Every once in a while Father would announce to us boys we are going to the library. We would shriek and jump up and down as if we had won the lottery. We had to quickly take inventory of what books we had at home and were they ready to return and if not finished to better get cracking before we went. My brothers often had a list of ‘to read’ which they would ask The Librarian* if they were available. I often took a different tack, as I will tell you.
Upon entering the hallowed halls of The Library, we immediately hushed although it was often hard to curtail a squeal of delight at finding out the book you have longed to read is finally available and waiting at the counter. While Father went directly to the fiction section looking for Jack Ryan novels, I went to the large wooden filing cabinets and randomly picked a bin (‘Ma-Mo’ perhaps) and pull it open by its brass knob and finger through the index cards to come across a title that grabbed me. It was like a treasure hunt. With the dewy decimal clue in my head I would go find the book, and if it was there, would it be as wonderful as I wanted it to be. Perhaps it wasn’t there – a disappointment – but just a few books down from the gap on the shelf was another book waving its cover at me. What I wanted to find was a magical tome all but forgotten that when opened it would reveal a marvelous tale or perhaps lead me to a faraway land. Sometimes this happened.
Wandering through the stacks looking at titles at eye level (mine) sometimes this didn’t come up with anything. No fear, there were always the ‘favorites’ that were read and reread. You had to sign your name on the lender log in the front of the book. There was my name, taking up four or five lines in a row sign with some upstart stranger’s handwriting breaking the run. I would pay a lot of money to have some of those books again.**
It seemed then people were quiet and they were there to read or study. The common denominator was reading, which everyone took seriously like a religion. There was no talking but some moved their lips while reading like a priest does when he reads the prayers Secreto.
If you didn’t like the library then you didn’t go – and left us superior reader types to our books.
I hear tell libraries are shutting down mostly from indifference and lack of use. Fewer people go to the library these days; if people want to read or research something they do that online or on their Kindles. The index card filing cabinets are all gone – I wonder what happened to them. Libraries, once a quiet realm, are under siege from @-holes who want to ban books – not that they or their children go to libraries or actually read. It is all about control; if people read and became knowledgable thems in power would lose control.
If there is a hell I hope there is a special level for book burners and book banners.
There is a local branch of The Phoenix Library not too far from La Casa de Spo. I have tried going but it is a disappointment. The place feels oddly bereft of books. Rather there are video and games to rent. The librarian (who doesn’t look or sound at all god-like) will looks things up on their screen to see if said book is here or somewhere else and would I like to order it to be sent here? Somehow this takes all the fun out of it. All the same when I go which is usually on a Saturday morning among the few browsers there is often a parent with some youngsters who look as excited about their books as I was. It makes me smile to see them and the sight gives me hope thems who read and thems who go to libraries will endure.
Do you go to libraries?
Is your library in trouble from lack of money or vile sorts wanting their will imposed on them?
*Librarians were perceived to be gods, all knowing and worth our reverence. One did not talk louder than a whisper to these sage goddesses.
**One of them was titled “Red Letter Days” which gave some history of the various holidays. I forgot how I got it but there it stands on my shelf, its dust jacket quite worn and ripped some. What a treasure.
51 comments
June 13, 2024 at 3:28 AM
fallenstarstories
What a wonderful post! I, generally speaking, took the same path you did on entering the library (at least once a week, because I sort of demanded it and my mom and dad didn’t mind at all.) I would be “turned loose” in the library to wander for an hour or so, looking for that illusive book, usually finding 4 or 5. The librarians were my co-conspirators; my allies; my advisors, if needed. Libraries were the most wonderful places. And they still are; a safe place for those in need, full of information, resources and escape. And the place you can get the books that “they” don’t want you to have. Book-banners, book-burners…these people truly deserve that special place in hell…but I don’t think even Satan will tolerate them.
June 13, 2024 at 7:05 AM
Urspo
Thank you! I figured folks would feel similar about libraries and books, Spo-fans being book-smart as they say.
