Photo: Eric J. Shelton-Hattiesburg American
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“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
― Mark Twain
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”
― Groucho Marx, The Essential Groucho: Writings For By And About Groucho Marx
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This is the perfect time to get between the covers.
No, not in bed, between the covers of your favorite book.
National Library Week (April 7- 13), is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.
If you haven’t visited your local library recently, you’re overlooking one of the truly prized possessions a locality bestows on its residents.
Imagine, in the last presented year, 695 million printed books were sold in the U.S., up from 687 in 2017.
That’s a lot of books, and most of these books are available at your local library for absolutely nothing. All you need is a library card and you’re literally good to go.
And what better time to visit a library; during a particularly dispiriting time in our nation’s history when the vitriol on social media, whether on Facebook or Twitter, is getting nastier by the day. It doesn’t matter if it’s pro-Trump posts or anti-Trump posts-the political climate of late is positively toxic.
Myself, I find it refreshing to get away from all the annoying chatter on television and on the Internet and visit my local library, where they have a nice quiet reading room with comfortable chairs. I’m even permitted to bring in my Dunkin Donuts coffee. I shut off my phone and just relax as I plunge into my book for a couple of hours, free from any interruption.
On many occasions, the time I spend at the library reading is easily the most productive and meaningful few hours I’ve spent all week.
And I often wonder why we don’t do it more often.
Residents of Cuyahoga County in Ohio where I live are particularly blessed. The Cleveland Public Library (in the very heart of downtown Cleveland) is the third largest library in the United States. Sadly, a majority of its residents don’t take advantage of this tremendous institution as often as they should.
Most local libraries, of course, have evolved and have kept pace with the changing needs of its residents. Many libraries, for example, accept applications for applying for a passport. They also have a number of computer classes for beginners and seniors (including more advanced classes) taught by highly trained professionals in small settings, free of the hassle (and expense) of having to enroll in a community college or university class. Free access to computers and the Internet is additionally available to any patron with a library card.
Bestselling author and former Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Regina Brett discussed her book of essays, "God Is Always Hiring: 50 Lessons for Finding Fulfilling Work" at the Kent Free Library in April, 2015.
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And libraries, like the Cuyahoga County Libraries in Ohio regularly feature well known writers and authors to discuss their upcoming books, along with private readings.
All of this, of course, is absolutely free.
Despite all the benefits libraries provide to its residents, recent surveys are a bit discouraging.
According to the Pew Research Center , just under half of all those age 16 and older (48 percent) say they have visited a public library or bookmobile in person in the prior year. More discouraging still, the share of Americans who read for pleasure on a given day has fallen sharply by more than 30 percent since 2004, according to the latest American Time Use Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
April, then, is traditionally the time of year when there is a concerted effort to try to focus on books, reading, and libraries in general. In addition to the second week of April being designated as National Library Week; April is School Library Month; while National Library Workers Day is the Tuesday of the week, National Bookmobile Day, and Support Teen Literature Day is the Thursday of the week.
According to the American Library Association’s (ALA) website, “Library programs are designed to encourage community members to meet and discuss civic issues, work together using new technologies like 3D printing or learn alongside one another in English language or technology classes. Library staff also partner with other civic and service organizations to actively engage the people they serve, always striving to make sure their community’s needs are being met.”
The origin of National Library Week dates back to the 1950s. In 1954, a nonprofit National Book Committee was created between the American Libraries Association (ALA) and the American Book Publishers. By 1957, the committee developed the idea for National Library Week, hoping that it would motivate people to read and to support libraries.
Print books remain the most popular format for reading, with 67 percent of Americans having read a print book in the past year.
So, just like as Election Day nears, and civic leaders encourage everyone to get to the polls to vote; so too should we encourage each other to visit your local library this month if for no other reason than to learn of the invaluable and vast display of learning tools with trained professionals that are available to its residents.
–Bill Lucey
April 8, 2019
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