In The Bookmobile - In Praise of Librarians & The American Public Library System

When I was a girl living on a long city block in Northwestern Indiana, the bookmobile visited every two weeks during the summer months. It would park down at the end of the block that usually flooded after a storm. I would run to be first in line to climb the three metal steps and into the cool interior that smelled like books and ink and kids that had been playing in the hot sun. I would take out as many books as I was allowed and read them all before I had to give them back. There was one librarian, a woman who wore sensible shoes and pretty head scarves, who took notice of me. She would ask me how I liked the books I was returning, and listened and nodded appreciatively as I told her about the ones I really liked and the ones that I didn’t like as much. She began to bring stacks of books just for me, stories about brave women and girls, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman and Laura Ingels Wilder. She brought me books about people and places that were far away. She brought books about birds and bugs and horses and trees. She brought me a funny book about a mouse with a motorcycle, a book of poetry for children, and books filled with arts and crafts ideas. I remember laying on my bed or the cool linoleum in the basement or under the tree in the front yard, turning each page and thinking about how I might report back what I thought about the book and the questions I might ask when that special librarian returned. I loved the bookmobile and I loved that wonderful woman. She changed my life and how I thought about the world- and myself.

The library was then, and is still today, a place that anyone can go for information, to check out books and stories, to expand their world and lives. It is there for anyone, and it was totally free. The American public library system was revolutionary when it was created and I believe it is one of the great treasures of a democratic society. My paternal grandfather grew up on a rural farm and did not finish his schooling as many farm children in those days. But my grandfather was a bright, curious and very intelligent man, who had a library card and used it faithfully. There was always a stack of books right next to his reading chair. He could converse on all kinds of topics, and helped my dad with his college homework. He didn’t go to school past the 9th grade, but he was a reader—and he had a library card.

There are stories that change how we see things, books that changed how we see ourselves and the world. A library is a resource of great value, so many countries do not have the same free and public access to books, music, film, periodicals and now computers, recording and video equipment.

I cannot tell you how strange it is to hear and read about how so many public libraries are under fire by those who would limit access to the full range of ideas and stories and information. Librarians who are excellent at their jobs, who faithfully help children, young people and adults to learn, to read, to access information and become who they are becoming, now have to stand in front of city councils or state legislatures to defend the long history and mission of the American public library system.

These days my daughter works for the American Library Association. So I hear a lot about the amazing work of librarians all over the country. So I wanted to send out this post in solidarity, in appreciation, in humble gratitude to each and every person who is connected and involved with the workings and support of our bold, beautiful library system. Whether your library is large or small, city or rural, in a school or college institution, whether it is a traveling wonder, a bookmobile parked where children can climb three steps and encounter new ideas, new stories, new understanding of the world and themselves—I humbly and with greatest appreciation thank you.

If you know someone who loves libraries or libraries or books…please feel free to share this post.

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Question

Do you have a story of a library or librarian that you remember? Was there a book that changed how you think about things, the world or yourself? If you appreciate libraries and librarians give them a shout out and thank you!

One Inch Photos

The last rays of sun illuminating a beech tree….it was breathtaking.

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