At the public library
14/12/24 02:08
A story that was recently told to me:
A man came into the library with his children and proceeded to ask for a specific book. The librarian was familiar with the book because it was a new acquisition an quickly found it and gave it to the man who proceeded to some comfortable chairs an began to read it to his children. Shortly afterward the librarian noticed that as he read he had tears streaming down his cheeks despite the big smile on his face and his determination to continue to read the story.
The librarian had had enough conversation with the man to know that he was familiar with the story. He had previously read a different version of the story to his children. Reading to his children was a regular practice in their home. He checked out the book and it was going home with them for more reading. It was, after all, a chapter book that is too long to comfortably read in one session.
I found out that emotional reactions to books are common in libraries. However, the story behind this reaction doesn’t commonly elicit such a strong response.
Of course, there is more to the story. The reason the librarian was familiar with the book and the reason that the book was new to the library’s collection is the language in which the book is written. It was one of the new additions of Russian language books to the library. The library already had extensive English and Spanish language collections in both adult and children’s literature. There are thousands of books in each section of the library in both of those languages. Like other libraries, the library had engaged in active conversations with its community and had learned of the desires of some of the people in its service area. In the community of this particular library there is a substantial number of relatively new immigrants from Ukraine and there are many families who speak Ukrainian or Russian in their homes. Most of the families, like the one that came into the library, also speak English, but being new to the country want to pass on some of the traditions of their past to their children.
The story is one of the reasons why we make regular donations to the library foundation. It is one of the reasons we are so eager to support public libraries. Libraries are in the business of forming and supporting community. They are a vital part of the support system for new families in the community - a place where they know they can come and be safe and get information about the community and its resources. In contemporary USA public libraries are major partners in providing support services for those who are experiencing homelessness. They provide computer and Internet access to those who do not have such access in any other location. Access to a computer connected to the Internet is required for application for many jobs these days. It is also a vital communications link as many individuals and corporations no longer use mail delivered by the postal service as their major channel of communication.
I have long been a lover of libraries. I have strong memories of the public library in my home town. I didn’t know much about Andrew Carnegie. I didn’t know about the expansion of the steel industry in the late 19th century in America. I didn’t have much contact with people who had substantial wealth. But I knew that our town had a public library because of the generosity of the man whose name the library bore. Ours wasn’t the only town with a Carnegie Library. There are seventeen Carnegie libraries in my home state of Montana. Between 1883 and 1929 nearly 1,800 libraries were built in the US and hundreds in other countries as a result of Carnegie generosity. Carnegie libraries were also built in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Serbia, Belgium, France and other countries.
Libraries carry other traditions of public service and generosity. The library where the man was moved by being able to read the Harry Potter book to his children in his native language is not part of the Carnegie tradition. It was formed by a group of settler women before the town was incorporated as an important part of developing the culture of their new community planted in what then was considered to be wilderness. Although they lived in isolation from more urban areas, they felt that having a public library was essential to their community. It was seen as important as a fire station and existed before the town had a hospital, a city hall, a courthouse, or other community services that later became important. People have known for generations how important libraries are.
Recently I have been made aware of another role played by public libraries. In many communities libraries serve as emergency shelters. In following the news of the Franklin Fire burning near Los Angeles in California, I recently viewed a video of students sheltering in the library of Pepperdine University. In communities across the country libraries offer access to public spaces that are heated when the weather is cold and often air conditioned when the weather is oppressively hot. As global climate change intensifies more people are in need of shelter when sever weather events occur. Libraries are becoming important parts of the infrastructure of communities seeking to provide for the needs of their citizens.
Those who know me know that I am an incredibly proud father of a community librarian. The story with which today’s journal entry begins was told to my by my son about a recent event in the library he directs. I have access to inside information for what it is worth. I also have someone who will deliver library books directly to my home and return those books when they have been read, although I’m not the only one who has access to such service. And the library where our son serves isn’t the only library we support. I have frequently held more than one library card and am proud to have multiple cards at present. I know my way around several different libraries. And I am grateful for each one.
I’m pretty sure that the father who read Harry Potter to his children with tears streaming down his cheeks will remember that experience for the rest of his life. Chances are it is a story that his children will tell to their children. Libraries are not only places to check out stories, they are places where stories are made.