I am always glad to hear from you!
Satan will force them to read the works of Henry James; that will teach’em!
June 13, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Parnassus
Why is that a punishment? I love Henry James and have read the better half of his books.
–Jim
June 13, 2024 at 3:44 AM
Anonymous
All our libraries are county Subsidized. With Little Hitler losing all sorts of lawsuits as governor maybe the choice will improve. Our county is less controversial. Many people here depend on the latest best sellers and audio books. I spend too much time on my Ipad.DwightW.
June 13, 2024 at 7:06 AM
Urspo
I have lots of books calling out to be read; I have to make a conscious effort to put down the phone and pick up a book.
June 13, 2024 at 3:45 AM
Debbie W.
As a retired librarian, I love this post! You have so accurately captured the excitement that was part of my childhood experience when my mother would take me to the library. It’s that very excitement that led me to become a librarian. Today’s libraries are busy reinventing themselves, lest they become obsolete. Let’s hope there is a special place in hell for those book banners. They are scary people who ought to redirect their energies to doing some good in the world!
June 13, 2024 at 7:07 AM
Urspo
Thank the gods for librarians!
I remember a few of them seeing me in regularly starting to figure out what I would like and sometimes have something I might like. What a gift that was.
June 13, 2024 at 4:02 AM
loriahawkins
As a life long library lover I enjoyed this post. We used to have the book mobile which came to the school once a week for us to check out books. In the summer my grandmother would take me once a week to the huge library downtown and I loved that. Our library here is doing well. It is in a 100+ year old brick building with gorgeous stained glass windows, cozy leather chairs to read in and a god like librarian or two. There are always people there getting books, working a jigsaw puzzle or playing a game. It’s a true blessing for our community.
June 13, 2024 at 7:09 AM
Urspo
When I was in grade school, we had some sort of seasonal book buy. We got a catalog of possible buys (I wanted most of them) and they would be ordered. Oh the excitement when the box arrived! The teacher opened it in a sort of ceremony and distributed the books to the buyers. I adored these books – I still have a few of them too.
June 13, 2024 at 7:48 AM
loriahawkins
Yes, we had Scholastic book buys as well. I still have a few of mine as well. Thanks for that reminder.
June 13, 2024 at 4:36 AM
Anonymous
June 13, 2024 at 7:10 AM
Urspo
I am glad you liked it. I hoped it would resonate with you and the others the long-ago time of going to the library.
June 13, 2024 at 4:37 AM
Jenn
I still use the library! I love murder mysteries, and I only read them once, so it makes sense to sign books out of the library, rather than purchase them. I like a book in hand and don’t read on a tablet, or worse, on my phone. Libraries are still a place for the community here, often with wonderful children’s programmes. They are not the hushed quiet places they once were, but thankfully they are still used and appreciated. Back in my university days, before teacher’s college, I was part of a group that ran children’s day programmes at several libraries in the city. I feel very much at home surrounded by books. Love this post!! I imagined you as an excited youngster going through the card catalogue! -Jenn
June 13, 2024 at 7:11 AM
Urspo
You inspire me to go to mine this weekend and have a look-see around and see if something leaps off the shelves at me.
June 13, 2024 at 4:47 AM
David Godfrey
One advantage of living in one of the most educated counties in the country is the library system seems to be alive and well. Our nearest branch, Martha Washington, is smaller than I would like, but every time I go in I find 2-3 books waiting for me to explore. Growing up my grandmother would occasionally take me to the village library, I can remember when it was two wood paneled rooms up over the “dime store.” My parents were not readers when I was growing up. It is a pleasure I discovered in my teens and twenties on my own. When we started spending winters in Florida, I discovered the joys of bookstores.
June 13, 2024 at 7:13 AM
Urspo
Good for you!
