I love my library, Part 58
Jun. 6th, 2007 01:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
susandennisWhen I was little, we had a great library. This was in Winston-Salem, NC. I loved that place. In fact the first time I ever remember getting grounded was for going to the library.
It was Summer. School was out. Mom had promised to take us to the library. But, she didn't feel good and took a nap instead. I was sooooo bummed. But, determined. I called the bus company and a very nice lady there told me how to get the bus and get to the library. Keep in mind, this was the South and the 50s. Little white girls did not ride the city buses. Except for me and my sister (and she came along only because Mom told me to watch her - I have no clue where my brother was that day).
We got onto the bus and we rode to the library with no problems at all. I think it cost a nickel and I took 2 nickels from the money we kept for Sunday School.
I did kind of forget to leave a note for Mom. In hindsight that was not such a good thing to forget.
When it got towards dinner time the librarian asked where Mom was and I told her that she was home, sick, taking a nap. That librarian was sharp. I think it took 3 questions for her to suss out the situation, get Mom on the phone and get my ass grounded for a week. In the summer. Before that I didn't even know what grounded was.
But, heck, man... the library had this very cool bookworm program. You got a poster on the bulletin board right here at the library with your name on it and every time you read a book you got to add a piece to the bookworm on your poster! (Who knew 50 years later I'd still be sucked into a sticker a day!!??)
So today I go to my local branch that I love and this wonderful young guy librarian, as I'm checking out, asked me if I had heard about the adult summer reading program. Sure enough it's bookworms for grownups and instead of posters you get a Starbucks card for $4! Just for reading 3 books!!
This has so many things right with it, but mainly:
1. As an adult with no children I get so weary of the world catering to children all the time - finally something for me.
2. I read a lot of blogs and tales about how mean and hateful the librarians at the Seattle library are. At my branch they are as nice and nice can be - just like this guy.
The main library downtown is an architectural marvel (or blight - depending on who you ask) but kind of too big and too strange. My branch - on Beacon Hill - is as nice and pretty and cozy as can be and makes me feel like a care free 8 year old who has just had a great adventure getting there and had so much fun that a week of being grounded didn't even smudge the memory at all.
It was Summer. School was out. Mom had promised to take us to the library. But, she didn't feel good and took a nap instead. I was sooooo bummed. But, determined. I called the bus company and a very nice lady there told me how to get the bus and get to the library. Keep in mind, this was the South and the 50s. Little white girls did not ride the city buses. Except for me and my sister (and she came along only because Mom told me to watch her - I have no clue where my brother was that day).
We got onto the bus and we rode to the library with no problems at all. I think it cost a nickel and I took 2 nickels from the money we kept for Sunday School.
I did kind of forget to leave a note for Mom. In hindsight that was not such a good thing to forget.
When it got towards dinner time the librarian asked where Mom was and I told her that she was home, sick, taking a nap. That librarian was sharp. I think it took 3 questions for her to suss out the situation, get Mom on the phone and get my ass grounded for a week. In the summer. Before that I didn't even know what grounded was.
But, heck, man... the library had this very cool bookworm program. You got a poster on the bulletin board right here at the library with your name on it and every time you read a book you got to add a piece to the bookworm on your poster! (Who knew 50 years later I'd still be sucked into a sticker a day!!??)
So today I go to my local branch that I love and this wonderful young guy librarian, as I'm checking out, asked me if I had heard about the adult summer reading program. Sure enough it's bookworms for grownups and instead of posters you get a Starbucks card for $4! Just for reading 3 books!!
This has so many things right with it, but mainly:
1. As an adult with no children I get so weary of the world catering to children all the time - finally something for me.
2. I read a lot of blogs and tales about how mean and hateful the librarians at the Seattle library are. At my branch they are as nice and nice can be - just like this guy.
The main library downtown is an architectural marvel (or blight - depending on who you ask) but kind of too big and too strange. My branch - on Beacon Hill - is as nice and pretty and cozy as can be and makes me feel like a care free 8 year old who has just had a great adventure getting there and had so much fun that a week of being grounded didn't even smudge the memory at all.
