Check This Out!
It’s still hard to believe when I see my own book on bookshelves. Depending on the system or the size, the library catalogs Christian authors in general fiction or in special collections like “Religion.”
Sometimes it takes a few months to get the latest editions, so I couldn’t find the new releases for Dani Pettrey, Deb Raney, or Tamera Alexander when I popped into my local branch recently. But whatever stack you find my author-friends and me, I’m grateful and excited to get my contemporary stories in the hands of readers. It’s my way of answering Jesus’ call to “Go!” Iin Matthew 28.
When I was a child, my parents would drop me off at our town library and leave me there all day. I remember sitting down on the rug in front of the large picture window, inhaling one book after another—literally. Don’t you just love the way old books smell? When it came time to check out, I’d watch the librarian write my name on the card and stow it in the cabinet behind the tall front desk. By the time my folks picked me up, I could barely make it to the car bearing a stack that stood as tall as I. You have no idea how much I looked forward to fine-forgiveness month each November!
I’ve happily passed down my library love to my peeps, starting them out when they were bouncing on my lap. As soon as they could write their own names, they got their own cards, so they could accumulate their own fines. Not only have they studied, learned, and played in libraries up and down the East Coast, they’ve also served as volunteers.
As a homeschooling mama and author, I spend as much time in libraries as I do my own kitchen. I was excited to see how locations across the country are making their facilities more accessible to families like mine and others who need more than the latest read. Some have done away with fines. Others include cafés, like my bookstore in The Stories We Carry. Check out this library in Ohio that constructed workstations for caregivers!
What about you? If you could design your own space, what would you include? How would you arrange your bookshelves?
in Him, Robin W. Pearson
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Great Post, Robin. I love libraries too, and not only raised my children in them, but paid my share of overdue fines as well. I’m betting between us we’ve unknowingly, sponsored a library wing or two. 🤗 Thanks for looking for me even though I was AWOL.
Oh my goodness. I hadn’t seen those workstations. How wonderful. Although I don’t go into my local library now the way I used to (stacks of books checked out each time). Now I do digital downloads (completely lacking in the wonderful smell of books). No small peeps at home either. But you sure stirred up a lot of good memories from the past, both my childhood and also when I began writing my own books and did so much research at the library.
I would have fax, scanning and notary services. I urge everyone in the U.S. to check out the latest online petitions on EveryLibrary which supports all types of US libraries. So many libraries also have referendums on the ballot often. I also try to leave short reviews on Amazon to support authors even I borrowed the book from the library.
I love all these library thoughts and photos and I’m always thrilled to see my books in a library setting. Thanks so much for sharing this, Robin. Makes me want to GO to the library right now! And speaking of the library, our local library did away with fines recently, too. Yay!