“I think the public library system is one of the most amazing American institutions. Free for everybody. If you ever get the blues about the status of American culture there are still more public libraries than there are McDonald’s. During the worst of the Depression not one public library closed their doors.” ~ David McCullough
If we were having coffee, I would tell you I was sad to hear that a historian and author I admired had passed. David McCullough brought history alive for me with his books ‘1776’, ‘John Adams’, and ‘Truman’. David McCullough died August 7, 2022. I agree with this quote about libraries. They are amazing and uplifting places that nourish our minds and spirits. You get a library card for free and then can check out any book in the collection. I have recently gone back to the local library to check out several books. I have to be patient while the books requested are shipped to my local branch and need to return them within a specified length of time. I can extend the time with a renewal if no one is waiting for the book. My local library system has a lot of the latest popular fiction available, so I do not have to buy so many books. The only problem is I think I requested too many books this time and hope I will be able to renew some of them when they come due.
Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for today was to use a word starting with the letter ‘u’.
Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie at Natalie the Explorer.
Notes Tied On The Sagebrush 
i love the public libraries
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They are wonderful.
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We have a good one close to me, another a little further away. I love libraries! Happy weekend Deborah!
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It’s great to have one close by. Happy weekend, Susan.
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I strongly agree with your topic. It’s one of the most peaceful places to be in 🙂
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They are a great community resource. Thanks, Damyanti.
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Enjoy your library! I haven’t been to ours since before the pandemic, but that’s largely because I have books at home that I haven’t read yet. This weekend might be a good time to start catching up so that I can use my library card again and get back in the swing of regular reading.
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The LA County Library, near to where I used to live, valiantly continued operations during the pandemic by bringing the books outside to a table for the patrons to pick up. Everybody had to be masked and maintain social distancing. I too had stopped using the library because I was buying books online and having them shipped to me. Especially if I wanted a new release. But now I find the library is getting books in that are pretty recent releases. And besides I do want to support our libraries by using them. Thank you, Mary.
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I live in LA and the libraries continued to serve the community during the pandemic. It occupied my time when my favorite sit-down restaurants were closed during the pandemic. Another great change they made to the library is no more overdue fees! Whenever I got a fee, it deterred me from going to the library for a while.
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The LA County Library really did a great service to the public during the pandemic. I did not like getting overdue fees even though they were small.
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I didn’t realize David McCullough died, and I am saddened by the news, although I’m glad you passed it along. Libraries were so important to me in my early life, that if I ever get a chance to do some tikkun olam work, I want to get involved in helping to protect them from the alarming and pervasive attack they are under by the right-wing nuts. From school to public libraries, across the country, some very scary things are happening under the radar.
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Libraries are such an important resource for their communities. It would be hard to contend with these attacks.
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I have had a library card all my life!! I love libraries too. I rarely buy books, except for cookbooks. I use our e-library extensively for all kinds of things, even movies. All from home. When I am out and pass a library I have to go in!
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Yes, it’s great for people to be able to access books and more in digital format and many people like their e-readers. I still prefer physical books, but I have read some online too.
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I’m with you all the way, Deborah! Our local land regional libraries here in Maine offer an amazing array of books–print and digital–along with at-library and online activities/learning for all ages. Libraries rock! ❤ xo
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Yes, they do. Thank you, Bette. xo
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When I was very young, we had a wonderful library where my mom quickly learned I could just be dropped off there while she did whatever and I’d be safe and well entertained for hours if she left me there, but she also learned that I was seriously over working checking things out that I could never finish reading. No matter, she just kept taking me there to binge out on books.
It was great!
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Your mother was a wise woman to let you binge on books and encourage your interests.
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I have fond memories of libraries throughout my life. Whenever I enter one, I feel comfortable. My county officials want to shrink our downtown library and build apartments. I’ve helped my neighbor fight this proposal. We are advocating for expanding the library as other cities have done.
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The library is really a community center. That is great that you are advocating for your library.
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I was also sad to hear that David McCullough died. Libraries are amazing. I’m trying to remember how many times I’ve read articles that predict the end of public libraries. I’m happy to see them still going strong and serving the public.
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As long as people support their libraries they will continue.
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Thank you for your weekend coffee share. I love public libraries and have been a regular user for many years.
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They are a great resource and we a fortunate to have them.
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I love libraries, but now that I don’t live in the city limit and am the only one who would use it I can’t justify the $115 a year. Sometimes I use my mother in laws card and order a book online.
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That is too bad that you do not have access to a library without having to pay a fee and the fee sounds like a lot to me.
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Public libraries are the reason I became a librarian. My local public library was my refuge when I was a kid. I’ve now spent over 30 years (!!!) working as an academic librarian, and I still love libraries of all sorts. I think a lot of people learned during the pandemic just how much their public libraries have to offer electronically too–ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, graphic novels, comics, movies… so much available for download/streaming, and all free.
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It sounds like a rewarding career. I noticed most of the books are available in digital format now and lots of other media are available as you mention.
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I love our library system, so uplifting to just browse the shelves. Our closest one got repurposed for COVID testing for a good 12 months. Thankfully it’s back.
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It’s good you got your local library back.
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