The Alberton Papers #20
By Dick Darne 5-14-06
In this column, lets talk about libraries. In the early days of our republic, only the well to do had libraries of their own. As cities and universities grew, their libraries grew also, but the common man was pretty well shut out. Not everyone could read, and if they could, libraries were far from their rural homes and small towns. Of course, working from sunup to sunset as a normal work day didn’t leave much time for reading. It was late in the life of one of the original "robber barons", Andrew Carnegie, when his conscience caused him to fund libraries throughout the U.S.. After public education, most schools had libraries, as did most counties. When I grew up. Libraries were taken for granted. Growing up six miles outside Wash. D.C., I had the privilege of using the Library of Congress to do my high school term paper. (Actually it was a chance to get out of a stuffy old classroom and attempt to romp around the L of C, but they had the world’s strictest librarians, backed up by armed guards) Our librarian here in Alberton is pretty tame by comparison.
So, do libraries still have a place in today’s cyber-world? Absolutely! Besides being one of the last bastions of freedom in our besieged democracy, libraries are very much in the computer age.
For those of us who like to relax with a good book, you will probably find it in the local library. Like to study the ancient tomes of the classics, we have ‘em too. How to do things? Right here. Composting? I’ll bet Rodale’s book of composting is there. Politics? Ditto. Taking a trip? Try books on tape. Right here. But wait, there’s more, stop in and chat, the librarian is fluent in the local dialect.
So how to support your library? Give the library first pick of the books you no longer need. Buy books for the library. Donate to: Friends of the Library, mineral co. Become a volunteer. Use the library. Best of all, encourage a kid to read.
Dick Darne
722-4575 aldermandarne@hotmail.com Http://albpap.blogspot.com/
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