National Library Week

Last week was National Library Week. I always try to do a little something for the library staff, flowers and balloons, usually, to let them know I appreciate the work they do. The biggest part of the success of any library is the dedication of its staff. Alas, this year I forgot all about National Library Week. I have some excuses….I took a few days off to visit my sister, various staff members have been ill, had illness in the family, been on vacation. Life just hasn’t been normal at the library for a couple of weeks. But, I am deeply ashamed that I forgot to pay tribute to the staff. They do such a terrific job. Every time one of them is out for a day or two, I realize just how much they accomplish when they are here.
“More than anything else a library reflects what a community thinks about itself”. Anonymous Baldwinville, NY resident. Isn’t that the loveliest quote? Another library posted that on its website in tribute to National Library Week. It is often so true. If a community thinks of itself as a hard scrabble, blue collar town, the library is usually a no-frills operation. There are libraries like that all around us. The building itself is usually plain, slightly out of date and simple. A community that wishes to be seen as snooty and intellectual might have lots of individual study tables with serious lighting where no one will disturb anyone else. Those libraries usually have lots of empty space and a very hushed atmosphere.
I like what our library says about Humboldt. The building is just grand enough to announce that we take books and knowledge seriously, but it isn’t so stuffy that someone would be afraid to open the doors. The building is noticeably too small. That says that our town uses its library. Once inside, you’ll usually find at least a little noise. If it’s early-out Wednesday, you’ll find a lot of noise. People of all ages can feel comfortable enough in our library to ask a question, visit with a friend, or tell a joke. Various machines humming, beeping and chugging along let you know that we have computers, printers, faxes and copiers all busily making our lives easier. I hope you will be greeted with a smile and a friendly welcome. You paid for this library, we are glad to see you using it.
That we offer all kinds of services we couldn’t begin to imagine a few years ago, lets everyone know that we value progress and are willing to spend the money necessary to keep the world from leaving us behind. We may be small town, but we aren’t narrow minded or short sighted.
When you leave the library, I want you to take with you a warm, fuzzy feeling that for all pork and boondoggles and politics that saturate today’s governments, libraries are the one thing that every community gets just right.
Next time you stop by, tell Demi and Sarah and Kathy and Linda, Martha, Virginia, George, Jan and Shelly how much you appreciate them. I know I do.