Tall Drink of Nerd: Still Madly in Love With…
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A blogumn by Amy Robinson
The Public Library – Home Sweet Home
I am madly in love with the Public Library. Our affair began when I was just a wee lass of five years. My mother led me into the small Library of our teeny hometown and told me to pick out any book I wanted. How could I focus on picking just one in this ridiculous wealth of books!?
My first choice was Yertle the Turtle. Then I stood on tip-toe, my little blue eyes barely peeping over the librarian’s desk as she made my first library card, which she handed over to me with Yertle and a clear, lime green sucker. I get to read Doctor Seuss for free and you add sugar to the mix? I was hooked.
Since that time, oh so very long ago, I’ve always found a home-away-from-home in the public library. No matter where I’ve roamed; Kansas, Colorado, Chicago or Los Angeles, the public library is there. It trusts everyone enough to lend books, music, movies and art, even when you don’t have a job.
There have been days, underemployed and in need of inspiration, where I would head to the Central Library (both in Chicago and Los Angeles, impressive structures by themselves.) As storms of rain, snow or economic madness raged outside, I could tuck into a big leather armchair, safe and warm amid the mountains of ideas wrapped in jewel colored book bindings. Encouragement can be found in the brilliance of great writers like Mark Twain, Sherman Alexie or Willa Cather. Books you couldn’t believe had found a publisher is also good inspiration.
I’ll admit that I neglected the library for a while with the advent of Amazon and a good paying “regular” job. But after 18 months spent working for no money, but still needing new books to feed the brain, I returned to the library. I realized something new during that time. Getting books from the library is environmentally friendly too! Less production means less ink, less paper, less shipping. Love your Mother Earth!
My heart still belongs in the tall stacks, searching out new authors and classics, relaxing inside the cavern of ideas.
dlkd,