Who wrote the book of...
I have just returned from running errands, the last stop being the public library. I had a couple of books reserved for me and I managed to come home with seven instead of two. And I placed a new request for an audio book that will be arriving from a library within The Finger Lakes Library System in the near future.
There's something about a library that fascinates me. Such potential within its walls. All kinds of info: fiction stories, how-to and nonfiction books, magazines, books on tape, newspapers, computers, classes, quiet places to read, and floors to explore. And free.
My grammar school didn't have a library. So, once a month we got to walk the four blocks to the public library and check out books. It was the only field trip we ever took. High school and college libraries had more extensive collections and larger buildings.
The library was always my favorite place in an elementary school. When there was no one scheduled, I would take my reading class there and the kids would inhabit every nook and floor space as we ventured through the pages of our current novel. It was great! I loved the excitement when the new books were put out to preview. Within reading class, I also had a room collection of 25-30 books[ that were hand selected]] and we sometimes began class by taking some time to 'smell the roses.' That was when everyone, myself included, chose one of the picture books and read it [silently and independently] from start to finish. [To debunk the myth that you had to read a long chapter book to enjoy a story.]It started a lot of kids reading for entertainment and took 10 minutes or so. Aside from my professional bias, I found it very upsetting when schools would downsize library staff and/or have one librarian travel between schools in an effort to save money and 'trim the budget.' How troubling is that!!
When my son began walking, we often went to the children's room and picked out cool books. Lots of them...every two weeks. Quite a fun and positive thing. In today's world, kids aren't reading very much on their own. Television, movies, computer games, play stations, etc. have taken a toll and sad to say-reading is becoming a lost art.
Oh well. I'm off to read my reserved selection,"The Everything Tarot Book...Discover your past, present, and future: It's in the cards!" Not sure exactly how or why I went in this direction, or for that matter...how long it will hold my attention. I guess the answer might just be in the cards. I'll keep you posted!!
There's something about a library that fascinates me. Such potential within its walls. All kinds of info: fiction stories, how-to and nonfiction books, magazines, books on tape, newspapers, computers, classes, quiet places to read, and floors to explore. And free.
My grammar school didn't have a library. So, once a month we got to walk the four blocks to the public library and check out books. It was the only field trip we ever took. High school and college libraries had more extensive collections and larger buildings.
The library was always my favorite place in an elementary school. When there was no one scheduled, I would take my reading class there and the kids would inhabit every nook and floor space as we ventured through the pages of our current novel. It was great! I loved the excitement when the new books were put out to preview. Within reading class, I also had a room collection of 25-30 books[ that were hand selected]] and we sometimes began class by taking some time to 'smell the roses.' That was when everyone, myself included, chose one of the picture books and read it [silently and independently] from start to finish. [To debunk the myth that you had to read a long chapter book to enjoy a story.]It started a lot of kids reading for entertainment and took 10 minutes or so. Aside from my professional bias, I found it very upsetting when schools would downsize library staff and/or have one librarian travel between schools in an effort to save money and 'trim the budget.' How troubling is that!!
When my son began walking, we often went to the children's room and picked out cool books. Lots of them...every two weeks. Quite a fun and positive thing. In today's world, kids aren't reading very much on their own. Television, movies, computer games, play stations, etc. have taken a toll and sad to say-reading is becoming a lost art.
Oh well. I'm off to read my reserved selection,"The Everything Tarot Book...Discover your past, present, and future: It's in the cards!" Not sure exactly how or why I went in this direction, or for that matter...how long it will hold my attention. I guess the answer might just be in the cards. I'll keep you posted!!
Labels: books, commentary
posted by Mare at
2:22 PM
1 Comments:
I agree with you completely! I love the public libraries. Here in Skokie, Illinois, we have one of the best libraries around. It's huge, has an extensive collection but feels very friendly and cosy. We're going to miss it so much when we move to Hawaii. Sigh.... Hawaii has a very UNDER Budgeted library system. Ah well...more reason to return here for visits.
By
Kay, At
June 3, 2008 at 4:49 PM
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