline.com; email her at: tracey@thesecondhalfonline.com; or send your letters to 665 F St., Arcata, CA, 95521. Tracey regrets she cannot answer all letters and emails.