My Library

by Maureen

I just read a cute book...Free For All by Don Borchert. The author is an Assistant Librarian in Torrance, CA. He writes sweet, silly, scary and sentimental stories about the library.

 

I first knew I would enjoy the book because he is from Cleveland and works in Torrance. I am from Cleveland and worked in Torrance! How could I not like it? LOL!

 

Anyhow, as I read the book I thought about how much my library means to me. I really started using the library a couple of years ago. And yes, I do mean "using" the place. I started to frequent it in the summer, when the heat was unbearable. Not only do they have free books, they have free A/C. I could take in my little bottle of water, cozy up in a comfy club chair, read a book, be cool and refill my bottle repeatedly from their fountain. It really was a lovely way to spend a day.

 

I have been a regular ever since. And due to budget cuts I have seen the library shorten their hours. But, I see the same employees since day 1. And I have come to recognize some of the other regulars, too! There is the guy that uses the computers that has a nasty mullet, the elderly couple that searches the web for airline fares in a regular basis, the kids that have their homework sprawled around them and Facebook on the screen!

 

I am thankful for the library and what it does for me. I always enjoyed reading, but somehow forgot to find the time to sit down and read. Since I started going back I have read about a book a week. Sometimes, a book a day! I was a slacker this summer having so much of my time taken up because of Joanne, but I got back on track in the fall.

 

The library also gave me the freedom to play on Facebook, watch some blog vids, watch some YouTubes and keep my mind sharp (SHUDDUP SHIRLEY) with games of Scrabble (which I win over 90% of the time!).

 

The library also opened my mind to classic movies and my love of Mr. Cary Grant! I have been able to watch many of his movies, watch wonderful clips on YouTube and read 2 biographies of him. I also became a fan of The Thin Man movies, Audrey Hepburn movies, Gene Kelly movies, Fanny Brice and a hole host of other great classics. I would never have discovered this without the library.

 

My library has given so much to me, that I almost feel guilty. I feel like I owe them something (besides the 30 cents in fines I owe!) in repayment. Other then voting for levys, I don't really know what else I can do.

 

I guess the best thing to do is continue to frequent it and support it and use it to discover a whole world of things I had yet to learn. That is what they would want me to do. Don Borchert says so!

 

Do you frequent your local library?

 

PS...the pic is of my library!