Funny that my parents apparently didn’t need to promote reading as we older boys took to it with gusto on our own. My mother, who was quite the cultural person, only read romance novels which she literally got by the sacksful. Father read espionage and spy novels. They had a good-sized collection of books – but I never saw them read any. Did they ever?
June 13, 2024 at 5:22 AM
Blobby
Cleveland has one of the best and most vital library systems in the country. We have actually been opening new ones over the last few years. I love it.
I do use the library. Not as often as I should, but I think they are super important.
June 13, 2024 at 7:13 AM
Urspo
Lucky fellow to have such a system!
June 13, 2024 at 5:56 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
I find libraries today to be “oddly bereft of books” as well. That’s a great phrase for it!
June 13, 2024 at 7:14 AM
Urspo
The flip side of this oddity is people (including myself) want to donate heaps of read books to the library. They could fill their bins with our refuse. They’ve become snippity what they will take – and there is a sign over the drop off slot do not donate books there.
June 13, 2024 at 6:14 AM
trajanv
Thanks for the interesting post; however:
Before I retired last year I was a cataloger at a very large and famous research library. Sometime before I left, it took years to hire a new director, in large part because the powers that be wanted to hire someone of the correct gender and race and who came down on the correct political side. At her inaugural zoom meeting she referred to the contents of our libraries as “dusty old books.” Now it seems that nothing gets cataloged and as far as I know nobody cares. Wokeness now takes precedence over the functioning of the libraries. So it goes to show you that there are idealogues on both sides of the political spectrum who are keen to impose their values on everyone else. Libraries, and those who use them, suffer accordingly.
Huston
June 13, 2024 at 7:17 AM
Urspo
Thank you Huston for taking time to write this out; it was good reading.
Have you ever heard the podcast “Welcome to Nightvale”? One of the ongoing jokes in this rather macabre parody of small town living are the librarians who are described as evil entities waiting in the dark to devour anyone daring to enter the library. Survivors get buttons “I survived the summer reading program”
June 13, 2024 at 8:37 AM
Robzilla
I haven’t been to a library in ages, but I fondly remembered the few times I visited the one in Downtown. One time, around 1985 I think, I checked out The Hockey News 1982-1983 Registry. It was like an almanac filled with the bios of all of the current and quite a few former NHL players at the time.
With the exception of the 1980 US Olympic Team hockey was a rare occurrence on my TV until around 1984 when I got my own cable outlet in my bedroom. That book filled in the blanks for me on what had happened in professional hockey since the WHA’s Mariners folded in 1977.
June 13, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Urspo
I like to think everyone has a good memory of reading and going to the library, in their youth.
The only hockey team of note is the Detroit Red Wings. Do not dare to question this.
June 13, 2024 at 10:03 AM
BadNoteB
Your post prompted me to call up my favorite video, Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” to revisit Marion, Madam Librarian, who allegedly advocated “dirty books… Causer, Rabelais, Balzac!” as part of the Trouble -with a capital T – pervading River City Iowa. (https://youtu.be/mvhFs2bdRpE?si=KWea6_k6rq-JrAIq 🎵 Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little 🎵)
Our podunk small town had a pathetically small library crammed into the basement of City Hall as an urban planning after-thought back in the 1930s. Selections were very limited but we were fortunate that patience and perseverance could eventually produce a needed volume via inter-library borrowing within 7-10 days. I was in my early teens when 3 rival municipalities finally agreed to create and fund a county library district to serve the growing regional area. By high school age, we had a first class library consuming an entire city block – seven stories surrounding a first floor open atrium and housing a massive catalog of books. Best of all, it was a 15 minute bus ride from the steps of our high school, permitting independent access anytime I wanted. I was a bi-weekly visitor until high school graduation and leaving for college out of state.
I have only been in our local public library twice – to obtain and renew my library card. I love their e-book offerings, however, and use that access continually. In-person visitations tend to focus on our University library, where I am fond of several special collections they maintain that are unlikely to ever realize electronic format. Either location, I still love the overwhelming sense of awe entering a library continues to evoke after so many years – kind of like what my Catholic grandmother prayed I might someday feel when going to church!
