More Than Books

 My life has been interwoven with many wonderful libraries!  I hope your's has too.  To be without such a valuable resource is sad.  When I consider the ways in which libraries have enriched my life, I think of  the library of my small hometown, Spencerville, Ohio.  Small town = small library.  Although it was part of a public library system, I don't think it was much larger than a studio apartment, but did it ever open up a bigger world to me. It looks a lot different now, some forty years later, and I haven't visited this new building, but I trust it serves the same home-away-from-home need for current readers that it did for me.  Saturday visits, spending time there researching and writing a term paper on Marilyn Monroe, and reading over and over a true crime book on infamous murders.  I know, today that last one would probably prompt an appointment with a therapist, but I found it utterly fascinating.  Even my backside has a library memory, that of sitting on hard wooden chairs until it fell asleep. No cushions there! 

This same library was a Saturday morning break for my mom.  I come from a big family!  There were six children; five girls and my lone brother. 👪👪👪  As you can imagine, Mom was a busy woman and finding time to run errands or carve out a few minutes alone was a real challenge.  Consequently, we made a regular Saturday trip to the local library.  Mom would drop the six of us at the library for about an hour, we got to take advantage of the books and she got time to herself. One such Saturday, she dropped the entire bunch at the library, went about her business and picked us up an hour later.  Once we got home and everyone piled out of the car, my mother discovered only five of us had made the ride home.  My sister, Barbara, was missing.  Again, in today's world, this would probably have generated a call to the police and escalation of that sort, but we weren't home too long before the librarian called to ask if Mom wanted Barb back.  After a moment's hesitation, (Barbara was an ornery child) Mom jumped back in the car and went to pick her up. That story is bookmarked in  family lore, but what stands out is that the library was a safe place and the librarian was knowledgeable of her patrons.  I get that same feeling at my local library even today! 

This past weekend I attended an author event at my brother's parish.  Granted it was an interesting talk, presented by the author, Joseph Pearce, but what really struck me were a few words I had with the Head of School, Cathedral High School Houston, Dr. Alexis Kutarna.  Dr. Kutarna mentioned that the school has a reciprocal relationship with The University of St. Thomas library, also here in Houston.  She had been encouraging her students to use this resource to research, but more importantly to explore all the library has to offer. Let me paraphrase, sometimes a book you didn't know you were looking for will make it's way to you.  Those few words reminded me of a podcast I follow, Currently Reading.  One of the hosts, Meredith, has remarked something similar during several podcasts - there are times when a book meets you where and when you most need it most.  I believe both of these women are spot on.  There are times, when I'm browsing a library and a book nearly jumps from the shelf into my hands.  It is usually something I wouldn't have bothered to pick up, but for some reason it spoke to me.  Those rare "calling" books, have brought me some of my greatest comfort and joy!  The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip is one great example. I've reviewed and recommended it to everyone who will listen (some I had to twist their arm, but ...).  It's that good, that meaningful!  Five glittering stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.

Over the past couple of years, I've seen my granddaughter, Maggie, grow into a library lover, who appreciates many of the treasures available in these havens.  We've spent a lot of time in the Houston Public Library or the "big library" as she named it.  It's really a a beautiful place with an entire floor devoted to children complete with scaled down chairs/tables and comfy couches.  It's a sort of live and let live type of place.  They encourage you to come in and spend the afternoon stretched out on a couch visiting another world through the door of a book.  

I'm very fortunate to have three branches of my county library within just a few miles of home.  All three are great places to visit, but one, the Octavia Fields Branch, holds a special place on the bookshelves of my heart. It's the first library my children used when we moved to Texas and it has become a favorite of my granddaughter too.  We spent a week attending "Opera Camp" there.  The library partnered with the Houston Grand Opera to bring in an interactive program featuring music, story, and crafts all designed to introduce children to classical opera.  Maggie loved it.  Two years later she still sings the songs, not just to family, but to her classmates at recess.  What a gift! 

If you were under the impression that libraries are all about the books, we're (Maggie and I) here to tell you there is a great big wide world inside those four walls.  If you don't have a library card, the key to it all, please go get one.  I promise you won't be disappointed. So much more than books!  📚