Question for Readers: Libraries
What library or libraries are your favorites, both in the past and now?
posted by Tom Blake | 4:25 PM
Sense from Seattle
Common sense thoughts on life and current affairs by a Seattle area sexagenarian, drawing on personal experience, years of learning as a counselor to thousands of families and an innate passion for informed knowledge, to uniquely express sensible, thoughtful, honest and independent views.
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2 Comments:
For convenience and range of holdings, I have to give a nod to the Hennepin County libraries we enjoyed while living in Minnesota. You could check books out online and then go to a "pick up" shelf in the library, where they would be set aside for you, ready to go. And their turn-around in finding any title was amazing--truly staffed by dedicated librarians. Sadly, as we were leaving, Minneapolis legislators were voting to close the library system as an "underutilized resource," the argument being these were buildings people didn't visit enough to merit keeping open. What a loss to the community!
The first library I ever loved, of course, was my hometown brach. We lived just a few blocks away and it was the highlight of my week to go and get new books. Later, as I worked there in high school, I came to appreciate all the ways libraries benefit communities: they provide computer and internet access to people who would not otherwise have it, offer resume and job search assistance, host cultural programs, highlight local authors, and provide a wealth of information very few individual citizens would be able to amass on their own. I often say libraries are as close as this country comes to sponsoring socialist institutions, and I mean it in all the best ways.
My sentimental favorite library for many years is the main branch of the City of Renton Public Library. This is the library our kids grew up with and it has a wonderful setting in a city park. As you can see from the picture on its home page, the library is built like a bridge, spanning the Cedar River, one of only two such "bridge libraries" in the US from what I have heard. Anna also worked at the library while in high school and as a result, most of the library staff seemed to know our family and were extra friendly to us.
The Renton Library is fairly up to date technologically and has a decent book collection. Renton readers are apparently less aggressive at pursuing recent best sellers, which are often available for checkout even though the King County Library System has them backlogged with holds.
Folks in Seattle are avid readers and supporters of libraries. Last Fall, voters approved by an almost 64% vote a $172 million capital funding bond issue for the King County Library System to expand many of the branches and build a few new ones, including an early scheduled new one near my home.
I agree libraries are one of the best deals for all citizens.
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