June 13, 2024 at 2:38 PM
Urspo
The Music Man reminds us people objecting to books on the grounds they will degenerate the morals of young folks isn’t new.
I don’t suppose you have read the “Discworld” series by Terry Prachett? In it the The Librarian of the school for wizards was transformed into an orangutan but stayed that way as it served his library responsibilities even better.
June 13, 2024 at 10:35 AM
Wes
Dr. Spo, unlike your Phoenix library branch, libraries in Canada have high readership levels and are key institutions in most communities serving very diverse communities. As well, bookstores in Canada are by and large very popular.
June 13, 2024 at 2:39 PM
Urspo
Another enviable aspect of Canada. Please do not let the taint of book banning cross the border and infect your fine country.
June 13, 2024 at 11:48 AM
Mistress Borghese
To my knowledge all four of our libraries are doing well and still serve purpose. I often even donate books that Im done with that friends have passed up on, to see if they want them.They were glad of the Page Boy and the Liz Cheney book!!!! They must have had a lot of request for them. My last time regularly using a library ended very ….interestingly….Ill leave it at that. You’d adore the New York City public library! One could spend days in there…….
June 13, 2024 at 2:39 PM
Urspo
Next time I go to NYC I want to see that library.
I may never come out.
June 13, 2024 at 2:15 PM
Gigi Rambles
The branch I frequent seems to have a lot of patrons. I do enjoy placing holds on books online; so that even if my branch doesn’t have a copy, they will request it from another branch and let me know when it comes in. I also just enjoy browsing the shelves to see what catches my eye.
And yes, a special place in hell is reserved for book burners/banners.
June 13, 2024 at 2:41 PM
Urspo
My father had the pleasure of ordering books at the one branch and waiting for the phone call it had arrived and come in to get it. This sometimes took weeks but he didn’t mind. Waiting for something was not a problem then.
June 13, 2024 at 3:29 PM
Steven
Thankfully, in June 2023, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed a bill making Illinois the first state to outlaw book bans, encouraging schools and libraries to embrace education, literary justice, and equity. I took husband to the new library (new to him, but opened in 2020). What was interesting to see (or appaling?) was that there were “quiet rooms” on the second floor. They were about 6′ x 6′ in size and some people were inside reading or doing “work”. I always thought you HAD to be quiet in libraries? Why incorporate quiet rooms?
June 14, 2024 at 6:59 AM
Urspo
Good for that governor! Would others were brave enough to stand up to the nasties.
June 13, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Laurel Hill
We love our library! It has multiple branches around our citywide area and we reserve books constantly. Of course, as luck would have it, they all arrive at our home branch at once, so we each routinely have two or three stacked books at the bedside. I also download ebooks to my Kindle. As well, our library has a children’s play are, reading books, etc. It’s definitely noisier than the library of my youth, but I am happy to see young kids learning to love the library. Last year I happened upon a long queue which turned out to be a reptile show in one of the meeting rooms. To each his own, I guess.
I too loved the wooden files and Dewey Decimal System. And the librarian of my youth struck fear into the hearts of all of us.
June 14, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Urspo
I remember that too: librarians were the lords of their land and keep your voice down and don’t horse around. The other type was the Wise Sage, with Mother qualities, nurturing reading and looking out for us.
June 13, 2024 at 9:28 PM
Anonymous
HAPPY NATIONAL STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DAY EVE TO ALL!
June 14, 2024 at 7:01 AM
Urspo
Lovely!
June 13, 2024 at 9:49 PM
Parnassus
I was always more of a book buyer than a library borrower, but I have spent plenty of time in libraries. Our local library in Ohio was a converted old mansion, the Cleveland Public Library someone mentioned above has always been awesome, both in books and services (and also the magnificent main building), and I had withdrawal symptoms when I graduated college and had to leave its incredible and huge library behind.
