Library Stories

Libraries! For Life!

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:17:08 EDT

*"Books fall open, you fall in..."*, David McCord

Like so many of you, I am a voracious reader, and also like so many of you, I passionately support my local library.

I'm endlessly grateful to Mr. Carnegie, his vision and his initial support of that great egalitarian project, the everytown public library. I live in a small Maine town - I don't think we've topped 10,000 i...

A Second Home

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:01:11 EDT

For some the library is a place to go and find a good book. For others a place to go to surf the web, still others as a video rental. Some simply use it to go to get out of the house. I have seen chess clubs, knitting groups, book discussions, and many other such activities, even a Dr. Seuss parade once. You never quite know what your going to see, but you can count on the fact that...

Dear John, The Piping Plovers and the Game Warden

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:35:06 EDT

I am sixty-nine years old and I have never lost a library book. Now, I am missing the box for the CDs for DEAR JOHN. I am methodical about where I put things, especially library books and tapes. So, when I went to return DEAR JOHN, I knew it was in the trunk of my car. I opened the trunk ready to put the CDs from my tape deck into their sleeves and return them to the library. No DEAR JOHN any...

I Love My Library

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:56:11 EDT

As a young child with very few books in her home, I soon learned that there was a place that could satisfy my natural curiosity about life. I can't remember how I knew or who told me about my local library, but my memories are vivid: the large, ornate, austere and dignified building, the sunny children's room, and the ever-present sister librarians. I just loved reading through the entire child...

Books That Call to You

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:58:01 EDT

I visit our city library a lot. I often browse the new books, and sometimes one of them will call to me. Here's the story of one that did.

*First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers* by Loung Ung. I picked it up and put it down five times. The subject matter was difficult, a young girl's story of her family during the Pol Pot regime. And then I saw that the in...

Applying for Employment Online

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:24:08 EDT

I have been using the **Belgrade Library** and its internet service for approximately 8 months. I used the internet service to apply online for employment positions. I am unemployed and am unable to afford internet access at this time. Having the ability to use the library for this purpose has provided me with a temporary position with the possibility of permanent placement.

They a...

My Email Won't Work

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:50:15 EDT

An elderly lady will be staying at a State Park this summer. Since she won't be home, she discontinued her internet service for the summer. She came into the **Weld Public Library** to pay bills on line, and email her family.

This is when she found out her email account was inactive. What to do... will she have to pay for service all summer, service she'll not be using?

Spreading the News

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:24:25 EDT

My first grandson was recently born at the Hospital in Norway, Maine. I live in Augusta and am not really familiar with this part of the state. Luckily the **Norway Public Library** with its free wireless internet connection, was open Wednesday night, the day after his birth.

I was able to update my Facebook page and email the good news to family and friends all over the world. ...

A Fantastic Place to Do What You Need to Do

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:27:14 EDT

The library is possibly one of the most important resources for a person in high school around here. There are some kids in the area who have no access to computers at home. All they have to do to utilize such an important tool and all its functions is to stop in at the library.

The **Patten Free Library** also has a vast ocean of information in the books that rest upon the shelves....

Higher Power

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:42:53 EDT

For me, being a librarian has never been dull, but years ago I had an unforgettable experience in my role as Children's Librarian at **Charles M. Bailey Public Library** in Winthrop. I used to welcome classes of all ages to come and visit the Library. Tours included not just the children's area but the entire library, since I wanted to encourage these young patrons to think of the library as a...

A Remarkable Progression to Watch

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:28:59 EDT

This winter, Carolyn walked into the **Springvale Public Library** asking for easy to read books. After determining she needed materials for beginning reading, I took her into the Children�s Room and started pulling out easy readers as she told me her story.

She had suffered a damaging stroke that left her without speech and movement and had worked her way, bit by bit back to heal...