A man came into the library with his children and proceeded to ask for a specific book. The librarian was familiar with the book because it was a new acquisition an quickly found it and gave it to the man who proceeded to some comfortable chairs an began to read it to his children. Shortly afterward the librarian noticed that as he read he had tears streaming down his cheeks despite the big smile on his face and his determination to continue to read the story.
The librarian had had enough conversation with the man to know that he was familiar with the story. He had previously read a different version of the story to his children. Reading to his children was a regular practice in their home. He checked out the book and it was going home with them for more reading. It was, after all, a chapter book that is too long to comfortably read in one session.
I found out that emotional reactions to books are common in libraries. However, the story behind this reaction doesn’t commonly elicit such a strong response.
Of course, there is more to the story. The reason the librarian was familiar with the book and the reason that the book was new to the library’s collection is the language in which the book is written. It was one of the new additions of Russian language books to the library. The library already had extensive English and Spanish language collections in both adult and children’s literature. There are thousands of books in each section of the library in both of those languages. Like other libraries, the library had engaged in active conversations with its community and had learned of the desires of some of the people in its service area. In the community of this particular library there is a substantial number of relatively new immigrants from Ukraine and there are many families who speak Ukrainian or Russian in their homes. Most of the families, like the one that came into the library, also speak English, but being new to the country want to pass on some of the traditions of their past to their children.
The story is one of the reasons why we make regular donations to the library foundation. It is one of the reasons we are so eager to support public libraries. Libraries are in the business of forming and supporting community. They are a vital part of the support system for new families in the community - a place where they know they can come and be safe and get information about the community and its resources. In contemporary USA public libraries are major partners in providing support services for those who are experiencing homelessness. They provide computer and Internet access to those who do not have such access in any other location. Access to a computer connected to the Internet is required for application for many jobs these days. It is also a vital communications link as many individuals and corporations no longer use mail delivered by the postal service as their major channel of communication.
I have long been a lover of libraries. I have strong memories of the public library in my home town. I didn’t know much about Andrew Carnegie. I didn’t know about the expansion of the steel industry in the late 19th century in America. I didn’t have much contact with people who had substantial wealth. But I knew that our town had a public library because of the generosity of the man whose name the library bore. Ours wasn’t the only town with a Carnegie Library. There are seventeen Carnegie libraries in my home state of Montana. Between 1883 and 1929 nearly 1,800 libraries were built in the US and hundreds in other countries as a result of Carnegie generosity. Carnegie libraries were also built in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Serbia, Belgium, France and other countries.
Libraries carry other traditions of public service and generosity. The library where the man was moved by being able to read the Harry Potter book to his children in his native language is not part of the Carnegie tradition. It was formed by a group of settler women before the town was incorporated as an important part of developing the culture of their new community planted in what then was considered to be wilderness. Although they lived in isolation from more urban areas, they felt that having a public library was essential to their community. It was seen as important as a fire station and existed before the town had a hospital, a city hall, a courthouse, or other community services that later became important. People have known for generations how important libraries are.
Recently I have been made aware of another role played by public libraries. In many communities libraries serve as emergency shelters. In following the news of the Franklin Fire burning near Los Angeles in California, I recently viewed a video of students sheltering in the library of Pepperdine University. In communities across the country libraries offer access to public spaces that are heated when the weather is cold and often air conditioned when the weather is oppressively hot. As global climate change intensifies more people are in need of shelter when sever weather events occur. Libraries are becoming important parts of the infrastructure of communities seeking to provide for the needs of their citizens.
Those who know me know that I am an incredibly proud father of a community librarian. The story with which today’s journal entry begins was told to my by my son about a recent event in the library he directs. I have access to inside information for what it is worth. I also have someone who will deliver library books directly to my home and return those books when they have been read, although I’m not the only one who has access to such service. And the library where our son serves isn’t the only library we support. I have frequently held more than one library card and am proud to have multiple cards at present. I know my way around several different libraries. And I am grateful for each one.
I’m pretty sure that the father who read Harry Potter to his children with tears streaming down his cheeks will remember that experience for the rest of his life. Chances are it is a story that his children will tell to their children. Libraries are not only places to check out stories, they are places where stories are made.