–Jim
June 14, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Urspo
I too tend to buy books more than borrow them. I try to buy books used if I can. Some of this is wanting to promote the businesses of used book stores.
I should go borrow some to help them out too.
June 13, 2024 at 9:51 PM
Parnassus
p.s. Although many of us remember libraries that used the Dewey Decimal system, today we know what a monster the now discredited Melvin Dewey was, and note with satisfaction that most of his honors have been taken away.
–Jim
June 14, 2024 at 7:03 AM
Urspo
Really? Hey, I learned something!
The history of Mr. Dewey and his system is something I suspect I would enjoy learning about.
June 13, 2024 at 10:43 PM
Old Lurker
Public libraries? Who needs ’em? If you let people borrow books for free then poor people might get access to books, and then they might get ideas in their heads and become uppity. Do we really want their impoverished minds exposed to Karl Marx or Thomas Piketty? Then who will collect our garbage and mine our coal?
Private collections of books by rich people are another matter. Those are a sign of learnedness. I am sure you have shelves and shelves of books to show off when gentlemen callers come to visit.
June 14, 2024 at 7:04 AM
Urspo
I think it was Gore Vidal who wrote about France decided to educate the poor to read and the results were they shredded the monarchy to have a series of all sorts of government. “That’s what reading does” he wrote.
June 14, 2024 at 6:29 AM
Anonymous
As a child my library card was my most cherished possession. To “punish” me for what ever awful thing I may have done my mother took it away. Reading was everything. Reading was the world. Although I have had much better paying jobs my few years working in a library were the most satisfying and happiest. I later served a couple years on a rural library Board of Directors.
A tiny perfect Library in upstate New York. Well loved by patrons and staff.
I am now in Florida. The Library is quietly missing books, it is impersonal and cold since they tore the old building down and put up a “new and improved” modern shell… but it’s what I’ve got ..that and the new bookstore in town. And the “Little Free Libraries” that pop up here and there.
June 14, 2024 at 7:06 AM
Urspo
I weep for the passing of beautiful libraries. I associate libraries with beauty not minimal stark metal boxes. I think one of the reasons I don’t go to my local branch is it is ugly and doesn’t have a nice place to sit for hours in such.
June 14, 2024 at 6:35 AM
rjjs8878
Denver has a robust library system. I check out books on a regular basis. Books can be requested online which will be transferred to the nearest branch. The location by my house always has a sizeable crowd. Sadly, the main branch downtown, which was renovated by notable architect, Michael Grave, has become a haven for the homeless. Most people avoid the main branch.
June 14, 2024 at 7:07 AM
Urspo
I have a friend who thinks the state of a cities library reflects its vitality and health. Go to the city’s library and see how well it is.
June 14, 2024 at 7:27 AM
Alicia
I was just in Phoenix last weekend! I completely forgot you lived there or I would have shouted hello to you from the plane! I plan to do a blog post about it tonight, so stay tuned. We rarely got to go to a library, but when we did it was like a trip to Disneyland for us. I thought it was crazy that someone would let me take 4 books home for free! I now live about 6 blocks from our local library and I probably have not been in it since 1978 or so. I’m going to make it a goal to make a trip to our local library and check it out. I love reading. Most recently the best book I have read is The Women by Kristin Hannah. An amazing book! I cry during movies, but very seldom when reading a book, this one made me bawl! Have a great weekend.
June 15, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Urspo
Stinko!
I would have enjoyed meeting you.
I just happened to stop by your blog and left a comment for you to approve.
June 16, 2024 at 7:41 PM
Sassybear
I lived in the library when I was younger. Quiet, clean, air conditioned, no abusive father, and books on every topic available. I walked there every Saturday and Sunday and stayed all day, reading. I’ve only been to one library in my adult life…the one in Provincetown, after it had been remodeled. I plan to spend more time in Libraries when I retire…if they’re still there and I haven’t been imprisoned for being a deviant.