Our theme this month is An Attitude of Gratitude and I've been thinking daily about all the things that make me feel grateful. More than once I've thought about my library.
When I first moved to this small rural town in America, I immediately went to the tiny library to get my library card. It turned out not to be a very useful place for me. I do a lot of research, and frankly, I was spoiled by my fantastic city library. Not only could I find everything imaginable in the way of research materials, but like most modern libraries, other media like music and movies were available for check-out. I could get online connections by appointment, and the library even issued laptops to use with the in-house wi-fi. Beyond that, the branch is tapped into the Colorado State Library system, so anything I could ever want can be ordered through inter-library loan, not just within the state, but from anyplace that might have the resources I needed.
Living 120 miles from the city, the most useful tool for me is the online catalog, which not only lists the book collection and allows me to reserve items for pick-up, but is also connected to other online resources. If I can't figure it out myself, an online librarian is available at regular times for live chat: the same librarians who greet me when I visit in person, and often by name because I've been going there for so many years. This kind of friendly and helpful service is unparalleled in the modern day.
All this for the cost of local taxes. It's a benefit that is well worth every dime spent and then some. So a big and heart-felt thank you to the librarians, and to a society that believes their presence is worth the money spent. It's the hallmark of civilization, to my way of thinking, and I wouldn't want to live in a land that didn't put libraries at the top of the list of important places in everyday living.
How about you? Do you have a good library? Do you use it regularly? What's your favorite thing about it? Leave us a comment.
2 comments:
My favorite library locally is attached the Front Range Community College. I've met critique partners there. They have interesting displays that are seasonal. They showcase the artist at the college. They have a wonderful children's section. Computers abound if your PC goes off to cyber nowhere land and of course, research. It is great.
Mary Montague Sikes has stopped by my blog with her blog book tour. Nancy N. R. Williams, fantasy author
My favorite library is Perkins Library at Duke University. I'm biased, I realize. This week, however, I had the pleasure of experiencing 3 local school libraries: Brandeis-Hillel, St. Hilary's, and Town School. They are all fabulous. I think the common denominator of good libraries is positive energy. People thrive in them.
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